2024 - The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program

Networking and Information Technology R&D Program and the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office Supplement to the President’s FY2025 Budget Released

(November 27, 2024)

PUBLICATIONS / SUPPLEMENT TO THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET

This document is a supplement to the President’s FY2025 Budget Request to Congress. Following Congressional mandate, the Supplement incorporates budgetary and programmatic information for member agencies of the NITRD Program and for the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative. This report covers FY2023 actual, FY2024 enacted, and FY2025 requested funding levels by agency and Program Component Area for all NITRD R&D programs. It also describes the key R&D programs and coordination activities planned for FY2025 by the federal agencies participating in NITRD. In addition, this document reports on the specific agency investments for FYs2023–2025 for AI and the National AI Research Institutes and for advanced wireless. It also includes a list of the existing and proposed R&D projects that address critical national cybersecurity needs.

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program announces update to Big Data Strategic Plan

(November 12, 2024)

This document outlines a new vision and strategies to address the evolving big data research and development needs. It updates “The Federal Big Data Research and Development Strategic Plan” to address the notable developments and substantial changes in technologies and data management over the past several years. Additionally, this update considers the ethical and workforce implications of big data capabilities, and incorporates insights from federal agencies, findings from a community workshop, and input from the public. This update is essential to ensuring that the United States remains equipped to tackle the most pressing challenges and to empower the nation to make informed decisions that directly impact every sector.

NITRD NCO announces Kirk Dohne as Deputy Director

(October 30, 2024)

NEWS

The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program National Coordination Office (NCO) announces Kirk Dohne as the deputy director, effective October 22, 2024. Dohne joins the NITRD NCO from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he served as the associate director of the Engineering Laboratory and, previously, as the director of the office of programs in the Information Technology Laboratory. While at NIST, Dohne oversaw the 90+ projects in the Engineering Laboratory. He led strategic planning, implementation, and review of projects in the areas of advanced manufacturing, automation, and autonomous systems; energy-efficient, high-performance buildings; and disaster-resilient buildings, infrastructure, and communities. He performed similar roles in the Information Technology Laboratory for projects covering cybersecurity, software and systems, advanced networking, applied mathematics, and statistical engineering. Dohne received his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Economics from Dickinson College, Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, and Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School. NITRD is the nation’s primary source of federally funded research and development (R&D) in advanced information technologies (IT) in computing, networking, and software.

National Spectrum Research and Development Plan

(October 9, 2024)

PUBLICATIONS / WIRELESS SPECTRUM

This National Spectrum Research and Development Plan identifies key innovation areas for spectrum research as directed under Pillar 3 of the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS – November 2023): “Unprecedented Spectrum Innovation, Access, and Management through Technology Development” objective 3.2: “Commit to improving collective understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum through coordinated, focused, and sophisticated research and development (R&D)”. This Plan reflects recommendations from federal stakeholders and responses from industry, academia and the public to a Request for Information published in February 2024. This Plan was informed by public input from U.S. universities, companies and industry trade organizations submitted in response to a public Request for Information. Federal agency inputs were gathered through the WSRD IWG of the National Information Technology R&D (NITRD) Program. This Plan will be revised and updated on a periodic basis. Revisions to this Plan will include stakeholder consultation via the collaborative framework mandated by the National Spectrum Strategy.

SPSQ-CMU-Software-AI-Engineering-Workshop-Report-2024

U.S. Leadership in Software Engineering & AI Engineering: Critical Needs & Priorities Workshop Report

(September 27, 2024)

AI / PUBLICATIONS / SOFTWARE ENGINEERING / WORKSHOP

To inform a community strategy for building and maintaining U.S. leadership in software engineering and AI engineering, the Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (CMU SEI) and the Software Productivity, Sustainability, and Quality (SPSQ) Interagency Working Group co-hosted the workshop at the National Science Foundation from June 20th to the 21st, 2023…

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Request for Information on a National Plan for Cyber-Physical Systems Resilience

(September 26, 2024)

CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS RESILIENCE / FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE

On behalf of Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the NITRD National Coordination Office seeks public input for the creation of a National Plan for Cyber-Physical Systems Resilience Research (the Plan). The goal of the plan is to shape a whole-of-government research and development (R&D) plan related to cyber-physical resilience across systems that may be local, regional, or national in scope. As defined in the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report, Strategy for Cyber-Physical Resilience: Fortifying Our Critical Infrastructure for a Digital World, cyber-physical systems are defined as physical systems that rely on computing technologies for sensing, analysis, tracking, controls, connectivity, coordination, and human-system interaction. The National Climate Resilience Framework defines resilience as the ability to prepare for threats and hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from adverse conditions and disruptions. From the perspective of the RFI, the system recovery period and performance are acceptable from a social and technical perspective. These definitions will be used for the purposes of this RFI, but respondents are welcome to provide alternate definitions if cyber-physical systems have a different meaning in their industry or field, along with the scientific rationale for specific use-cases. The Plan is scheduled to be released in 2025.

NITRD Program Announces Launch of Podcast Focusing on Innovative Collaboration

(September 5, 2024)

NEWS / RESOURCES

The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program, the nation’s primary source of federally funded research and development (R&D) in advanced information technologies (IT) in computing, networking, and software, today launched the NITRD Podcast to deliver stories of innovative collaboration within the United States government.

AI-Research-and-Development-Progress-Report-2020-2024

2020–2024 Progress Report: Advancing Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence R&D

(July 22, 2024)

AI / PUBLICATIONS / STRATEGY DOCUMENTS

This document reports current trends and examples of federal R&D investments, program information, and activities in AI that directly address the R&D challenges and opportunities noted in the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan: 2023 Update https://www.nitrd.gov/pubs/National-Artificial-Intelligence-Research-and-Development-Strategic-Plan-2023-Update.pdf

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Request for Information on Digital Twins Research and Development

(June 18, 2024)

DIGITAL TWINS / FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE

On behalf of Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the NITRD National Coordination Office seeks public input for the creation of a National Digital Twins R&D Strategic Plan. The Plan will act as an organizing national document, providing guidance for government investments in digital twins related research and offering valuable insights to help guide further federal R&D coordination to advance technology and accelerate the use and early adoption of the digital twin models to address the nation’s priorities and fast-track agency missions. The Plan is scheduled to be released in mid to late 2025.

FY 2021 – 2023 Progress Report on Pioneering the Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem: A Strategic Plan

(June 14, 2024)

HIGH END COMPUTING / PUBLICATIONS / STRATEGY DOCUMENTS

This progress report summarizes investments and activities under each of the FACE strategic objectives and the sub-objectives, as listed in the 2020 Pioneering the Future Advanced Computing Ecosystem: A Strategic Plan. The report also highlights outcomes of selected investments and activities from across the federal agencies.