Schmidt Futures
Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic venture founded by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt in 2017. The philanthropy funds science and technology research and talent networking programs. The organization's grants include large-scale "moonshots". Schmidt Futures is based in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C., and London.
Scope of work
Schmidt Futures funds basic research for the public good in science, technology, and society. The organization searches for talented people and focuses them on hard problems through networks and competitions, new research or policy organizations, and scholarships and fellowships. In addition to basic science, Schmidt Futures also funds innovations toward basic societal needs such as internet access, COVID-19 relief, poverty relief, and relief for emigrants from recent war in Afghanistan and Ukraine.Programs
Science and technology
- Advanced computing for scientific research and development
- Artificial intelligence
- Awards for excellence in science communication
- Convergent Research
- Open data and open software
- Schmidt Science Fellows
- Science polymath program
- Synthetic biology
- Technology innovation policy
Society and talent
- Assistance to recent Afghan emigrants and Ukrainian emigrants
- Associate product manager program, based on the Google APM program
- Community-based innovation and growing the middle class
- Entrepreneur in residence program
- Families and workers affected by COVID-19
- High-speed internet access; Reimagine New York for digital equity in New York State
- International strategy forum
- Innovation fellows
- Learning engineering including the Futures Forum on Learning tools competition
- Quad fellowship for scientists and technologists from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States
- Rise global scholarships for young people
Notable people
- Stuart Feldman, chief scientist
- Thomas Kalil, chief innovation officer
- Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, executive director of Rise
- James Manyika, senior advisor
- Eric Schmidt, cofounder
- Wendy Schmidt, cofounder
- Fareed Zakaria, senior advisor