A new statewide artificial intelligence (AI) research program will provide $5 million in competitive funding for projects intended to produce measurable public benefits for Utah.
The Utah’s AI Moonshot Program is part of Gov. Spencer Cox’s Pro-Human AI Initiative and is funded through the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot. The Utah System of Higher Education and the Nucleus Institute are administering the program in partnership, according to the program webpage.
Applications open Aug. 1, and must be submitted by Oct. 15. The program expects to make at least 12 awards across three funding pathways supporting projects lasting from six to 24 months. Award notifications are scheduled for Nov. 30.
“In Utah, we believe that technology should reflect our heart and our values,” Gov. Spencer Cox said in a video announcement. “As we embrace the potential of artificial intelligence, we are dedicated to ensuring these tools serve our families and neighbors in meaningful ways.”
The program encompasses Moonshot Awards, Pathfinder Grants, and Spark Grants.
Four Moonshot Awards will provide up to $1 million each for projects lasting 18 to 24 months. The funding is intended for large-scale AI initiatives that demonstrate readiness and strong potential to benefit the public.
Moonshot projects should bring together partners from academia, industry, government, and communities to conduct research with measurable economic and societal outcomes.
Four Pathfinder Grants will provide up to $200,000 each for 12-month projects to support prototype development, validation testing, user engagement, data collection, regulatory planning, and partnership development.
At least four Spark Grants of up to $50,000 each will support projects lasting six to nine months. Those grants will support teams testing new concepts, developing early prototypes, and building technical and collaborative foundations for future investment. The program particularly encourages student and rural teams to apply for the Spark Grants.
Proposals may address five priority areas: mental health and human flourishing; water, air, and environmental intelligence; frontline health and bio-innovation; autonomous systems; and Open Horizon, a category for projects that do not fit within the other areas.
The program will make at least one award in the Open Horizon category.
Projects should address challenges affecting Utah and create lasting benefits for the state’s communities, economy, or public institutions. Proposals should also demonstrate the potential to generate economic value, expand access to practical benefits across the state, and use AI to enhance human expertise rather than replace people.
The program also calls for projects to incorporate safeguards for the responsible development and use of AI. Those safeguards include human-subject approvals when applicable and data governance practices aligned with state law and participating institutions’ policies.
