UPR secures $9 million to advance AI research

Led by the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, the Research Infrastructure for AI-based Sustainable STEM Technologies in Puerto Rico (RAIS‑PR) initiative brings together the UPR Río Piedras Campus and the university’s units in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Carolina, Cayey, Humacao, Ponce and Utuado. The Ana G. Méndez University System will also participate as a partner institution.

By THE STAR STAFF

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) has been awarded a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a major research initiative aimed at strengthening the island’s scientific infrastructure and expanding its capacity to develop technologies rooted in artificial intelligence (AI), resilient energy systems and other strategic STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.

The project -- Research Infrastructure for AI-based Sustainable STEM Technologies in Puerto Rico (RAIS‑PR) -- was selected under the highly competitive EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems (E‑CORE) program, which supports efforts to build robust research ecosystems and deepen scientific collaboration.

Led by the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (RUM by its acronym in Spanish), the initiative brings together the Río Piedras Campus and the university’s units in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Carolina, Cayey, Humacao, Ponce and Utuado. The Ana G. Méndez University System will also participate as a partner institution.

UPR President Zayira Jordán Conde said the award underscores the university’s scientific strength and its ability to compete for major federal funding.

“This investment of $9 million confirms that the University of Puerto Rico has the talent, scientific capacity and vision necessary to successfully compete for federal funds and lead large‑scale projects,” she said. “This initiative will strengthen research, innovation and the preparation of the human capital Puerto Rico needs to drive its economic and technological development.”

The research team will be led by Dr. Vidya Manian as principal investigator, alongside co‑investigators Dr. Heeralal Janwa, Dr. Dibin M. George, Dr. Venkataramani Kumar and Dr. Jesús A. Sánchez Pérez.

Interim RUM Chancellor Miguel Muñoz Muñoz emphasized that the project will unify scientific, academic and technological capabilities across the participating campuses.

“This award positions the Mayagüez campus as a hub of scientific collaboration and reaffirms UPR’s commitment to excellence in research,” he said. “Integrating the campuses will allow us to share infrastructure, expand capabilities and generate innovative solutions to address energy, technological and environmental challenges.”

Manian noted that RAIS‑PR aims to build an interconnected research ecosystem that accelerates the development of new technologies and expands access to advanced infrastructure. “Our goal is to establish a strong and collaborative research ecosystem that accelerates the development of AI‑based technologies, strengthens collaboration among institutions and prepares a new generation of researchers to respond to the energy and technological challenges of the 21st century,” she said.

The initiative will support research in AI applied to resilient energy systems, quantum sensors, secure communications, advanced computing and sustainable technologies. It will also expand training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, foster new partnerships among academia, government and industry, and promote innovation and technological entrepreneurship.

As part of the project, UPR will award 23 seed grants to support emerging research lines and broaden access to advanced computing resources and scientific infrastructure.

The investment is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Puerto Rico’s researchers in future federal grant competitions, increase student participation in scientific projects and strengthen UPR’s capacity to generate knowledge and solutions with economic, technological and social impact.