[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52372-52373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20806]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Accelerating the Big Data Innovation Ecosystem; Notice and 
Request for Comment

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on accelerating the Big Data 
innovation ecosystem.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Fen Zhao at 703-292-7344 or 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 
days a year (including Federal holidays).

DATES: Please submit responses no later than November 1, 2014. Comments 
may be sent to [email protected], following the guidance set below.
SUMMARY: NSF seeks input from stakeholders across academia, state and 
local government, industry, non-profits, and others across all parts of 
the Big Data innovation ecosystem on the formation of new Big Data 
Regional Innovation Hubs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Overview: The National Science Foundation is exploring the 
establishment of a national network of ``Big Data Regional Innovation 
Hubs.'' These Hubs will help to continue and scale up the kinds of 
activities and partnerships established by National Big Data R&D 
Initiative over the past 3 years as well as stimulate, track, and help 
sustain new regional and grassroots partnerships around Big Data. 
Potential roles for Hubs include, but are not limited to:
     Accelerate the ideation and development Big Data solutions 
to specific global and societal challenges

[[Page 52373]]

by convening stakeholders across sectors to partner in results-driven 
programs and projects.
     Act as a matchmaker between the various academic, 
industry, and community stakeholders to help drive successful pilot 
programs for emerging Big Data technology.
     Coordinate across multiple regions of the country, based 
on shared interests and industry sector engagement to enable dialogue 
and share best practices.
     Aim to increase the speed and volume of technology 
transfer between universities, public and private research centers and 
laboratories, large enterprises, and SMB's.
     Facilitate engagement with opinion and thought leaders on 
the societal impact of Big Data technologies as to maximize positive 
outcomes of adoption while reducing unwanted consequences.
     Support the education and training of the entire Big Data 
workforce, from data scientists to managers to data end-users.
    NSF seeks input from stakeholders across academia, state and local 
government, industry, and non-profits across all parts of the Big Data 
innovation ecosystem on the formation of Big Data Regional Innovation 
Hubs. Please submit a response of no more than two-pages to 
[email protected] outlining:
    1. The goals of interest for a Big Data Regional Hub, with metrics 
for evaluating the success or failure of the Hub to meet that goal;
    2. The multiple stakeholders that would participate in the Hub and 
their respective roles and responsibilities;
    3. Plans for initial and long-term financial and in-kind resources 
that the stakeholders would need to commit to this hub; and
    4. A principal point of contact.
    This announcement is posted solely for information and planning 
purposes; it does not constitute a formal solicitation for grants, 
contracts, or cooperative agreements.
    Background: Aiming to make the most of the fast-growing volume of 
digital data, in March 2012, the Obama Administration announced the 
``Big Data Research and Development Initiative.'' By improving our 
ability to extract knowledge and insights from large and complex 
collections of digital data, the initiative promises to help solve some 
the Nation's most pressing challenges. Beginning in the second year of 
the National Big Data Initiative, the Administration encouraged 
multiple stakeholders including federal agencies, private industry, 
academia, state and local government, non-profits, and foundations, to 
develop and participate in Big Data innovation projects across the 
country.
    On November 12, 2013, dozens of public and private organizations 
met at a White House-sponsored ``Data to Knowledge to Action'' event to 
announce an inspiring array of Big Data related collaborations. These 
collaborations were the product and culmination of over a year of 
activities catalyzed by teams at OSTP, NITRD and Federal agencies to 
support the Big Data innovation ecosystem; such activities included 
workshops, one-on-one conversations with potential partners, Requests 
for Information, invited speaker lectures, and more. To sustain the 
forward momentum of the Data2Action event, The National Science 
Foundation is exploring the establishment of a national network of 
``Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs.''

    Submitted by the National Science Foundation August 27, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-20806 Filed 9-2-14; 8:45 am]
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