NSF’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate Seeks Social Scientist Input
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a request for information (RFI) seeking input on a roadmap for the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate. The roadmap will focus on directions for the Directorate to make investments in use-inspired and translational research over a three-year period with the goal of securing U.S. competitiveness in the ten key technology focus areas identified for TIP in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022:
- “Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances;
- High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software;
- Quantum information science and technology;
- Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing;
- Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation;
- Advanced communications technology and immersive technology;
- Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology;
- Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics;
- Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation; and
- Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing technologies.”
The legislation also laid out five societal grand challenges for TIP to address:
- national security
- manufacturing and industrial productivity
- workforce development and skills gaps
- Climate change and environmental sustainability
- Inequitable access to education, opportunity, or other services
Responses should also consider the related societal, national, and geostrategic challenges related to “national security, manufacturing and industrial productivity, workforce development and skill gaps, climate change and environmental sustainability, and inequitable access to education, opportunities, and services.”
The RFI is calling for input on the following topic areas in particular:
- Prioritization: What evidence is available to determine priorities across the key technology areas to advance U.S. competitiveness? Within each technology area, which use-inspired or translation topic areas should be prioritized by NSF and why?
- Suitability: Which technologies or related topics are best fit to be supported by TIP? What kind of funding mechanisms or processes would have the greatest impact on advancing such technology?
- Workforce: What key technologies will have the most pressing or urgent workforce needs within the next one to five years? How could TIP structure programs or pathways to meet growing workforce demands in the U.S.? How can TIP collaborate with other government organizations and industry to ensure efforts to meet workforce needs are actually addressing needs in the key technology areas and societal challenges, while broadening equity and inclusion?
- Addressing societal challenges: Which of the key technology areas should receive investment priority and why, especially when considering ways the key technology areas will impact societal, national, and geostrategic challenges?
- Additions: Are there technology areas that TIP should be prioritizing in the near term that is not included in the above key technologies list, and why should they be included?
- Crosscutting Investments: What investments in translational research should TIP make to meet critical needs that are commonly found across the key technology focus areas?
- Are there other relevant topics that should be considered to develop a TIP roadmap?
Responses are due by July 27, and can be sent to TIPRoadmap-RFI@nsf.gov. The full RFI can be found here.