Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, July 27th, the XR Association submitted public comments in response to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Request for Information (RFI) on its roadmap for the new Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP). TIP was established in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to “advance critical and emerging technologies, address pressing societal and economic challenges, and accelerate the translation of research results from lab to market and society.” This RFI will inform how NSF implements its mandate under the CHIPS bill. XRA was critical in ensuring that immersive technology was included in the CHIPS and Science Act and made eligible for funding from the NSF and other government agencies.
XRA’s written submission details how immersive technology can be used to address key societal, national, and geostrategic challenges; the workforce needs of the XR industry; where investments in XR could serve as a multiplier for other key technology focus areas; and why XR technology is well-suited for NSF research and should be prioritized for funding.
“As the National Science Foundation (NSF) develops its roadmap for TIP, it must continue to consider the transformative power of immersive technologies. Immersive technologies are shaping the way we live, learn, and work. Further investment in these technologies is critical to American competitiveness and to solving some of our biggest societal and geo-strategic challenges. As the voice of the XR industry, the XR Association is pleased to submit comments in response to NSF’s RFI and we look forward to and welcome further discussion on this topic,” said Joan O’Hara, SVP of Public Policy at the XR Association.
