About Us
A new kind of research organization
Our story
FirstPrinciples is a non-profit research organization established in 2024 by Ildar Shar, who combines entrepreneurial experience in the tech industry with a lifelong curiosity about the nature of reality.
As a new model for scientific research, we operate with the urgency and efficiency of a tech startup, combined with the purpose of a non-profit. We are open, independent, and global, which allows us to focus on building shared systems that support new ways of conducting scientific research.
Reimagining scientific discovery by reshaping how science is done.
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Our mission: Understand the nature of reality
From humanity’s earliest observations of the natural world to modern scientific theory, the pursuit of understanding has defined our progress across science and society. FirstPrinciples exists to carry this effort forward with a singular mission: to understand the fundamental nature of reality.
Our vision
We envision a future in which scientific AI is a valued contributor to research, and where our capacity to understand the universe grows alongside our tools for exploration. Through thoughtful innovation and shared scientific knowledge, we hope to contribute to a world where deeper understanding of the universe drives transformative progress across science and society.
To be curious is to be human. Science is how we give that curiosity form.
Who we are
We are a team focused on a clearly defined moonshot. Everyone at FirstPrinciples takes responsibility for our progress toward achieving it, and that shared commitment shapes how we work.
Unlike traditional research organizations, we are AI-first by design and operate as a team of builders focused on reimagining how research can be done. Our team draws on experience from leading technology organizations and works in close collaboration with research institutions around the world. Together, we are building the AI Physicist to turn discovery into a process that can be scaled with the demands of scientific complexity, without losing the rigor required to reliably contribute to the scientific process.
Values
Curiosity
We foster a relentless curiosity that drives us to explore the unknown and push the boundaries of understanding.
Ambition
We dare to dream big and aim for ambitious goals, challenging ourselves to achieve more than we ever thought possible.
Risk Taking
We embrace risks, knowing that innovation often requires stepping into the unknown and being unafraid of failure.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of collaboration, working together across disciplines and borders to achieve our shared vision.
Results-driven
We are committed to making a positive impact for all of humanity, driving our work towards tangible results that benefit people worldwide.