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The U.S. National Science Foundation announced over $2 million in planning grants to support the development of artificial intelligence-ready test beds — real-world environments that will accelerate the design, evaluation and deployment of AI technologies across sectors critical to America’s economy and prosperity.

The initiative is a joint effort led by the NSF directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), implementing a priority issued in the White House’s recent AI Action Plan to invest in secure, real-world settings that allow researchers to prototype new AI systems and translate them to the market.

“The AI-ready test beds program is uniquely NSF,” said Ellen Zegura, NSF acting assistant director for CISE. “It leverages critical, existing test environments to drive AI progress. This initiative not only builds the foundation for new breakthroughs in AI research but also helps bridge the gap between research and applications by connecting researchers with real-world challenges and enabling them to explore how AI can be most effectively applied in practice.”

As AI systems become increasingly integrated into areas ranging from emergency response to wireless networks, evaluating their reliability and performance beyond controlled settings is essential to developing long-term, impactful solutions that benefit the nation. NSF’s test bed investments ensure that AI breakthroughs are tested for impact, scalability and built to serve the public

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The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a new funding opportunity that would invest up to $100 million to support a network of “programmable cloud laboratories,” aimed at expanding access to cutting-edge technology to accelerate the automation of scientific discovery and innovation.

The NSF Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed) would establish artificial intelligence-enabled laboratories nationwide to integrate, test, evaluate and validate the capabilities of new cutting-edge AI-based technologies.

This new program directly implements a priority of the White House AI Action Plan to accelerate AI-enabled science through automated laboratory infrastructure. It will be led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) and subject to future appropriations.

“The idea of a national network of programmable cloud laboratories builds on NSF’s longstanding legacy of transformative investments — such as NSFNET decades ago — that paved the way for the modern internet,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP.

The NSF PCL initiative will invest in a network of laboratories that can be remotely accessed to run custom, user-programmed AI-enabled workflows. These hubs will help bring innovative technologies into practical use during scientific and engineering experiments. The initial focus will be on biotechnology and materials science — fields that are well-positioned to benefit from the programmable cloud laboratory model.

“The PCL initiative will transform how U.S. researchers conduct scientific

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Advances in fundamental technologies enable robots to collaborate with humans, as well as with other robots. David Saldaña, assistant professor in the department of computer science and engineering at Lehigh University, discusses his work developing resilient and adaptive collaborative aerial robots.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries&list=PL0ujJTaPsv3cFZCgjHk-XdsD7JjY6wM0t

Listen to NSF Discovery Files wherever you get your podcasts.

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The U.S. National Science Foundation announced $45 million to fund 15 new awards through the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program, with projects focusing on artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnology and translational science.

These represent NRT’s most significant annual investment in institutions located in NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) jurisdictions and extend the program’s reach to science, technology, engineering and math graduate students in 47 states, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including two new states, Idaho and North Dakota.

“Students are the foundation for a strong STEM enterprise,” said NSF Assistant Director for STEM Education James L. Moore III. “Through effective, evidence-based graduate education closely aligned with the nation’s workforce priorities and research needs, NRT ensures that today’s STEM graduate students are prepared and equipped to become tomorrow’s STEM leaders and innovators.”

The NSF-sponsored projects will use critical and emerging technologies to develop the AI and quantum workforce to meet regional economic needs, strengthen health care systems, support rural agricultural and economic development, improve infrastructure, prepare bioengineers and much more.

This investment also marks the first time NSF has made awards through the NRT Institutional Partnership Pilot (NRT-IPP) program. NRT-IPP supports graduate student projects with high industry relevance through partnerships between non-R1 institutions, institutions with existing or completed NRT projects, and industry partners, including Apple, Clark Construction and Draper.

Below is the list of the 2025

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