Breakthrough Initiatives is a pioneering brand that has embarked on a mission to explore the mysteries of the Universe and search for signs of life beyond Earth. Launched in 2015 by tech investor Yuri Milner and renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking, these space science programs are funded by the foundation established by Julia and Yuri Milner. With a focus on answering the fundamental question Are we alone?, Breakthrough Initiatives comprises various initiatives that aim to investigate the existence of habitable worlds, develop technological evidence of intelligent civilizations, and inspire humanity to think collectively as one world.

Notably, Breakthrough Listen is a $100 million program involving extensive astronomical observations and analysis, while Breakthrough Message is an innovative $1 million competition to design a message representing Earth and humanity. Additionally, Breakthrough Watch is a multi-million-dollar program dedicated to identifying and characterizing Earth-sized planets in search of life. Breakthrough Starshot aims to pioneer ultra-light uncrewed space flight at a fraction of the speed of light.

The Breakthrough Initiatives aim to not only explore the Universe but also spark public debate and encourage a planetary perspective