Artificial intelligence has the power to accelerate scientific discovery, drive innovation and reshape the modern workforce. Yet many researchers and educators still lack access to the advanced computing power, data and tools needed to fully explore AI’s potential or to effectively train the next generation of talent.
To address this gap, the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) is being developed as a shared national research infrastructure that connects U.S. researchers and educators with critical AI resources. Through NAIRR, participants gain access to high-performance computing, datasets, software, AI models and training materials designed to support cutting-edge research and education.
The initiative aims to strengthen the nation’s AI ecosystem by making world-class resources more widely available and easier to use across academic and research institutions.
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Goals of the NAIRR
NAIRR is designed to achieve several key objectives:
- Accelerate AI-driven discovery and innovation across scientific and technical fields
- Expand the AI workforce by supporting education and training for future researchers and educators
- Increase the integration and use of leading public- and private-sector AI resources
- Advance trustworthy AI through improved interpretability, security and responsible deployment
By lowering barriers to entry, NAIRR seeks to ensure that AI research and education are not limited to a small number of well-resourced institutions.
A Collaborative National Effort
The initiative is led by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with 13 other federal agencies and 28 nongovernmental organizations. These partners contribute computing capacity, data, software and expertise, creating a broad pool of resources available to the nation’s research and education community.
Through this collaborative model, NAIRR combines government-funded infrastructure with industry and nonprofit contributions to support innovation at scale.
About the NAIRR Pilot Program
The NAIRR pilot serves as a proof of concept for the eventual full-scale implementation of the program. It focuses on supporting AI research and education across the national research community while generating insights to inform the long-term design and operation of NAIRR.
The pilot supports a wide range of AI-related research, including fundamental, translational and use-inspired projects, with a strong emphasis on addressing societal challenges. It also prioritizes workforce development by providing researchers and educators with access to training materials and hands-on infrastructure experience.
Moving Toward a Full-Scale NAIRR
In line with the federal strategy outlined in Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan, the launch of NSF solicitation 25-546 — the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC) — marks a key step in transitioning from the pilot phase to a scalable and sustainable national resource.
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The Operations Center will help coordinate resources, manage access and support users, laying the foundation for a fully operational NAIRR that can meet the growing demands of AI research and education.
As NAIRR continues to evolve, it is expected to play a central role in strengthening U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by ensuring researchers and educators nationwide have equitable access to the tools needed to innovate responsibly and effectively.
