Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences | 25 530

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG)

What is the CAIG program?

The Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences (CAIG) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity designed to advance artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and geoscience discovery at the same time. Its core purpose is to accelerate scientific understanding of the Earth system by supporting projects where AI methods are developed, adapted, or used in genuinely new ways to enable major progress on important geoscience research questions.

What is the main goal of CAIG?

The central goal is to accelerate Earth system science by funding projects in which advanced AI is a key driver of the research outcomes. CAIG focuses on efforts where AI enables advances that would be difficult or impossible using standard approaches, while the geoscience application provides real scientific constraints that can motivate new AI developments.

How is CAIG different from a project that simply applies AI to geoscience data?

CAIG is looking for more than routine analytics or standard applications of existing methods. Competitive projects are expected to go beyond simply applying AI to geoscience datasets by developing new AI methods, adapting AI techniques in meaningful ways, and/or using AI in sophisticated and innovative ways that are necessary to achieve the geoscience scientific goals.

What kinds of collaborations does CAIG expect?

A defining feature of CAIG is true cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program emphasizes partnerships where AI specialists and geoscientists jointly shape the research, rather than working in parallel. Strong proposals are expected to integrate expertise from both AI and geosciences so the work benefits each field, ideally producing geoscience breakthroughs while also improving AI techniques, workflows, or capabilities.

Does the project need to advance both geoscience and AI?

Based on the program description, strong proposals are expected to benefit both fields. The geoscience component should address a clear Earth system science problem that matters, and the AI component should go beyond routine use by advancing AI methods themselves and/or demonstrating innovative, sophisticated AI use that is essential to reaching the scientific objectives.

What does CAIG mean by a "clear geoscience problem"?

CAIG expects the project to be built around a geoscience research question that matters to Earth system science. The geoscience setting should provide demanding scientific constraints that help drive the need for new or adapted AI approaches.

What does CAIG mean by "AI is a core driver of the research outcomes"?

The expectation is that AI is not a side tool or an add-on. Instead, AI should be central to achieving the project goals and should enable scientific progress that would be difficult or impossible with standard approaches.

Who is eligible to submit a proposal to CAIG?

Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to specific categories of organizations. Eligible applicants include: (1) non-profit, non-academic organizations in the United States that are directly tied to education or research activities (such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies); (2) U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education, including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (community colleges included), with a campus located in the United States and submitting on behalf of their faculty; and (3) federally recognized Tribal Nations (American Indian or Alaska Native tribes, bands, nations, pueblos, villages, or communities formally acknowledged under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994).

Are U.S. colleges and universities eligible, including community colleges?

Yes. U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education are eligible, including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (community colleges included), as long as they have a campus located in the United States and the proposal is submitted on behalf of their faculty.

Are non-profit, non-academic organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include U.S. non-profit, non-academic organizations that are directly associated with education or research activities, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies.

Are federally recognized Tribal Nations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are eligible. The description defines these as American Indian or Alaska Native tribes, bands, nations, pueblos, villages, or communities formally acknowledged by the Secretary of the Interior under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994.

Can Other Federal Agencies or FFRDCs participate?

Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may participate, but they must follow NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidance regarding eligibility limits and requirements for those entities.

What if a U.S. university has an international branch campus?

The opportunity includes a specific instruction for U.S. universities with international branch campuses. If any proposed funding would support work performed at an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that international location benefits the project and why the same work cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.

Does the international branch campus instruction apply to subawards and consultants?

Yes. The instruction explicitly states that the justification requirement applies if proposed funding would support work performed at an international branch campus, including through subawards or consultants.

What is the funding instrument and program type for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed as a discretionary NSF program under the grant funding instrument and is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the official title and opportunity number?

The official funding opportunity title is "Collaborations in Artificial Intelligence and Geosciences" and the opportunity number is 25-530.

Which CFDA numbers are referenced for this opportunity?

The opportunity references CFDA numbers 47.049, 47.050, and 47.070.

What is the closing date for submissions?

The original closing date listed in the provided information is 2025-04-02.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2025-01-03.

How many awards does NSF anticipate making?

NSF anticipates making about 9 awards under this opportunity.

Is there an award ceiling listed?

No award ceiling is specified in the provided text.