Alexandria, September 5 — The National Science Foundation announced the creation of the NSF National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Operations Center (NSF NAIRR‑OC), the operational backbone of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR), a public-private effort aimed at expanding access to advanced AI research capabilities. The NAIRR‑OC will coordinate participating resource providers, integrate computing, data, models, and tools, operate the national NAIRR portal, and provide user support and training.
The center will also gather community input to improve NAIRR and lead the transition of appropriate pilot functions into a long-term national infrastructure. Leadership will come from the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego, working in collaboration with the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
UC San Diego already leads the NSF‑supported National Data Platform and National Research Platform, while UT Austin heads the NSF Leadership‑Class Computing Facility; together they have supported millions of users and managed complex, multiyear initiatives. The new operations center will coordinate with three NSF programs. First, the NSF State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs, which bring together research institutions, government, industry, and philanthropy.
Second, the NSF Integrated Data Systems and Services program, which supports national-scale data infrastructure. Third, the NSF Unlocking Dataset Value for AI‑Enabled Scientific Discovery initiative, which increases the value of existing scientific datasets.
By aligning these efforts, the NAIRR‑OC aims to create a stronger national ecosystem for AI-enabled scientific discovery.
From Pilot to Permanent Service
The NAIRR pilot, launched in 2024, has supported over 800 research projects and thousands of innovators and students nationwide, drawing participation from more than 25 private‑sector partners that include major technology leaders and nonprofit organizations. The operations center will work closely with federal and private-sector resource providers, strengthening the public-private partnership model and marking a key step in moving from the pilot phase to a sustained national capability.
Here’s what it means for the research community: with a dedicated operations hub, the NAIRR‑OC will enable more researchers and institutions to contribute to AI innovation and address national challenges. Looking ahead, the NAIRR‑OC will continue to gather community input and coordinate with resource providers.
The establishment of the center marks a key step in transitioning pilot functions into a long-term national infrastructure, a step that could enable more researchers and institutions to contribute to AI innovation and address national challenges.
