Independent analyses, convenings, and studies to advance computing research

The National Science Foundation Division of Information and Intelligent Systems awarded the National Academy of Sciences $733,067 on October 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to conduct independent analyses, convenings, and studies advancing computing research.

Over the three-year performance period through September 30, 2029, the National Academy of Sciences will convene leaders from academia, industry, and government to examine computing research frontiers, set priorities across fields including artificial intelligence and quantum information science, and address shared challenges spanning advanced computing systems, trusted and reliable systems, the innovation ecosystem, and education and workforce needs. The organization will sustain ongoing dialogue with the computing research community through focused meetings, workshops, expert issue papers on timely topics, and in-depth studies producing findings and recommendations where applicable. Results will reach researchers, educators, funding agencies, industry, and policymakers through public meetings, webinars, briefings, and National Academies Press reports to clarify research directions and guide infrastructure and workforce decisions. Work is performed in Washington, DC.

Abstract

With support from this project, the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine will advance computing research through independent analysis, convenings, and studies. Computing is reshaping science, industry, security, and daily life. IT is opening new research paths. IT is also raising hard questions about strategy, infrastructure, workforce, and policy. This project builds on nearly four decades of national academies work. IT brings together leaders from academia, industry, and government to study new research frontiers and set priorities. The work spans fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum information science. IT also spans shared challenges, including advanced computing systems, trusted and reliable systems, the innovation ecosystem, and education and workforce needs. Over three years, the project will run a flexible mix of activities suited to each topic. IT will sustain ongoing dialogue with the computing research community. IT will hold focused meetings and workshops and produce expert issue papers on timely topics. IT will also conduct in-depth studies that offer findings and, where useful, recommendations. Results will reach a wide audience through public meetings, webinars, briefings, and national academies press reports. In this way, researchers, educators, funding agencies, industry, and policymakers gain access to rigorous, independent analysis. These activities will help clarify research directions and guide choices about infrastructure and workforce. They will strengthen the nation's ability to lead in computing. In doing so, the project advances science, supports national prosperity and security, and informs the decisions that shape the computing research enterprise. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.