NSF-Simons National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes in the Astronomical Sciences

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Simons Foundation Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences jointly sponsor up to two national AI research institutes in the astronomical sciences. The purpose of the program is to advance basic research in AI and the astronomical sciences through support for up to two national AI research institutes. The program intends to support institutes that have, as their primary focus, the co-advancement of astronomy, astrophysics and artificial intelligence through multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder research on large-scale, longer-term horizon challenges. The institutes will accelerate the development of transformational technologies by grounding that research in critical astronomy and astrophysics challenges that can advance foundational research in both AI and astronomical sciences. They will also actively build the next generation of AI workforce in the astronomical sciences. NSF and the Simons Foundation have each committed $20,000,000 to support up to two institutes over five years. The average total size and duration of a grant will be $4M per year for 5 years, evenly split between the NSF and the Simons Foundation.