In March 2012, the Obama Administration announced the “Big Data Research and Development Initiative.” The goal is to help solve some of the Nation’s most pressing challenges by improving our ability to extract knowledge from large and complex collections of digital data. The Administration encouraged multiple stakeholders including federal agencies, private industry, academia, state and local government, non-profits, and foundations, to develop and participate in Big Data innovation projects across the country.

National Science Foundation is exploring the establishment of a national network of “Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs.” These Hubs will help to sustain new regional and grassroots partnerships around Big Data. Potential roles for Hubs include, but are not limited to:

• Accelerate the ideation and development Big Data solutions to specific global and societal challenges by convening stakeholders across sectors to partner in results-driven programs and projects.
• Act as a matchmaker between the various academic, industry, and community stakeholders to help drive successful pilot programs for emerging Big Data technology.
• Coordinate across multiple regions of the country, based on shared interests and industry sector engagement to enable dialogue and share best practices.
• Aim to increase the speed and volume of technology transfer between universities, public and private research centers and laboratories, large enterprises, and SMB’s.
• Facilitate engagement with opinion and thought leaders on the societal impact of Big Data technologies as to maximize positive outcomes of adoption while reducing unwanted consequences.
• Support the education and training of the entire Big Data workforce, from data scientists to managers to data end-users.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks input from stakeholders across academia, state and local government, industry, and non-profits across all parts of the Big Data innovation ecosystem on the formation of Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs. Please submit a response of no more than two-pages to BIGDATA@nsf.gov outlining:

1. The goals of interest for a Big Data Regional Hub, with metrics for evaluating the success or failure of the Hub to meet that goal;
2. The multiple stakeholders that would participate in the Hub and their respective roles and responsibilities;
3. Plans for initial and long-term financial and in-kind resources that the stakeholders would need to commit to this hub; and
4. A principal point of contact.

Please submit responses no later than Nov 1, 2014. For more information see the NSF announcement.