Google Academic Research Awards 2026 – Up to $100,000
The Google Academic Research Awards 2026 support academic research in computing and technology. The current global call focuses on quantum computing and offers awards of up to $100,000. Eligible professors at universities and degree-granting research institutions must submit their proposals by 7 August 2026.
Quick Overview
Programme: Google Academic Research Awards 2026
Opportunity Type: Academic research funding
Organization: Google
Research Area: Quantum computing
Award Amount: Up to $100,000
Eligible Applicants: Professors at universities or degree-granting research institutions
Application Deadline: 7 August 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. AoE
Decision Notification: By 30 October 2026
About the Google Academic Research Awards 2026
Google Academic Research Awards support foundational and applied research in computing and technology.
For the 2026 funding cycle, Google is accepting proposals focused on quantum computing. Applicants must select a project that aligns with one of the research areas included in the current call.
The programme provides possible research funding to eligible universities and degree-granting research institutions. Google determines the number of selected organizations and the amount of funding awarded.
2026 Research Areas
The current call includes two main research areas:
• Early Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms & Applications
• Quantum Computing Security
Applicants cannot submit proposals outside the research areas listed in the current call.
Early Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms and Applications
This research area focuses on algorithms and applications that can operate on early fault-tolerant quantum devices.
Google is interested in research that uses a relatively small number of logical qubits to address problems that classical systems cannot solve efficiently.
Relevant proposals may cover:
• New quantum algorithms designed for early fault-tolerant architectures
• Practical applications of known early fault-tolerant algorithms
• Error-correction and error-mitigation methods
• Compilation and resource-optimization techniques
• Methods that reduce logical-qubit and gate requirements
• Paths toward real-world utility and societal impact
Potential application areas include life sciences, health, climate, sustainability, energy, and materials science.
Proposals should include mathematically rigorous estimates of resource requirements. These may include logical-qubit counts, gate depths, and error-correction overheads.
Applicants should also explain why advanced classical computing methods cannot efficiently simulate or match the proposed solution.
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Quantum Computing Security
The Quantum Computing Security call focuses on protecting the interface between classical computing systems and quantum hardware.
Quantum processing units rely on classical computers to compile code, operate control systems, and translate software instructions into physical signals. This creates potential security risks across the quantum-computing stack.
Possible research topics include:
• Classical-to-quantum interface security
• Verification of physical control instructions
• Side-channel analysis and mitigation
• Secure hardware abstraction and reset methods
• Data-remanence risks
• Multi-tenant isolation in cloud quantum systems
• Quantum-aware defensive tools
• Supply-chain and controller security
• Real-time threat detection and telemetry
• New vulnerabilities affecting different qubit technologies
Google seeks proposals that improve understanding of these risks and develop robust, verifiable defence mechanisms.
Award Amount and Funding Conditions
Selected proposals may receive:
✓ An award of up to $100,000
✓ Possible consideration for a larger award when an exceptional proposal provides a clear and compelling justification
✓ Funding provided to the university or degree-granting research institution
Awards are distributed as unrestricted gifts to the recipient institution.
The funding is not intended to cover overhead or indirect costs.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
• Be a professor at a university or degree-granting research institution
• Be advising students
• Be conducting research in technology and computing
• Submit a proposal related to computing or technology
• Apply within one of the research areas included in the current call
Eligible academic ranks may include assistant, associate, and other professors.
Applicants may serve as a Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator on only one proposal during the current round.
Each proposal may include a maximum of two Principal Investigators.
Co-Principal Investigators must generally meet the same eligibility requirements as the primary Principal Investigator. However, a postdoctoral researcher may serve as a co-Principal Investigator.
The applicant’s organization must be a university or degree-granting research institution and must meet the conditions stated in the official programme terms.
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Proposal Format
Applicants must submit the proposal and required CV documents as one PDF file.
The file name must follow this format:
[First InitialLast Name]-2026
Only letters, numbers, and hyphens should be used in the file name.
The proposal requirements are:
• Maximum of five pages for an application with one Principal Investigator
• Maximum of seven pages for an application that includes a co-Principal Investigator and their CV
• Single-spaced text
• One-inch margins
• Font size of at least 10 points
The additional two pages allowed for a co-Principal Investigator application may contain only the co-Principal Investigator’s CV.
Applications without a co-Principal Investigator’s CV must not exceed five pages.
Required Proposal Content
The proposal overview must not exceed three pages and should include numbered sections covering:
• Proposal title
• Full name and contact information of the Principal Investigator or investigators
• Institutional or departmental affiliation
• Abstract
• Research goals and problem statement
• Description of the proposed work
• Expected outcomes and results
• Relationship to previous research
• Applicant qualifications
• Explanation of how the award would support an ongoing project, when applicable
• Explanation of how the project meets any product, methodology, or technical requirements
• Plans for sharing the project’s outputs with the research community
Applicants may explain whether they intend to release code, datasets, or other outputs publicly.
For research topics that are not funded as unrestricted gifts and require a specific product, method, or constraint, open-sourcing the resulting intellectual property may be required unless another agreement states otherwise.
CV Requirements
The application must include:
• A CV of no more than two pages for the primary Principal Investigator
• An optional CV of no more than two pages for the co-Principal Investigator
Any CV exceeding the two-page limit may be truncated before the application is reviewed.
References and Budget Information
References and detailed budget information must not be included in the proposal PDF.
Applicants must enter these details in the designated sections of the online application form.
The budget section requires a high-level explanation of how the requested funds will be used.
Evaluation Criteria
Only complete applications that meet the eligibility, research-area, and formatting requirements will be scored.
Google evaluates eligible proposals according to:
• Faculty merit
• Research merit
• Proposal quality
• Alignment with Google’s AI Principles
• Compliance with any required product, methodology, or technical constraint
Faculty merit considers the applicant’s research achievements, community engagement, open-source contributions, and potential to support responsible innovation.
Research merit considers alignment with Google Research interests, innovation, and potential impact.
Proposal quality considers whether the application is clear, focused, well-organized, and supported by a realistic execution plan.
How to Strengthen a Proposal
Applicants should clearly define the research problem and describe a specific, achievable outcome.
A strong proposal should:
• Explain what the research will enable
• Describe minimum and best-case outcomes
• Identify relevant datasets and test cases
• Explain how the work advances existing research
• Present a clear research approach
• Identify potential risks and mitigation measures
• Explain how the project fits into the applicant’s wider research goals
• Make the motivation and expected results understandable to non-specialists
The proposal should demonstrate how the research can make a positive contribution to computing and technology.
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Selection Timeline
The official timeline is:
• Applications opened: 26 June 2026
• Application deadline: 7 August 2026
• Notification of proposal decisions: By 30 October 2026
Google may not provide individual feedback because of the volume of applications received.
Organizations being considered for funding may be asked to provide additional materials during the due-diligence process.
These materials may include financial statements, leadership information, additional project details, and other documents required to evaluate the organization or application.
Application Deadline
Applications must be submitted by:
7 August 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. Anywhere on Earth — UTC-12
Late applications will not be accepted.
Official Link
Submit your proposal through the official application platform below.
