This century is unparalleled in human history for its revolutionary possibilities.
While the Renaissance evolved over hundreds of years, we’ve witnessed transformative advances in just the past 26 years alone. Scientists, technologists and engineers have decoded the human genome, reignited space exploration and travel and created artificial intelligence that can make discoveries and solve problems that have perplexed humanity for decades. Answers to our most fundamental questions—how life begins, whether we’re alone in the universe, what it means to be human, how we can save our planet—seem tantalizingly near.
As philanthropists, we work toward a healthy, resilient and secure world for all—and we believe science can lay the groundwork for that better future. We founded Schmidt Sciences in part to protect and advance this revolutionary moment: to pursue AI for good, to explore the furthest reaches of the universe, to harness the genius of biological design, to comprehend the intricate regulatory systems of the Earth, to build scientific infrastructure, from laboratories to computing power to talent. We are proud to share with you some of the stories of the scientists and organizations that we support. We hope that this is just the start of shaping a new renaissance that will protect humanity and our planet long into the future.
—Eric & Wendy Schmidt, Co-founders, Schmidt Sciences
Science today faces extraordinary pressure from growing global challenges, constrained resources and rising skepticism at a moment when rigorous, curiosity-driven research is urgently needed. The pace of discovery has never been faster, yet the path from insight to impact is increasingly complex.
Schmidt Sciences is grounded in the belief that the most meaningful measure of progress lies in people and ideas. At its core are the stories of our grantees—researchers who are advancing fundamental understanding, crossing disciplinary boundaries and translating bold ideas into real-world outcomes. Their work spans continents and fields, from uncovering the foundations of life and matter, to building tools and frameworks that shape how science is done. Each story reflects a commitment to excellence, openness and ambition at a global scale.
Now completing our second year of operations, Schmidt Sciences has reached significant milestones including launching the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System, implementing an AI Safety program, adding new programs that support scientists at pivotal moments, and fostering collaborations that would not otherwise exist. Our growing international community of grantees demonstrates that transformative science thrives when talent is empowered and when long-term thinking is matched with decisive action.
Our inaugural impact report is not a comprehensive accounting of everything we support, nor is it an endpoint. It is a snapshot that highlights how targeted philanthropic investment can enable breakthroughs, encourage excellent researchers, strengthen scientific ecosystems and help ensure that discovery remains a global public good.
At a time when the stakes for science could not be higher, we remain optimistic. The work captured here shows what is possible when bold ideas are met with sustained support—and when researchers are trusted to pursue questions that matter.
We are proud of what has been accomplished to date, grateful to the researchers whose work defines our impact and steadfast in our belief that advancing science is among the most powerful ways to shape a better future.
—Stuart Feldman, Schmidt Sciences President and Chief Scientist