Conference: bringing together the nairr community for the 2027 annual meeting

The National Science Foundation Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure awarded Internet2 (University Corporation For Advanced Internet Development) $999,998 on September 1, 2026, to convene the third National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Annual Meeting in spring 2027.

Internet2 will host the 2027 NAIRR Annual Meeting to bring together NAIRR researchers, educators, resource providers, students, and working groups to exchange ideas and share lessons learned about NAIRR capabilities, plans, and outcomes. The event will highlight research and education advancements and innovations from NAIRR contributors and users, provide opportunities to explore NAIRR resources and tools, and facilitate discussions on lessons learned, opportunities to enhance AI innovation in support of research and education, democratization of AI resources and tools, and outreach to new and emerging AI research and education communities. The meeting aims to strengthen the NAIRR community and inform strategic next steps as the program transitions from pilot to full-scale, sustained national resource status.

The award is made under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070). Performance occurs in Washington, DC 20036, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Abstract

Building on the success of the 2025 inaugural and 2026 national artificial intelligence research resource (nairr) annual meetings, INTERNET2 will convene the third nairr annual meeting in spring 2027. The nairr pilot was launched in january 2024 as a collaborative effort led by the national science foundation with many federal agencies and non-governmental partners. The goals of the nairr pilot are to explore and demonstrate approaches and solutions in preparation for an eventual full-scale nairr, with emphasis on making computational, data, models, educational resources, and collaborative opportunities broadly available to researchers and educators to accelerate research and innovation on AI and using AI. As a national, member-driven organization that operates technology and regularly convenes stakeholders in support of research and education, INTERNET2 will again host the 2027 nairr annual meeting. The 2027 nairr annual meeting will bring together participating nairr researchers and educators, resource providers, students, and working groups to connect, exchange ideas, and share lessons learned about nairr capabilities, plans, and outcomes. This event will highlight research and education advancements, resources, and innovations from nairr contributors and users, along with opportunities to explore nairr resources and tools, impacts, challenges, and future possibilities. The meeting will also provide a venue for discussions on lessons learned, opportunities to enhance innovation in AI in support of research and education, the democratization of AI resources and tools, and ways of reaching new and emerging AI research and education communities. Ultimately, the 2027 annual meeting aims to strengthen the nairr community and inform strategic next steps for nairr and the research and education community as the program transitions from pilot to a full-scale, sustained national resource. 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.