The Department of Energy has awarded over $320 million in funding to support critical science and technology projects across various disciplines. The agency said Friday that 217 university and industry projects will receive funding over the next five years to expand scientific knowledge and address key challenges related to energy, national security and economic competitiveness.
Experts will discuss the risks of the accelerating development of quantum computing at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21. Tickets are still available here.
What Research Projects Will the DOE Funding Support?
The funded projects cover a broad range of science and technology areas:
- Materials science and engineering: Focuses on developing advanced materials such as alloys, high-performance polymers and metal-organic frameworks for applications in energy storage, microelectronics and quantum information science.
- Plasma and fusion science: Explores high-temperature plasma behavior to advance fusion energy.
- Nuclear and particle physics: Investigates the fundamental structure of matter, including nuclear reactions, exotic nuclei and dark matter.
- Chemical and molecular sciences: Examines chemistry and molecular interactions to improve chemical conversion efficiency.
- Quantum information science and advanced computing: Drives innovations in quantum algorithms, quantum chaos theory and quantum entanglement.
- Advanced sensors and nuclear technologies: Supports the development of sensors and other technologies for next-generation reactors and nuclear nonproliferation monitoring.
- Scientific conferences and collaboration: Funds research gatherings that promote knowledge-sharing, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development.
“The Department of Energy is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, and these investments will strengthen the nation’s scientific and technological leadership,” Dario Gil, under secretary for science at the DOE, stated. “The range and depth of scientific inquiry and discovery that these awards will make possible will provide dividends for America for years and decades to come.”
What Other Investment Opportunities Does DOE Offer?
The department recently launched a $352 million funding opportunity for Energy Frontier Research Centers, which support collaborative, multi-institutional research focused on fundamental questions in energy science and emerging technologies.
The agency also issued a $293 million Genesis Mission funding call to utilize artificial intelligence in addressing national challenges across areas such as advanced manufacturing, biotechnology and nuclear energy.
In addition, DOE is investing in quantum innovation through initiatives such as the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry program. In early March, the agency announced the recipients of $37 million in funding to develop quantum algorithms for materials science, advanced batteries and industrial applications.
