Schmidt Futures

Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic venture^[1] founded by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt^[2] in 2017.^[3] The philanthropy funds science and technology research^[4] and talent networking programs.^[5] The organization's grants include large-scale "moonshots".^[6] Schmidt Futures is based in New York City^[7] with offices in Washington, D.C.,^[8] and London.^[9]

Scope of work

Schmidt Futures funds basic research^[10] for the public good^[11] in science, technology, and society. The organization searches for talented people and focuses them on hard problems through networks and competitions, new research^[2] 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^[12][13]
• Artificial intelligence^[14]
• Awards for excellence in science communication^[15]
• Convergent Research^[16]
• Open data and open software^[17]
• Schmidt Science Fellows
• Science polymath program
• Synthetic biology^[16][18]
• Technology innovation policy

Society and talent

• Assistance to recent Afghan emigrants and Ukrainian emigrants^[19]
• Associate product manager program, based on the Google APM program^[20]
• Community-based innovation and growing the middle class^[21]
• 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^[22]
• Innovation fellows
• Learning engineering including the Futures Forum on Learning tools competition^[23]
• Quad fellowship for scientists and technologists from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States^[24]
• Rise global scholarships for young people

Defense Industry

• Center for a New American Security^[25]

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

See also

• Schmidt Family Foundation
• Schmidt Ocean Institute