Expanding National Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure: New Data Systems and Resources from NSF

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced the launch of the Integrated Data Systems and Services (NSF IDSS) program. This new initiative aims to develop and operate national-scale data systems, serving research and education communities and interoperating with other federal science and data infrastructure efforts.

According to Katie Antypas, director of the NSF Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, data infrastructure and access to high-quality datasets are critical components of a thriving AI innovation ecosystem. The NSF IDSS program fills a gap in dedicated programs at NSF for operational national-scale data systems.

The program supports three classes of projects: new integrative data systems, scaling up existing successful prototypes, and planning grants for future IDSS systems and services projects. The efforts go beyond building data infrastructure, as they will sharpen America's competitive edge and lay the foundation for a new era of leadership in science and innovation.

Ten datasets have been selected for integration into the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot. These datasets cover a range of domains, including lidar-based terrain mapping, microbiome data, software supply chain graphs, and more. Some of the selected datasets will offer integration with NAIRR Pilot partner platforms.

The selection of datasets was made through a competitive process led by NSF in partnership with an interagency working group of 12 federal agencies. The institutions involved in selecting the 10 datasets for integration into the NAIRR pilot included government agencies, research institutions, and industry partners collaborating to ensure diverse and relevant data sources.

The NSF IDSS program aligns with priorities outlined in the White House AI Action Plan, which calls for investments in research infrastructure and datasets to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI research, education, and innovation. The program will enable the deployment of high-impact platforms that serve research and education communities and interoperate with other federal science and data infrastructure efforts.

In addition to advancing AI research, the NSF IDSS program will also support workforce development to manage and operate these systems. This focus on workforce development strengthens the U.S. cyberinfrastructure for AI, scientific progress, and long-term competitiveness.

Some of the featured datasets include AI4Shipwrecks from the University of Michigan, the Turbulence Database from Johns Hopkins University, the Cell Painting Gallery from the Broad Institute, FathomNet from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, PatchDB from George Mason University, Phase-Field Fracture Simulation from Johns Hopkins University, SecureChain from Purdue University, Microbiome Preterm Birth DREAM Challenge Dataset from the March of Dimes Repository for Preterm Birth Research at the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, the Industry Documents Library from the University of California, San Francisco, and OpenTopography from UC San Diego, Arizona State University, and the Earthscope Consortium.

The NSF-led NAIRR Pilot is a key initiative expanding access to AI research resources, and the awarded systems and services through the IDSS program will be integrated into the NAIRR and other NSF-managed programs. In the coming weeks, many of the datasets will become more deeply embedded in the NAIRR Pilot.

The efforts of the NSF IDSS program will contribute significantly to the generation, collection, and curation of high-quality datasets, which are suited to training innovative AI models targeted at specific domains or national challenges. By providing researchers access to scientific data, the NSF IDSS program aims to accelerate innovation and strengthen American competitiveness in AI and other sectors.

Expanding National Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure: New Data Systems and Resources from NSF