Google.org Launches $20M Fund for AI and Science

The recent Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for their work on AlphaFold is a testament to how AI can lead to groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Over 2 million researchers in 190 countries have already tapped into AlphaFold to speed up the battle against malaria, tackle a deadly parasitic disease, and open doors for new Parkinson’s treatments. AI's influence isn't just limited to biology; it's making waves in fields like hydrology, neuroscience, and climate science too.

But to keep pushing the boundaries of science with AI, researchers need more than just good ideas. They need funding, powerful computers, experts from various fields, and access to essential resources like the Protein Data Bank, which was crucial for AlphaFold's success.

That's why, at the first-ever AI for Science Forum, hosted by Google DeepMind and the Royal Society, Google.org announced a hefty $20 million in funding. This cash is aimed at supporting academic and nonprofit groups worldwide that are using AI to tackle tough, multi-disciplinary scientific challenges. We're talking about areas like rare disease research, experimental biology, materials science, and sustainability—all ripe for breakthroughs.

We're teaming up with our own experts at Google DeepMind, Google Research, and other AI teams, plus outside specialists, to pick the right organizations to support. On top of the cash, we're throwing in $2 million in Google Cloud Credits and some free technical know-how from our Googlers.

This new funding adds to the over $200 million Google.org has already given to groups using AI to boost their scientific efforts in the past five years. We've supported projects like Materiom, which is working on new types of plastics, the Women's Cancer Institute (run by Institut Curie) to better detect, treat, and understand women's cancers, and Doctors Without Borders in their fight against antibiotic resistance.

Time and time again, we've seen that when funding, technology, and teamwork come together, amazing scientific discoveries happen. We're hoping this new round of funding will spark more Nobel-worthy achievements that'll make a real difference in people's lives. And we're calling on other funders—philanthropic, public, and private—to join us in investing in long-term, impactful projects that show off AI's power to accelerate science at a digital pace.