Building the Prototype Open Knowledge Network (Proto-OKN)

NSF 23-571

This program supports the creation of a prototype Open Knowledge Network — an interconnected network of knowledge graphs supporting a very broad range of application domains. Open access to shared information is essential for the development and evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-powered solutions needed to address the complex challenges facing the nation and the world. Knowledge graphs, which represent relationships among real-world entities, provide a powerful approach for organizing, representing, integrating, reusing, and accessing data from multiple structured and unstructured sources using ontologies and ontology alignment. Currently, private-sector investments in knowledge graphs power numerous consumer applications including web search, e-commerce, banking, drug discovery, advertising, etc. Undertaking a similar but inclusive, open, and community-driven effort and making use of publicly available data holds the potential to create a platform that would empower government and non-government users — fueling evidence-based policymaking, continued strong economic growth, game-changing scientific breakthroughs, while addressing complex societal challenges from climate change to social equity.

Projects funded by this program will provide an essential public-data infrastructure to power the next information revolution similar to the Internet — transforming our ability to unlock actionable insights from data by semantically linking information about related entities.

This Proto-OKN solicitation will support research projects in the following categories:

Theme 1 – Proto-OKN Use Cases: Projects in this category will develop a knowledge graph or “node” of the Proto-OKN that will address specific use-case challenges using well-identified data sets and a user-centric design process to help ensure usability and sustainability of the effort. Theme 1 Use Case projects will work in close collaboration with Theme 2 OKN Fabric projects to deploy their use cases on a common implementation fabric.

Theme 1 proposals may request budgets up to $1.5 million with durations up to three years. The estimated number of awards is 8 to 10, subject to availability of funds.

Theme 2 – Proto-OKN Fabric: Projects in this category will develop and deploy the necessary technologies to provide an “interconnecting fabric” for the Proto-OKN, to help link knowledge graphs developed across Theme 1 projects. Theme 2 teams will possess a strong track record of successful collaborations with technical as well as non-technical partners and will have the technical expertise necessary for successful execution. Theme 2 projects will work in close collaboration with Theme 1 Use Case projects to facilitate use of the OKN interconnecting fabric that will be created.

Theme 2 proposals may request budgets up to $1.5 million with durations up to two years. The estimated number of awards is 1 to 2, subject to availability of funds. One or both Theme 2 projects can be potentially renewed for an additional two years for a budget up to $2 million, with a goal of creating one overarching OKN fabric.

Theme 3 – Proto-OKN Education and Public Engagement: A single award will be made in this category for creating educational materials and tools targeted to the range of constituents who are expected to be engaged with the Proto-OKN. This includes end-users, senior executives/decision-makers, technical developers, students at the graduate, undergraduate, and middle and high school levels, and the public at large. The Theme 3 team will possess the breadth of expertise and experience necessary to produce education and training materials and public engagement content for a broad spectrum of partners. The Theme 3 grantee will work in close collaboration with Theme 1 and Theme 2 grantees to develop the educational, training, and outreach materials.

Theme 3 proposals may request budgets up to $1.5 million with durations up to three years. The estimated number of awards is 1, subject to availability of funds.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1; An organization may serve as the lead organization on at most one proposal to this solicitation. If an organization exceeds this limit, the proposal with the earliest date and time will be accepted, and the remainder will be returned without review.

Internal Letter of Intent Submission: Due the limit on institutional submission, if you plan to submit a proposal to this opportunity, please send a Letter of Intent to Shawn Chester at shawn.chester@njit.edu with cc to the respective college dean(s) by April 20 with the following information:

Title of the Project

PI and Investigator Team (with affiliations and contact information)

Summary of the Project

Scientific Merit

Broader Impact

Budget Request Plan and Justification

Any Internal Cost Sharing or Infrastructure Support Required

Cooperative Agreement

1; An organization may serve as the lead organization on at most one proposal to this solicitation.

$20,000,000

Not required

June 20, 2023

• Chaitanya K. Baru, Senior Advisor, TIP/OAD, telephone: (703) 292-4596, email: okn@nsf.gov
• Jemin George, Program Director, TIP/ITE, telephone: (703) 292-2251, email: okn@nsf.gov
• Samrawit Gebre, Deputy Project Manager, NASA GeneLab, telephone: (650) 604-5399, email: samrawit.g.gebre@nasa.gov