NVIDIA and the National Science Foundation are launching the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot to advance responsible AI discovery and innovation.

The US National Science Foundation has launched the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot initiative, with participation and support from NVIDIA, the producer of AI-driven chips, systems, and software.

Except for the two parties, the large-scope project involves partnerships with 10 other federal agencies as well as private-sector, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.

The main aim of the NAIRR initiative is to promote responsible AI discovery and innovation within the US and help the country maintain its competitive edge when it comes to the groundbreaking technologies of the future.

The pilot will support fundamental AI research as well as domain-specific research applying AI. In addition, NAIRR will try to reach broader communities, currently unable to participate in the AI innovation ecosystem. These are, for example, rural communities or underrepresented populations.

The initial focus of the project is AI research to advance safe, secure and trustworthy AI and AI applications in healthcare, environmental protection and infrastructure sustainability.

“The NAIRR is a vision of a national research infrastructure that will provide access to computing, data, models and software to empower researchers and communities.”

Katie Antypas, director of the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure at the NSF

The role of NVIDIA in this project lies in the commitment of $30 million in technology contributions over two years. This investment is a key factor in the pilot’s potential scalability.

Besides financial contribution, NVIDIA will share some of its core AI knowledge. The firm’s collaboration with scientific centres can significantly boost educational and workforce training programs. The developer will collect insights from researchers using its platform to refine and enhance AI literacy and skill development across the scientific community and support continuous advancement in AI applications.

“With NVIDIA AI software and supercomputing, the scientists, researchers and engineers of the extended NSF community will be able to utilize the world’s leading infrastructure to fuel a new generation of innovation.”

NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang

The project aims to leverage AI-driven innovations across various sectors, from healthcare to environmental science. Accordingly, the list of the government agencies supporting the project ranges from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

NVIDIA, which is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of computer chips, invested in more than 35 AI startups in 2023. Notably, the company is investing both in large AI platforms worth several billion dollars and smaller startups implementing AI in niche segments such as energy and healthcare.