AI grants in USA for 2026
US federal AI funding goes through 11 SBIR/STTR-participating agencies. NSF, DARPA, NIH, DoE, DoD, and ARPA-H all run AI-relevant calls. Phase I awards start at $295K equity-free.
Key programs
- NSF SBIR Phase I ($295K)
- DARPA AI programs
- NIH AI for health
- ARPA-E AI for energy
- DoD AI calls
The funding landscape
NSF SBIR is the broadest entry point. DARPA runs ambitious AI programs but applications are invitation-driven. NIH funds health AI heavily. ARPA-E + DoE fund AI for energy/climate. Stack agencies: legitimate to win SBIR Phase I from two agencies in different years.
Application tip
US applications reward technical specificity, named PIs, and a clear commercialization plan. Federal reviewers want "transition" — how does your AI become a product?
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