Governor Cox Launches Utah AI Moonshot Program, a $5 Million Investment to Advance AI Research with Real World Applications
Applications open Saturday, August 1; proposals due October 15
Governor Spencer Cox today announced the Utah AI Moonshot, a new $5 million competitive grant program to support artificial intelligence research that improves the lives of Utahns.
Part of the Governor’s Pro-Human AI Initiative, the program will fund projects that tackle important challenges across five focus areas including mental health, water, healthcare, autonomous systems, and an open category for emerging AI opportunities.
Funding is available through three award levels:
Spark Grants: up to $50,000
Pathfinder Grants: up to $200,000
Moonshot Awards: up to $1 million
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and application portal open Saturday, August 1, with submissions due October 15. Applications must be sponsored and presented by the president of a Utah university, and the program is intentionally structured to welcome student researchers and rural innovators alongside established research institutions. Award notifications will go out November 30, with winners recognized at the 2026 Utah AI Summit on December 8.
"We are stepping forward with the ingenuity that has always defined our state," said Governor Spencer Cox. “Actively guiding the future of technology to enhance the lives of every Utahn.
The Utah AI Moonshot seeks ambitious research with the potential to create lasting impact for Utah. Competitive projects will address meaningful challenges facing the state, strengthen Utah's strategic industries, and demonstrate a clear pathway toward real-world application. The program also encourages meaningful student participation and values partnerships that amplify the impact of state investment.
The Utah AI Moonshot Program is funded through the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot (HERFP). It is administered by the Nucleus Institute in partnership with the Utah System of Higher Education.
Full details for applicants, including eligibility requirements and the NOFO, are available at nucleusutah.org/aimoonshot.