“The National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan: 2019 Update” https://www.nitrd.gov/pubs/National-AI-RD-Strategy-2019.pdf was released in June by the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) of the National Science & Technology Council.
According to Michael Kratsios, Deputy Assistant to the President for Technology Policy, “While this Plan does not define specific research agendas for Federal agency investments, it does provide an expectation for the overall portfolio for Federal AI R&D investments.”
The Strategic Plan identifies eight strategic priorities. Strategy 8 within the report, calls for “Expanding Public-Private Partnerships to Accelerate Advances in AI” that will reflect on the growing importance of public-private partnerships enabling AI R&D.
Today, benefits of public-private partnerships make it possible to:
- Strategically leverage resources, including facilities, data sets, and expertise to advance science and engineering innovations
- Accelerate the transition of innovations to practice
- Enhance education and training for next generation researchers, technicians, and leaders
For example one public partnership involving R&D programs occurring in the health field is taking place at HHS. The HHS Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures as part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, oversees an Accelerator Network.
Accelerators are used to connect startups and other businesses with product development and business support services. The HHS Division is recruiting a nonprofit partner that will be able to work with private investors to fund innovative technologies and products to solve systemic health security challenges with AI applications.
In another R&D program, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s “Silicon Valley Innovation Program” (SVIP) is looking for technologies with government applications. SVIP brings government, entrepreneurs, and industry together to find cutting-edge solutions, co-invest in these solutions, and then make it possible to accelerate the transition to market.
Lastly, the “Defense Innovation Unit” (DIU) a Department of Defense (DOD) organization, provides pilot contracts, which can include hardware, software, or other unique services. If successful, pilot contracts can lead to follow-on contracts between companies and DOD.