# DOE Funds Menlo Park SLAC AI Research

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission is funding a Phase I project led by SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, California, to test an AI system that uses live experimental results to select subsequent catalyst measurements. This is a research and demonstration effort, not an announced solicitation, but it signals DOE investment in AI-enabled scientific discovery and laboratory workflows.

- The project, “Closed-Loop Autonomous Discovery of Mechanistic Activity-Selectivity-Stability Rules in Catalysis,” brings together scientific AI and catalyst research; no contract value or solicitation number is provided.
- Contractors working in scientific AI, laboratory automation, X-ray instrumentation, electrochemistry, and research data integration can use the project as an indicator of relevant capabilities in DOE research.
- Companies should treat this as market intelligence rather than an active bid opportunity, and follow the project’s results and any later Phase II funding or expansion.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)

### Key Quotes
> Together, these nine new projects will leverage SI combined with SLAC expertise to accelerate our scientific and technological impact.
> — John Sarrao, SLAC Laboratory Director

### Sources
- [DOE Lab Uses AI to Help Scientists Determine What to Test Next | GovCIO Media & Research](https://govciomedia.com/doe-lab-uses-ai-to-help-scientists-determine-what-to-test-next) - GovCIO Media & Research