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National AI Research Institutes is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with Simons Foundation, NIST, DOD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Capital One Financial Corporation, and Intel Corporation.
This program expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes with funding opportunities focused on transformational advances in economic sectors and science and engineering fields. Themes include AI for Discovery in Materials Research and Strengthening AI.
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National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes Status: Waiting for new publication Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .
All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. Supports the development of new AI Institutes that focus on one of the following themes: astronomical sciences, materials research and new methods for strengthening AI.
Supports the development of new AI Institutes that focus on one of the following themes: astronomical sciences, materials research and new methods for strengthening AI. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced tremendously and today promises personalized healthcare; enhanced national security; improved transportation; and more effective education, to name just a few benefits.
Increased computing power, the availability of large datasets and streaming data, and algorithmic advances in machine learning (ML) have made it possible for AI research and development to create new sectors of the economy and revitalize industries.
Continued advancement, enabled by sustained federal investment and channeled toward issues of national importance, holds the potential for further economic impact and quality-of-life improvements .
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).
Group 1 - Awards anticipated in FY 2024: Theme 1: AI for Astronomical Sciences Group 2 - Awards anticipated in FY 2025: Theme 2: AI for Discovery in Materials Research Theme 3: Strengthening AI For the institute themes listed in Group 1, NSF anticipates awards to start in FY 2024; and for themes listed in Group 2, NSF anticipates awards to start in FY 2025.
Each group has a specific set of due dates and review timeline pertaining only to that group. More detail is found under Due Dates and in the timeline provided in the Program Description. For general inquiries regarding this program (not theme specific) please email the program leads at: AIInstitutesProgram@nsf.
gov Program Leads (Reachable at the above address) For inquiries related to the responsiveness of your ideas for the Themes listed in this solicitation, please contact the program officers listed below. You are advised to address theme-specific questions to all program contacts listed for that theme Theme 1: AI for Astronomical Sciences Andreas Berlind, MPS/AST, aberlind@nsf. gov Gioia Rau, MPS/AST, grau@nsf.
gov Vladimir Pavlovic , CISE/IIS, vpavlovi@nsf. gov Elizabeth Roy, Simons Foundation, telephone: (212) 524-6966, email: eroy@simonsfoundation. org Theme 2: AI for Discovery in Materials Research Serdar Ogut, MPS/DMR, sogut@nsf.
gov Sylvia Spengler, CISE/IIS, sspengle@nsf. gov Theme 3: Strengthening AI Hector Munoz Avila, CISE/IIS, hmunoz@nsf. gov Raj Acharya, CISE/IIS, racharya@nsf.
gov Tatiana D. Korelsky, CISE/IIS, tkorelsk@nsf. gov Eleni Miltsakaki , CISE/IIS, emiltsak@nsf.
gov Juan Wachs, CISE/IIS, jwachs@nsf. gov AI Research Institutes Program Team AIInstitutesProgram@nsf.
gov May 7, 2026 - NSF at the AI+ Expo June 2, 2025 - NSF at the AI+ Expo October 29, 2024 - ExpandAI Program Webinar (October 2024) September 5, 2023 - AI Institutes Webinar November 16, 2021 - National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes… September 25, 2020 - National AI Research Institute in Dynamic Systems Webinar Additional program resources Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes Program (NSF 22-502) AI Institutes Webinar ,September 5th ,2023 , 1:30 pm 3:00 pm -- Register here AI Institutes Webinar ,September 5th ,2023 , 1:30 pm 3:00 pm -- Webinar Recording Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Project Summary (1 page): overview of project vision and goals
Project Description Section 3.a: Overview and Rationale
Project Description Section 3.b: Research Plan — foundational AI objectives, use-inspired integration, five-year timeline, partner roles
Project Description Section 3.c.1: Education and workforce development broader impacts
Project Description Section 3.c.2: Broadening participation plans with evidence-based strategies
Project Description Section 3.c.3: Collaboration and knowledge transfer
Project Description Section 3.d: Key Personnel, Management, and Integration Plan — organizational structure, management team roles, external advisory board plan
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Proposals for institutes focusing on the specified themes. Eligible entities typically include universities, research institutions, and nonprofits. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows not specified (total NSF investment in AI Institutes program nearly $500 million). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
National AI Research Institutes is funded by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with Simons Foundation, NIST, DOD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Capital One Financial Corporation, and Intel Corporation. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
The solicitation lists 12 required documents: Cover sheet, Project Summary (1 page), Project Description (25 pages max for full proposal), References cited, Biographical sketches (3 pages per person), and Budget (5-year breakdown), among others (the full list is in the Required Documents section on this page). Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
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