Research NewsletterIssue: ORN-2025-23

Research Security Training

The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, is sharing online research security training for the research community.  This training provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem — and the knowledge and tools necessary to protect against these risks.

Research security training is listed as one of four elements of a Research Security Program required by National Security Presidential Memorandum 33, issued on Jan. 14, 2021, to safeguard our research ecosystem. The "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," Section 10634, codifies the requirement for research security training for federal research award personnel in public law.

Per the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," senior personnel are required to take the training within one year of an R&D application. If additional senior personnel join, they also will have one year from the time of joining.

The requirement to complete research security training will be part of the 2025 Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), so it will be required when the 2025 PAPPG becomes effective. Per the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," senior/key personnel are required to take the training within one year of a research and development (R&D) application. 

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America's Seed Fund, powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation

Up to $2 million in seed funding with zero equity

America’s Seed Fund powered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awards more than $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across virtually every discipline of science and technology can receive up to $2 million in non-dilutive funds to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. 

About NSF TIP

The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) seeks to engage all Americans in accelerating key technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. The directorate partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas – accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth, and preparing the American workforce for better-quality, higher-wage jobs. For more information about NSF TIP, visit new.nsf.gov/tip/latest.

NSF: Verticals-enabling Intelligent Network Systems (VINES)

NIH: Forecast: PRIMED-AI: Academic-Industrial Partnerships (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional); Forecast: Small Business Translator: MedTech and Digital Health Technologies; Forecast: NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional); Forecast: NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)

Department of Defense/US Army/DARPA/ONR: DHA- Military Health System Research Program;  Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA; FY26 Communications and Networking Applied Research; Quantum Characterization, Calibration, and Control (QC3)

Inside OpenAI’s wishlist for the House AI-Energy working group: Scaling reliable, cost-effective energy sources, securing global supply chains and supporting a strong workforce are all priority areas OpenAI recommended to a House working group on artificial intelligence and energy.  In response to a March request for information from North Dakota Republican Rep. Julie Fedorchak, OpenAI advocated a holistic approach between government and industry to ensure the U.S. is ready to meet the demands that increased AI technology usage requires. Fedorchak launched the House working group in February. 

Comments sent by Chan Park — OpenAI’s head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships — and obtained by Nextgov/FCW revolve around three subject matter pillars for lawmakers to focus on: American energy dominance and AI energy demands, securing the energy grid and strategic competition focused on outpacing China. “Infrastructure is destiny,” the letter said. “The United States must seize this moment to build the backbone of democratic AI leadership — one that is powered by abundant and reliable energy; enabled by smart, modernized grids; protected by resilient supply chains; and staffed by a nationwide workforce of skilled professionals.” Improving U.S. energy infrastructure to support the growing demand on data centers for compute power was at the top of the list. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

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Republican legislators voice support for public funding in AI research: Two Republican senators voiced support for continued government investment in artificial intelligence research efforts, citing its role in larger U.S. national security goals at the AI + Expo in Washington, D.C. Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., spoke on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, on the importance of public funding to spearhead innovation and breakthroughs across the AI sector. Echoing the points in the Senate AI Working Group’s Bipartisan Roadmap For Artificial Intelligence Policy, released last Congress, both senators said public investment in AI research and development will keep the U.S. a global leader in the field. 

“To fully harness AI's potential and scientific discovery, we must provide researchers with the tools to work faster and more effectively,” Rounds said. “Just as the Space Race pushed the boundaries of human ingenuity in the 20th century, and the Digital Revolution reshaped the industries in the 21st, we now are in a new era, one where AI can supercharge scientific progress.”Speaking the day before, Young said he has encouraged the Trump administration to continue supporting research, albeit with a critical eye regarding what fields to fund, keeping with the administration’s efforts to shrink select federal spending. More information is posted on the NextGov website.