TLDR: The National Science Foundation has awarded UC Davis $5 million to establish the Artificial Intelligence Institutes Virtual Organization (AIVO), a central hub for federal AI institutes. This funding is part of a larger $100 million public-private investment by the NSF to advance AI research and development across various sectors.
The University of California, Davis, has been granted a significant $5 million award over five years from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish and operate the Artificial Intelligence Institutes Virtual Organization (AIVO). This initiative positions UC Davis at the forefront of a national effort to foster collaboration and innovation within the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence.
AIVO is designed to serve as a pivotal community hub, connecting both new and existing AI institutes established by the federal government. This substantial funding is part of a broader $100 million public-private investment in AI, announced by the NSF on July 29, 2025. The comprehensive investment aims to bolster five National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes and a central community hub, targeting critical advancements in areas such as mental health, materials discovery, STEM education, human-AI collaboration, and drug development.
Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment. In a recent news release, Stone stated, ‘Artificial intelligence is key to strengthening our workforce and boosting U.S. competitiveness.’ He further elaborated that ‘Through the National AI Research Institutes, we are turning cutting-edge ideas and research into real-world solutions and preparing Americans to lead in the technologies and jobs of the future.’
Prior to this new contract, AIVO had been operating as a virtual organization with NSF support, managed by staff from the Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next Generation Food Systems (AIFS) at UC Davis. With this new investment, AIVO will officially transition into an NSF-branded community hub, significantly expanding its capabilities and enhancing its role within the AI research community. Its mandate includes organizing events and venues to facilitate interaction among AI Institutes’ personnel and stakeholders, creating mechanisms for cross-institute connections, and fostering new public-private partnerships. AIVO will also play a crucial role in promoting positive interest in university-based AI research and advocating for the ethical development and societal application of AI.
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This funding will also support the expansion of AI education across various levels, from K-12 curricula to workforce training, as well as AI-assisted learning initiatives and summer programs tailored for high school teachers and students. The AIFS at UC Davis is notable as one of the seven original AI institutes established in August 2020, receiving support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The broader AI Institutes program, spearheaded by the NSF, underscores a national commitment to fostering innovation and research in artificial intelligence, aiming to convert leading-edge research into scalable, real-world solutions that can improve daily lives and build a national framework for AI education and workforce development.
