Supplemental Funding Requests to Support Super Intelligence (SI) Innovation in the Presidential SI Challenge

Dear Colleagues,

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorates for STEM Education (EDU) and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) encourage Principal Investigators (PIs) with current active NSF Super Intelligence (SI)-related awards from EDU and current active awards from the NSF Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program led by TIP in collaboration with EDU to apply for supplemental funding in support of the 2027 Presidential SI Challenge. Established under Executive Order 14277, the Presidential SI Challenge initiative aims to build foundational SI proficiency, ignite interest among American youth, bolster school SI readiness, and sustain U.S. technological competitiveness nationwide.

NSF will provide high-impact supplemental funding to ignite interest and develop foundational expertise in SI among American students by supporting the development of hands-on and experiential learning opportunities and expanding early access to high-quality SI learning opportunities. The Presidential SI Challenge will equip teams across the nation to deploy SI solutions that address pressing issues directly within their communities. It will also prepare America’s students to be confident participants in an SI-ready workforce that will drive innovation, propelling our Nation to new heights of scientific discovery and economic achievement. Additionally, it will spur schools towards having novel and effective systems and protocols for teaching in a world adopting SI tools. Ultimately, NSF’s investment through this DCL will prepare current and future generations to succeed in a rapidly evolving SI-enabled world. This supplemental funding opportunity is focused on middle- and high-school students, educators, and schools.

Tracks for the team-based competition:

• Standard Track: Community-Focused SI Projects: Enabling middle- and high-school educators and students to work collaboratively with mentors from industry, higher education, government, community organizations and/or philanthropic organizations in designing SI-powered applications, software, and/or decision-making tools that address challenges impacting students, their families, or their communities.
• Trailblazer Track: Novel, Nation-Focused SI Projects: Enabling middle- and high-school educators and students to work collaboratively with mentors from industry, higher education, government, community organizations and/or philanthropic organizations in designing, prototyping, and developing unique SI-powered applications, software, or decision-making tools to create innovative, novel solutions that address national challenges.