Limited Submission Funding Opportunity: NSF National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes
URL: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/national-artificial-intelligence-research
OBJECTIVES:
This program is a multisector effort led by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the Simons Foundation (SF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Capital One Financial Corporation (Capital One), and Intel Corporation (Intel).
This program solicitation expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes with new funding opportunities over the next two years. In this round, the program invites proposals for institutes that have a principal focus in one of the following themes aimed at transformational advances in a range of economic sectors, and science and engineering fields:
Group 1: Awards anticipated in FY24
- Theme One – AI for Astronomical Sciences: The primary goal of an AI Institution is to bring together astronomy and AI experts to tackle important challenges in astronomy, as well as the advances in AI that are needed to overcome these challenges.
- In Theme 1, NSF and the Simons Foundation expect to co-fund up to two National AI Research Institutes. The Simons Foundation intends to provide up to $20 million and the NSF intends to provide up to $20 million to support up to two new awards in FY 2024-FY 2028, subject to the availability of funds. The average total size and duration of a grant will be $4 Million per year for 5 years split evenly between the NSF and SF.
Group 2: Awards anticipated in FY25
- Theme Two – AI for Discovery in Materials Research: This theme focuses on AI’s potential to revolutionize materials discovery by integrating first principles from materials science, physics, and chemistry with heterogenous multi-dimensional experimental and synthetic data streams to scale and accelerate development. A successful Materials AI Institute will transform the materials discovery landscape, enable new AI-based capabilities, and be responsive to societal challenges and industrial needs.
- Intel Corporation is providing partial support for this institute theme.
- Theme Three – Strengthening AI: This theme promotes the development of next generation AI systems that have been strengthened to provide greater usefulness, consistency, and robustness by exhibiting both the high performance of narrow AI and the general adaptability of strong AI.
- Multiple awards are anticipated in this theme.
More information about all of the themes can be found online, here.
FUNDING INFORMATION: The NSF plans to make two awards in Theme 1, one award in Theme 2, and tow or more awards in Theme 3, subject to the availability of funds. Institute awards will be made for between $16,000,000 and $20,000,000 for four to five years.
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS: 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.
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS:
Interested investigators should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by DATE: 10/6/2023
- Questions outlined in InfoReady Review application;
- A brief statement (up to 2 pages) by the candidate describing their scientific achievements and proposed project;
- A brief budget overview of the project;
- Up-to-date CV or biosketch.
A faculty committee drawn from both campuses will review internal proposals and select nominees.
DEADLINES:
Internal Materials Due: Friday, October 6, 2023
Sponsor Deadline: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 – preliminary proposal due for Theme 1
Sponsor Deadline: Friday, January 12, 2024 – preliminary proposals due for Theme 2 and Theme 3
Sponsor Deadline: Friday, February 16, 2024 – Full Proposals for Theme 1
Sponsor Deadline: Friday, May 17, 2024 – Full Proposals for Theme 2 and Theme 3