A generous donation of $200 million will help advance the search for life beyond our planet

The SETI Institute, a non-profit scientific research organization, has received a transformative philanthropic gift of $200 million from the estate of Franklin Antonio, who had been a visionary supporter and catalyst of the institute's work for more than 12 years. Franklin Antonio was a co-founder of the communications chip company Qualcomm, and he passed away on May 13, 2022, leaving behind a remarkable legacy to enable breakthrough science in the search for intelligent life beyond our world.

With this generous donation, the SETI Institute will be able to elevate and expedite its research in six key science disciplines: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Exoplanets, Planetary Exploration, Astrobiology, Climate and Bio-geoscience, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The institute, guided by Antonio's vision, will have the opportunity to make discoveries that will benefit all of humanity for generations to come.

The SETI Institute has more than 100 scientists who are actively conducting research across 173 separate programs. This gift will allow it to undertake more missions, expand research priorities, and push the boundaries of human knowledge in exploring life beyond our planet and the origins of life here on Earth, according to Bill Diamond, President, and CEO of the SETI Institute.

Thanks to this philanthropic gift, the SETI Institute will be able to establish postdoctoral fellowships and internal grants for science and education programs. Additionally, it will expand its research base and extend its reach globally through new international collaborations. The gift will also support the development of innovative observational technologies and analytical instruments, as well as the creation of new educational programs and initiatives, particularly focused on reaching and engaging underserved communities.

Franklin Antonio's contribution to the SETI Institute went beyond financial support. He was an integral part of the technical team and played a crucial role in upgrading the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to become the world-class radio telescope instrument that it is today, according to Dr. Andrew Siemion, Bernard M. Oliver Chair of SETI Research at the SETI Institute and Director of SETI Research at the University of Oxford.

"Currently, SETI-focused projects are eligible for only limited federal funding through research grants and otherwise depend entirely on philanthropic support and private funding. Antonio's gift will serve to permanently endow core SETI programs and foster new global partnerships," said Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, Director of the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute.

The significant contribution from Franklin Antonio will impact all research domains of the SETI Institute, providing its teams the freedom to pursue their science priorities and examine the technological, philosophical, and societal impact of their research on our daily lives here on Earth. The SETI Institute is a non-profit multi-disciplinary research and education organization founded in 1984, devoted to understanding the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe. It collaborates closely with industry, academia, and government agencies, including NASA, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation.

Thanks to the philanthropic gift from Franklin Antonio, the SETI Institute is poised to embark on an exciting new chapter in its quest to answer one of the oldest questions in human history: Are we alone in the universe?