About the Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Science:
The Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Science is a $30 million global open call designed to empower researchers and organisations with the funding, tools, and technical expertise they need to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. Building on the success of the inaugural AI for Science fund, Google.org is launching this supercharged initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery. By empowering researchers with catalytic funding and technical expertise, the programme aims to accelerate understanding of key scientific questions — achieving Nobel-level breakthroughs and enabling science at digital speed. This is one of the largest single grant opportunities available globally for AI-powered scientific research.
What Selected Organisations Receive:
Financial Grant: Between $500,000 and $3,000,000+ (applicants specify the amount sought). Funding can be spent over 36 months (3 years). This supports specific projects, not general operating support. Pathway to impact should be demonstrable within 12 months, though full spending extends to 36 months.
Google.org Accelerator (optional but recommended): A 6-month programme providing pro bono AI Coach and Project Success Manager from Google assigned to each organisation ("the Squad"). Technical training through scaled virtual workshops. 1:1 mentorship from Google experts, Google Developer Experts, and Google Developer Groups. Community building with other selected organisations. At least two in-person gatherings (locations TBD). Access to Google Cloud Credits.
Time commitment: approximately 2–4 hours/week. Programming commences fall 2026. Participation is NOT mandatory to receive funding.
Google Cloud Credits: Recipients may receive Google Cloud credits based on project needs, subject to eligibility review.
Two Focus Areas with Sub-Categories:
AREA 1 — AI FOR HEALTH AND LIFE SCIENCES:
- Functional Genomics — AI projects investigating the genome, linking genetic sequences to biological function and disease, precision medicine.
- Cellular and Tissue Biology — AI for understanding biological mechanisms at cellular/tissue level in health and disease.
- Neuroscience and the Brain — AI for understanding neural mechanics, cognitive functions, memory, learning.
- Drug Discovery — AI to accelerate identification of novel therapeutics, molecular modelling, protein folding.
- Disease Understanding and Resistance — AI for characterising disease progression, antimicrobial resistance, emerging health threats.
- Health and Life Sciences Other — AI projects at the intersection of science and health not fitting above categories.
AREA 2 — AI FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE:
- Chemistry or Synthetic Biology for Climate Solutions — AI for novel biological/chemical solutions, GHG removal, sustainable materials, climate-resilient crops.
- Food and Agriculture — AI for understanding plants, crops, food systems, resilient nutritious food supply.
- Biosphere, Climate, and Society — AI for marine and terrestrial biosphere protection, biodiversity, ecosystem function, climate mitigation.
- Climate and Weather — AI for understanding Earth's climate/weather systems, long-range projections, predictive capability.
- Materials Discovery — AI for next-generation sustainable materials, semiconductors, carbon-capture, rare-earth alternatives.
- Advanced Energy and Materials — AI for clean energy generation, storage, distribution, battery chemistry, smart grids.
- Climate Resilience Other — AI projects at the intersection of science and climate not fitting above categories.
- An "Other" category exists for exceptional proposals in fields outside these two areas.
Four Assessment Criteria:
- Scientific Ambition and Impact: Transformational research addressing critical, unresolved questions. Evidence-based with clear, quantifiable success metrics — both short-term (12–18 months) and long-term (24–36+ months). High-impact projects creating step-changes in scientific understanding.
- Innovative and Responsible Use of AI: AI must be core to the methodology — not peripheral. Must align with Google's Responsible AI Principles. Intellectual property created with funding must generally be made publicly available under permissive open-source licence. This includes publishing research, sharing datasets, and open-sourcing models.
- Feasibility: Team must have technical AND domain expertise. Realistic execution plan, timeline, budget, and access to data/computational resources.
- Scalability and Sustainability: Potential for broad impact beyond immediate scope. Knowledge sharing with broader scientific community. Long-term vision beyond initial funding. Collaboration between multiple organisations encouraged.
Who Can Apply:
Nonprofit charities and other nonprofit organisations. Public or private academic/research institutions. For-profit social enterprises with clear social impact purpose (must open-source IP, no profit from funded work). Joint applications welcomed — one organisation as applicant of record. Large institutions (e.g., universities) can submit multiple applications (one per Project Manager). Maximum two applications per organisation (unless large institution with multiple departments). Must submit in English with at least one fluent English speaker on team. Applications are NOT treated as confidential — do not include proprietary information.
Review Process:
Applications reviewed by Google.org team, Google subject matter experts, and external specialists from Renaissance Philanthropy, Centre for Public Impact, and Faculty. Final stage proposals undergo multi-reviewer assessment. Number of recipients and funding amounts at Google's sole discretion.
Nepal Eligibility and Relevance:
Nepal is eligible — the challenge is global, open to any eligible country not excluded in the Terms. Nepal-based nonprofits, academic institutions, and research organisations can apply directly or as partners in joint applications.
- AI for Health and Life Sciences — Nepal Opportunities: AI for disease surveillance and prediction — building models for dengue, typhoid, TB, and other infectious diseases using Nepal's health data infrastructure.
- AI for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — Nepal faces growing AMR challenges; AI models could predict resistance patterns and optimise treatment.
- AI for diagnostic support — developing AI-powered diagnostic tools for resource-limited health facilities in Nepal.
