The Utah AI Moonshot Program has launched a $5 million statewide competitive funding initiative designed to support ambitious artificial intelligence research that provides measurable public benefits to the state. Administered in partnership with the Nucleus Institute and the Utah System of Higher Education, the program aims to fund pro-human AI research through three distinct pathways to address Utah's specific priorities.
Core Program Tenets
The program, which is part of Governor Cox's Pro-Human AI Initiative, seeks to fund research that empowers people rather than replaces them. According to the Nucleus Institute, the initiative focuses on AI that enhances human expertise, expands opportunity, and improves outcomes while maintaining transparency, trust, and responsible use.
To remain competitive, the program emphasizes projects that are Utah-centric, meaning they should address challenges that matter to the state and create lasting value for Utah's communities, economy, or public institutions. The Nucleus Institute noted that successful proposals should leverage Utah's unique strengths and demonstrate a pathway to economic generation, such as attracting additional investment, strengthening existing industries, or improving the efficiency of public services.
Three Funding Pathways
The initiative provides for 12 or more awards across three different funding levels, with project durations ranging from 6 to 24 months. The flagship Moonshot Awards offer up to $1 million per award and are intended for large-scale AI initiatives that demonstrate readiness and a strong potential for public benefit. These projects are expected to bring together academia, industry, government, and community partners.
The second pathway, known as Pathfinder Grants, provides up to $200,000 per award for projects with demonstrated promise. These grants are targeted for a 12-month duration and are designed to help teams generate the technical and operational evidence required for larger future investments. This may include expanded prototype development, validation testing, user engagement, data collection, or regulatory planning.
For smaller-scale innovation, the program offers Spark Grants. These awards provide up to $50,000 for projects with a targeted duration of 6 to 9 months. The Spark Grants are intended to accelerate innovative concepts through a streamlined application process, and the Nucleus Institute specifically encourages student and rural teams to apply for these opportunities.
Funding and Compliance
The Utah AI Moonshot Program is funded through the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot, or HERFP. All projects must be led and submitted by an institution within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).
In addition to economic and social goals, the program requires responsible AI compliance. This includes incorporating appropriate safeguards for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence, such as adhering to data governance practices that align with state law and partner institution policies. Where applicable, projects must also secure human-subjects approvals.
Application Requirements
The University of Utah's Office of Sponsored Projects provided administrative guidance regarding the application process for the program. As of August 17, 2026, the requirements for a Letter of Intent (LOI) do not specifically ask applicants to identify or document institutional cost share.
However, the University of Utah noted that both the AI Moonshot and HERFP programs place significant emphasis on committed resources, matching funds, in-kind support, and strong partnerships as elements of a competitive proposal. While applicants may reference anticipated institutional or third-party support in an LOI if known, the University advised that such descriptions should be considered preliminary.
Recent Updates
The Nucleus Institute recently held information sessions to assist potential applicants, with recordings of sessions held on August 14 and August 18 scheduled to be posted soon. The program's official notice of funding opportunity was updated on August 12, 2026, and applicants are encouraged to review the most current version before submitting their proposals.
