NSF Releases Solicitation for National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes
The National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Capital One Financial Corporation (Capital One), the Simons Foundation (SF), and Intel Corporation (Intel) has released a solicitation for the fourth competition of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes. Organizations included in the previous solicitation that are no longer participating include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Education (ED), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and IBM Corporation.
In the solicitation, NSF notes the 2023 update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, which emphasizes the need for “long-term investments in AI research in areas with the potential for long-term payoffs in AI.” The latest solicitation focuses on themes aimed at “transformational advances in a range of economic sectors, and science and engineering fields,” and includes funding opportunities associated with two funding years: fiscal year (FY) 2024 and FY 2025. The scale of the solicitation is reduced from previous rounds as only one theme is funded in FY 2024 and two in FY 2025 with five total awards expected. The previous solicitation featured six themes that resulted in seven awards in 2023. A summary of the three themes for the fourth solicitation is presented below with additional details included in the full solicitation.
- Group One – Awards anticipated in FY 2024:
- Theme 1: AI for Astronomical Sciences: Supports collaboration between astronomy and AI experts to analyze and manage the “petabytes of high-quality imaging and spectroscopic data over a wide range of wavelengths of light and with a high temporal cadence” coming from current and future astronomy instruments. Simons is co-funding this theme with NSF.
- Group Two – Awards anticipated in FY 2025:
- Theme 2: AI for Discovery in Materials Research: Supports research that aims to revolutionize materials discovery building on fundamental principles in materials science, physics, and chemistry in combination with AI-based capabilities. Examples given in the solicitation include Multi-modal data integration and dataset development, Foundational AI advances driven by materials research, First synthesis to synthesis at scale, Human-augmented materials design, and Interpretable materials AI. Intel will contribute funding for this theme and NSF support is driven by the Division of Materials Research.
- Theme 3: Strengthening AI: Supports use-inspired research on how AI technologies can be improved and integrated into reliable systems “aligned with human intentions and ethical considerations.” Institutes must advance theory, methods, or integrative approaches to strengthen AI in terms of Grounding, Instructiblity, and Alignment. This theme anticipates multiple awards, and proposals can address any use-inspired research context such as environment, health, civics, science, innovation, etc. Capitol One will provide partial funding for one institute under this theme. DOD and NIST may also contribute to Institutes undertaking relevant research.
Building on the existing network of NSF AI Institutes, this solicitation will support advances to the frontiers in AI. Institutes must focus on one of the three themes identified in the solicitation and address the following requirements:
- Support research to advance foundational AI research;
- Conduct use-inspired research;
- Actively build the next generation of talent;
- Include multidisciplinary groups of scientists, engineers and educators;
- Engage multiple organizations working together to create significant new research capabilities; and
- Serve as a nexus point for collaborative efforts.
Award Information: NSF anticipates up to $100 million in total funding for this competition.
- Theme 1: Will be co-funded by NSF and the Simons Foundation contributing $20 million each to support up to two awards in FY 2024 – FY 2028. Awards will be $4 million per year for five years.
- Themes 2 and 3: NSF plans to make up to one award in Theme 2 and two or more awards in Theme 3. Institutes will be supported at around $4 million per year for four to five years, subject to the availability of funds.
Eligibility: Two-and four-year institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic organizations are eligible to apply. Institutions may submit a maximum of two proposals and individuals may be listed as a PI or Co-PI on a maximum of one proposal.
Due Dates:
- Group 1: Mandatory preliminary proposals are due on October 31, 2023, and full proposals are due February 16, 2024.
- Group 2: Mandatory preliminary proposals are due on January 12, 2024, and full proposals are due May 17, 2024.
Sources and Additional Information: