Cooperative Agreement 2622219

The National Science Foundation Division of Computer and Network Systems awarded a $3 million cooperative agreement to the University of California, San Diego on November 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to support the NSF AI Institute TILOS Phase II, which advances artificial intelligence research and education focused on physically embedded real-world intelligence.

The institute research integrates AI and foundation models with physical embodiment to enable real-time decision-making, control, and interaction in complex environments critical to transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, energy systems, and scientific instruments. The five-year award builds upon prior work to establish a new scientific paradigm for embedded intelligent systems where optimization is central to how AI learns, scales, coordinates, and operates. Three research thrusts target modern AI systems that (I) adapt, reason, and generalize more effectively and robustly; (II) act and coordinate as teams of embodied agents in the physical world; and (III) operate reliably and efficiently across chips and system substrates. The institute conducts investigation into new theory, algorithms, and related scientific and technological advances to address these challenges.

Broader impact activities include translation, education and workforce development, outreach, community building, and open-source release of new frameworks for AI and optimization. The institute leverages relationships with leading industry partners across sectors critical to the national economy to accelerate knowledge transfer, provide interdisciplinary student training in AI applications, and expand industry partnerships for pilot deployments in robotics, communication networks, and chip design.

Performance takes place in La Jolla, California, with a period of performance through October 31, 2031.