Emerging Technologies State Staff Academy Grant

Purpose: The Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) leads on the implementation of the California Jobs First initiative. The GO-Biz Innovation and Emerging Technologies Unit supports the advancement of emerging technologies sectors that are recognized under the California Economic Blueprint. The unit’s role includes fostering a greater understanding of emerging technology sectors among staff within relevant state entities. Description: As GO-Biz engages with cross-agency partners to support these Bet Sectors, the office is proposing the development of an “Emerging Technologies Academy” for staff and appointees within California state entities. The purpose of this educational initiative is to support foundational understanding and policy fluency around emerging technologies, such as AI, quantum fusion energy, in a manner that is designed for State policy staff. The program aims to familiarize staff with policy implications, technological opportunities, and societal risks, and create a space for informed dialogue. The Staff Academy should be administered in partnership with experts from academic institutions and national labs, and may feature the following elements: interactive seminars, topical workshops, case studies, site visits to representative facilities, technology assessments, and additional components as needed. The overarching goal of this program is to develop basic policy literacy related to key Bet Sectors so that state agencies can better identify actions that can be taken to responsibly support emerging technology industries. This RFP outlines the initial structure and the responsibilities of the academy host. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Nonprofit Must be a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3), c(4), and c(6)). Must be a nonpartisan organization. Must have its primary operations located in the State of California. Eligible Geographies: Must be legally authorized to conduct business in California. Must be in good standing and have active status with the California Secretary of State. Important Dates Application deadline The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. 6/29/26 17:00 Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. July 6, 2026 Period of performance The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized. 8/1/26 - 2/26/27 Funding Details Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. See Notes Below Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. 1 Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. $1 – $500,000 Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent. No Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. No Available Funding Notes: Up to $500,000 Funding Source: The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number. State Funding Method: The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee.

Purpose: The Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) leads on the implementation of the California Jobs First initiative. The GO-Biz Innovation and Emerging Technologies Unit supports the advancement of emerging technologies sectors that are recognized under the California Economic Blueprint. The unit’s role includes fostering a greater understanding of emerging technology sectors among staff within relevant state entities. Description: As GO-Biz engages with cross-agency partners to support these Bet Sectors, the office is proposing the development of an “Emerging Technologies Academy” for staff and appointees within California state entities. The purpose of this educational initiative is to support foundational understanding and policy fluency around emerging technologies, such as AI, quantum fusion energy, in a manner that is designed for State policy staff. The program aims to familiarize staff with policy implications, technological opportunities, and societal risks, and create a space for informed dialogue. The Staff Academy should be administered in partnership with experts from academic institutions and national labs, and may feature the following elements: interactive seminars, topical workshops, case studies, site visits to representative facilities, technology assessments, and additional components as needed.