NSF Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Practice (PDaSP)

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In our hyperconnected world, increasing computational power and the rapid growth of data offer vast opportunities for data-driven decision-making and scientific advancement. To harness these benefits responsibly, especially for training AI models, we need scalable technologies for privacy-preserving data sharing. Despite significant research progress, these technologies are still at varying stages of practical deployment.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) just released a new solicitation for a new program called Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing in Practice (PDaSP). 

From the press release: 

The goals of the PDaSP program are aligned with the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI EO), which emphasizes the role for privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) in a responsible and safe AI future. The EO directs NSF to, “where feasible and appropriate, prioritize research — including efforts to translate research discoveries into practical applications — that encourage the adoption of leading-edge PETs solutions for agencies’ use.” It also tasks NSF with “developing and helping to ensure the availability of testing environments, such as testbeds, to support the development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI technologies, as well as to support the design, development, and deployment of associated PETs.” In addition to meeting these directives in the AI EO, the PDaSP program strives to address key recommendations made in the National Strategy to Advance Privacy Preserving Data Sharing and Analytics (PPDSA). In particular, the program strives to advance the strategy’s priority to “Accelerate Transition to Practice,” which includes efforts to “promote applied and translational research and systems development,” develop “tool repositories, measurement methods, benchmarking, and testbeds,” and “improve usability and inclusiveness of PPDSA solutions.”

The full proposal deadline is September 27, 2024 and it welcomes proposals from qualified researchers and multidisciplinary teams in the following tracks with expected funding ranges for proposals as shown below.

Track 1: Advancing key technologies to enable practical PPDSA solutions:

  • Track 1 projects are expected to be budgeted in the $500K – $1M range for up to 2 years

Track 2: Integrated and comprehensive solutions for trustworthy data sharing in application settings: 

  • Track 2 projects are expected to be budgeted in the  $1M – $1.5M range for up to 3 years

Track 3: Usable tools, and testbeds for trustworthy sharing of private or otherwise confidential data.

  • Track 3 projects are expected to be budgeted in the $500K – $1.5M range for up to 3 years

The PDaSP program represents the collaborative efforts of the NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorates, Intel Corporation and VMware LLC as industry partners, and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as federal agency partners.

There is a virtual question and answer session in which program directors will discuss eligibility and how the program is structured. After an initial presentation, ample time will be allotted for questions from attendees.  They will be held on Friday, July 12, 1:30–3:00 p.m. EDT  and Tuesday, July 23, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT. Please click those dates to register for a session.