Market Update: Artificial Intelligence

Author: Harvey Morrison

Marion Square is continually researching Government initiatives and programs to identify key opportunities for our clients.  For those organizations that are focused on providing AI algorithms, infrastructure, and services an interesting potential opportunity for FY 25 is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) - Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security, and Technology, or FASST initiative.

At a high level, the DOE is expected in FY 25 to be a substantial market for AI-related technologies and services, offering potential contracts, partnerships, and technology commercialization avenues for both technology and services companies.

FASST specifically, is DOE's proposed initiative to build the world's most powerful, integrated scientific AI systems. This initiative which is operated by National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), will encompass the following areas:

  • Data: DOE is the leading generator of classified and unclassified scientific data through the world's largest collection of advanced experimental facilities, including particle accelerators, powerful light sources, specialized facilities for genomics and nanoscience, and neutron scattering sources.

  • Computing Infrastructure: For decades, DOE has built and operated the world's fastest, most powerful, and highly energy efficient supercomputers. These supercomputers are strategic components of the nation's defensive capabilities, drive innovation through open access to the scientific community, and are the basis upon which to build safe and trustworthy AI capability for the nation.

  • Workforce: DOE and its national labs host over 40,000 physicists, chemists, biologists, materials scientists, and computer scientists, who tackle some of the most urgent challenges in the national interest.

  • Partnerships: DOE has unparalleled experience in mission-driven public-private collaborations. Through the Exascale Computing Project, DOE worked with industry partners to co-design and develop critical components of the computer chips that power today's leading AI models and partnered with leading academic institutions to develop scalable high-performance software libraries.

The Dept of Energy recently released an RFI for comments and feedback in September FY 24. Federal Register :: Notice of Request for Information (RFI) on Frontiers in AI for Science, Security, and Technology (FASST) Initiative

In the RFI DOE is seeking answers to key questions such as:

  1. How can DOE support investment and innovation in energy efficient AI model architectures and deployment, including potentially through prize-based competitions?

  2. How can DOE continue to support the development of AI hardware, algorithms, and platforms tailored for science and engineering applications in cases where the needs of those applications differ from the needs of commodity AI applications?

  3. What are application areas in science, applied energy, and national security that are primed for AI breakthroughs?

Budget research indicates that FASST will be a funded initiative in FY 25 with as much as $100M to invest to get the program up and running.

Why Partner with Marion Square?

With AI becoming deeply embedded in the fabric of federal innovation, the potential is vast—but only for those who can effectively navigate the terrain. Marion Square’s expertise lies in helping companies like yours understand which agencies to target, which initiatives are worth pursuing, and how to position yourself as the go-to provider for federal AI solutions. We’ve guided AI companies through complex government acquisitions and helped them secure high-value contracts by ensuring they are ahead of the curve.

Interested in pursuing AI related opportunities in DOE and across the US Federal Government? Marion Square offers personalized support to technology and services companies for navigating US Government markets and developing go to market sales plans and partnership models, ensuring that our clients are well-positioned to secure funding and successfully deliver results on federal contracts.  Want to learn more, lets schedule some time to chat.

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