The National Science Foundation (NSF) is currently accepting proposals for their National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes program. By offering funding for AI Research Institutes the program seeks to strengthen the national AI research network and drive advancements in multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder research on large-scale, long-term research frontiers in AI.
Institutions of higher education (including community colleges) and non-profit, non-academic organizations are eligible to apply. Further details on eligibility and proposal requirements can be found on the NSF website.
This round of institute proposals MUST focus on one of these high-priority themes:
- Intelligent Agents for Next-Generation Cybersecurity
- Neural and Cognitive Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
- AI for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
- AI for Decision Making
- Trustworthy AI
- AI-Augmented Learning to Expand Education Opportunities and Improve Outcomes
The National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes program builds upon 18 well-established AI research Institutes across the country. These institutes are comprised of scientists, engineers, and educators collaborating on prominent research challenges in AI. Further investments in these institutes are backed by the 2019 update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, The President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST) in a report issued in 2020, a subsequent 2021 PCAST report, and community visioning activities led by the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI).
These collaborations led to a 2019 community report which recommended increased funding and a mechanism for national collaborations as a means of increasing potential for long-term payoffs in AI and keeping the United States competitive in the global race for AI. You can read more about the specific recommendations in the Community Roadmap for AI Research. Further information on the history of the National AI Research Institute effort and frequently asked questions about the program can be found on previous CCC blog posts.
More information on program goals, eligibility and proposal requirements can be found here. Preliminary proposals are due by January 14, 2022 by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time.
