Apply for the Google Academic Research Awards 2026 - a fully funded university research call from Google Research awarding up to $100,000 for computing and technology projects. Deadline: 7 August 2026 (11:59:59 pm AoE).

This global open call supports professors and faculty at degree-granting institutions who advise students and work in computing or technology. For the 2026 cycle, Google is prioritising quantum computing, with focused requests for proposals on early fault-tolerant algorithms/applications and quantum computing security.

Awards are typically paid as unrestricted gifts to the host university (not for overhead/indirect costs). Decisions are expected by 30 October 2026.

Quick Facts - Google Academic Research Awards 2026

Detail	Information
Host	Google Research (United States)
Programme	Google Academic Research Awards (GARA)
Type	Research award / faculty research grant
Funding	Up to $100,000 (larger amounts possible for exceptional cases)
2026 focus	Quantum computing topic calls
Who can apply	Professors / faculty at degree-granting institutions worldwide
PI limit	One proposal per person as PI or co-PI; max 2 PIs per proposal
Applications open	26 June 2026
Deadline	7 August 2026, 11:59:59 pm AoE (UTC−12)
Results	By 30 October 2026

2026 Research Calls

Only proposals inside the open topic list are accepted. Current featured areas include:

Early Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms & Applications - algorithms and applications that can run on early fault-tolerant devices with a relatively small number of logical qubits, targeting classically intractable problems.
Quantum Computing Security - including underexplored risks such as practical exploits at the classical-to-quantum interface and related protection of quantum computing efforts.

Read the full topic pages on Google Research before drafting; topic rules can include product, methodology, or open-sourcing requirements.

What Awardees Receive

Research funding of up to $100,000 (exceptional proposals may justify more)
Funds disbursed as an unrestricted gift to the university or degree-granting research institution
Support for research activity aligned with the approved proposal (budget is entered in the application tool, not inside the PDF narrative)
Visibility through Google’s academic research awards programme and network
A pathway to collaborate around Google Research priorities in computing and quantum

Award money should not be used for overhead or indirect costs.

Who Is Eligible?

Assistant, associate, full, or equivalent professors at a university or degree-granting research institution
Currently advising students and actively researching computing or technology
Proposal must relate to computing/technology and match an open 2026 RFP topic
You may appear as PI or co-PI on only one proposal in this round
Maximum of two PIs on a proposal
Co-PIs normally meet the same faculty criteria (postdoctoral co-PIs are an allowed exception in Google’s FAQ)

PhD students cannot apply as independent PIs; they may contribute inside a faculty-led team.

Proposal Format (Must Follow Exactly)

Submit proposal + CV as one PDF named like JDoe-2026 (first initial + last name + year; letters, numbers, hyphens only).

Length: 5 pages max (single PI) or 7 pages max (with co-PI + CV pages)
Layout: single-spaced, 1-inch margins, font no smaller than 10 pt
CVs: primary PI 2 pages max; optional co-PI CV 2 pages max
Do not put references or budget inside the proposal PDF - use the form’s dedicated sections

Numbered proposal sections should cover title, PI contact/affiliation, abstract, goals, methods and expected outcomes, relation to prior work, qualifications, how funding advances ongoing work (if relevant), any RFP-specific product/method constraints, and a data-sharing / open output statement.

How Applications Are Scored

Only complete, eligible, on-topic, correctly formatted files are scored. Reviewers look at:

Faculty merit - research record, community engagement, open-source impact, responsible innovation potential
Research merit - fit with Google Research interests, originality, likely field impact
Proposal quality - clarity, focus, organisation, credible execution plan
AI ethics alignment - fit with Google’s AI Principles where relevant

How to Apply

Open the official Google Academic Research Awards page.
Choose the matching 2026 RFP (for example Early Fault-Tolerant Quantum Algorithms & Applications).
Use Google’s Application Companion for structure samples and submission FAQs.
Draft a tight proposal with a clear question, measurable outcomes, risks, and differentiation from prior art.
Combine proposal and CV into one correctly named PDF.
Enter references and budget in the online form fields.
Submit before 7 August 2026, 11:59:59 pm AoE.

Application Tips

Define one sharp problem, not a vague quantum wishlist.
State minimum and best-case outcomes, datasets, and test cases.
Write so a non-expert can understand motivation and impact.
Explain why this gift unlocks work that would not happen otherwise.
Stay inside the listed 2026 topics - off-topic proposals are not accepted.

Deadline

Last date to apply: 7 August 2026 (11:59:59 pm AoE / UTC−12). Late submissions are not considered. Questions: research-awards@google.com.

Official Links

Google Academic Research Awards - Official Hub

Related Opportunities on Opportunity Station

FAQs

Is the Google Academic Research Awards 2026 fully funded?

Selected projects can receive up to $100,000 in research funding (as an institutional gift). Overhead/indirect costs are not covered.

Can researchers outside the USA apply?

Yes. Faculty at eligible degree-granting institutions worldwide may apply when they meet the call rules.

Can PhD students apply alone?

No. The call targets faculty PIs who advise students. Students may join a faculty-led proposal.

What is the 2026 topic focus?

Quantum computing, including early fault-tolerant algorithms/applications and quantum computing security.

When will results be announced?

By 30 October 2026.

When is the deadline?

7 August 2026, 11:59:59 pm AoE.

Results for “Google Academic Research Awards 2026”

Google Academic Research Awards 2026 (Fully Funded)