For Funders
Join us in creating a new model for scientific progress
Building the next foundation for science
We are at a pivotal moment for science and technology. Scientific questions are increasingly complex, shaped by rapidly expanding datasets and the need to reason across domains and vast scales. At the same time, advances in AI have accelerated significantly, creating powerful new capabilities for how we interact with information.
These developments have revealed a structural gap between academia and industry. Academic institutions remain central to advancing scientific knowledge, but operate under resource structures that differ fundamentally from those of large-scale industrial AI efforts. At the same time, many frontier AI systems are developed within commercial environments that are not designed to support open, collaborative scientific research.
FirstPrinciples exists to bridge this gap. Seated between academia and industry, we build AI expressly for science, in service of shared knowledge and public good. We believe the questions being asked today are best approached in partnership with funders who bring a strategic perspective. These collaborations will be essential in shaping durable infrastructure for a future in which AI is a valued partner in scientific discovery.
Why strategic partnership matters
Expanding research capacity and responsibility
Funders have a unique role in supporting the design of systems that will serve future generations of scientists, both human and AI-augmented. This goes beyond traditional project funding. It involves engaging in the design of standards and governance practices that will shape how scientific discovery unfolds in the decades ahead.
Shared stewardship, not transactional support
Rather than framing contributions as gifts, we invite funders to join a shared stewardship model that recognizes:
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Scientific infrastructure is a long-term investment, not a short-term deliverable.
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Robust governance and oversight must be designed into systems from the start.
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Institutional partners help shape the criteria for accountability and validation as capabilities evolve.
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Where curiosity meets collaboration, progress follows.
Areas of engagement
Methodology and evaluation frameworks
Contribute to the development of frameworks that define what quality means for AI-assisted scientific workflows, which influences how systems are tested and iterated.
Governance and oversight practices
Support institutional practices for oversight and evaluation that allow AI systems to be integrated into scientific research in a reliable and trustworthy way.
Shared research infrastructure
Support initiatives designed for public scientific good that ensure reproducibility and extensibility across disciplines and institutions.
Collaborative programs and community ecosystems
Advance programs that connect scientists, engineers, theorists, and methodologists in interdisciplinary collaboration, including workshops, fellowships, and selective expert engagement programs such as the Theo Collaborators Program and FirstPrinciples Talks.
What funders can bring
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Strategic perspectives on governance, risk, and long-range impact
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Institutional credibility that bolsters shared evaluation norms
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Commitment to transparency and long-term accountability
Funding support with FirstPrinciples is about co-defining the standards and practices that future scientific infrastructure will rely upon.
Working together
If you’re interested in engaging with FirstPrinciples in this capacity, we welcome conversations with those thinking seriously about how scientific discovery will evolve with AI, how it can remain trustworthy, and what infrastructure is needed to support it over the long term.
If these questions resonate, we invite you to explore partnership opportunities with us.
Announcements
Partner with Us
Join a growing network of researchers, engineers, and collaborators interested in advancing how science is done. Your participation can help define what discovery looks like in the era of AI.
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.