- AI for genomics — population genetics of Nepal's extraordinarily diverse ethnic groups could yield novel genomic insights.
- AI for drug discovery — leveraging Nepal's medicinal plant biodiversity for AI-driven drug candidate identification.
AI for Climate Resilience and Environmental Science — Nepal Opportunities:
- AI for Himalayan climate and weather prediction — Nepal's complex mountain topography makes weather prediction extremely challenging; AI models could dramatically improve forecasting.
- AI for GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) prediction — monitoring Nepal's 47+ potentially dangerous glacial lakes using satellite imagery and AI.
- AI for earthquake early warning — seismic pattern recognition and building vulnerability assessment for Nepal's earthquake-prone zones.
- AI for biodiversity monitoring — camera trap image analysis, species distribution modelling, and habitat mapping across Nepal's diverse ecosystems.
- AI for air quality prediction — Kathmandu Valley is one of the world's most polluted cities; AI forecasting could save lives.
- AI for food and agriculture — crop disease detection, climate-resilient variety identification, and yield prediction for Nepal's diverse agro-climatic zones.
- AI for landslide prediction — Nepal experiences devastating landslides; AI analysis of terrain, rainfall, and geological data could enable early warning.
Potential Nepal Applicants:
- ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) — Himalayan climate, GLOF, biodiversity, air quality — ideally positioned for this challenge.
- Tribhuvan University research groups — computer science, environmental science, health informatics.
- Kathmandu University — AI/ML research groups with domain expertise.
- Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Nepal Health Research Council — AI for health systems research.
- NSET (National Society for Earthquake Technology) — AI for seismic risk.
- Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) partners — AI for weather/climate.
- International research institutions with strong Nepal partnerships — joint applications with Nepal-based organisations. ICIMOD joint applications with partner universities and research centres.
KEY DETAILS
- Programme: Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Science
- Organization: Google.org + Google DeepMind + Google Research
- DEADLINE: April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT — 11 DAYS REMAINING ⚠️
No late submissions
- APPLY: https://googlenewaccount2.submittable.com/submit/2eacc5bf-5e78-4f06-b14e-546c8a895981/gic-ai-for-science
- TOTAL FUND: $30 MILLION
- GRANT PER ORG: $500,000 to $3,000,000+
- FUNDING PERIOD: Up to 36 months (3 years)
- PLUS GOOGLE.ORG ACCELERATOR (6 months, optional):
— Pro bono Google AI Coach + Project Success Manager
— Technical training, workshops, 1:1 mentorship
— Google Cloud Credits
— Two in-person gatherings
— ~2–4 hours/week commitment
— Commences fall 2026
- TWO FOCUS AREAS:
— AI FOR HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES: genomics, cellular biology, neuroscience, drug discovery, disease/AMR
— AI FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE & ENVIRONMENT: chemistry/synbio, food/agriculture, biosphere, climate/weather, materials, energy
WHO CAN APPLY:
— Nonprofits, academic institutions, social enterprises — GLOBALLY
— Nepal eligible — direct applications or joint applications
— Individuals without org affiliation NOT eligible
— At least 1 fluent English speaker required
— Max 2 applications per org (unless large institution)
— Early-stage ideas with clear plans accepted
— Existing projects seeking to scale accepted
- FOUR CRITERIA:
Scientific ambition & impact — transformational, evidence-based, quantifiable
Innovative & responsible AI — core to methodology, open-source IP
Feasibility — team expertise, realistic plan/budget
Scalability & sustainability — broad impact, knowledge sharing, long-term vision
- OPEN-SOURCE REQUIREMENT:
— IP created with funding must generally be made publicly available
— Permissive open-source licence
— Includes research, datasets, models
— This is a CONDITION of funding
- NEPAL OPPORTUNITIES:
— Health: Disease surveillance AI, AMR prediction, diagnostic tools, population genomics, medicinal plant drug discovery
— Climate: GLOF prediction, Himalayan weather AI, earthquake early warning, biodiversity monitoring, air quality forecasting, crop disease detection, landslide prediction
- POTENTIAL NEPAL APPLICANTS:
— ICIMOD (Himalayan climate, GLOF, biodiversity, air quality)
— Tribhuvan University / Kathmandu University AI research groups
— NAST, NHRC, NSET, DHM partners
— International institutions with Nepal partnerships (joint applications)
- IMPORTANT NOTES:
— ⚠️ ONLY 11 DAYS REMAINING — April 17 deadline is HARD
— This is one of the LARGEST single grant opportunities globally ($500K–$3M+)
— AI must be CORE to the methodology — not peripheral
— OPEN-SOURCE IP is a condition — be prepared for this
— Applications are NOT confidential — don't include proprietary information
— Keep submissions HIGH-LEVEL — don't share sensitive research details
— NOT required to use Google products/AI models
— Joint applications ENCOURAGED — collaboration valued
— One org = applicant of record; can sub-fund partners
— For-profit social enterprises CAN apply (with conditions)
— Google.org Accelerator is OPTIONAL but highly valuable (Google Cloud credits, mentoring)
— Pathway to impact within 12 MONTHS expected, full spending over 36 months
— Previously funded orgs from inaugural round are likely ineligible for same project
— FAQs are ESSENTIAL READING: https://services.google.com/fh/files/blogs/gic_aisci_faqs.pdf
