Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senators Mike Rounds and Martin Heinrich have announced a Request for Information (RFI) as part of the American Science Acceleration Project (ASAP). This bipartisan initiative aims to expedite advancements in U.S. science by 2030, making them ten times faster. The RFI seeks input from researchers, innovators, businesses, government agencies, and the public on proposals that will enhance data, computing, and artificial intelligence capabilities while eliminating barriers to innovation.

"The United States has always faced grand challenges," stated Senator Rounds. "Today, we face a new imperative: creating a superhighway for science that lets our researchers cure cancer, harness fusion energy and defend our country from both physical and cyber threats in record time."

Senator Heinrich added, "It’s time to unleash a new era of American discovery — one where we cure cancers, power our grid with fusion energy, and widely deploy superconductors."

The ASAP initiative draws inspiration from historical infrastructure projects like the interstate highway system. It seeks to significantly reduce the time it takes for scientific innovations to transition from laboratory discoveries to practical applications.

Emerging AI-driven research methods have shown substantial improvements in various fields such as drug design and clean-energy development. However, access to necessary data and regulatory flexibility remains limited. ASAP aims to address these challenges through investments in scientific infrastructure comparable to those made during the 1950s interstate build-out.

The RFI specifically invites comments on several areas including data security platforms for AI-ready scientific data; advanced computing access; development of AI tools for scientific processes; fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration; and streamlining regulatory pathways.

The comment period is open for 60 days with feedback guiding future legislation related to ASAP.