This report introduces the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot Deep Partnership program and its relevance for AI researchers and educators facing constraints around high-performance computing access.
We brought together Mass Open Cloud, Red Hat, and IBM Research to solve a real problem. Your research may need some GPUs for fine-tuning models or significant storage for datasets. You want access to cutting-edge AI models that actually work. But university, non-profit, and start-up budgets often don’t cover enterprise-grade infrastructure, and cloud costs spiral out of control fast.
Here’s what you get: Mass Open Cloud gives you access to computing resources (GPUs, CPUs, storage). Red Hat gives you their enterprise cloud platform with tools that work across the full AI lifecycle. Think of research or educational projects that can leverage these resources, but the models and tools are where this gets interesting. To support the Core AI track, IBM Research has opened up its entire toolkit. You can use Granite models for language, code, and vision tasks. Try InstructLab to adapt models for your purpose or convert your documents with Docling to prepare for building AI models. The AI for Science track includes foundation models for materials, biomedicine, and Earth observation built with NASA and ESA.
You have until October 1, 2025 to submit your proposal. Once approved, you will get usage credit on the MOC that matches your needs to run your project. Projects run through July 2026. Pick either Core AI projects or AI for Science projects. Both work for research and educational goals.
This isn’t just about free computing time. We’re building something bigger. Open source AI that works for everyone. Tools and models that you can modify and improve, and offer back to the community.
The application process is straightforward. Go to the NAIRR Deep Partnership site. Tell us what you want to do. Explain how you’ll use our resources. Show us why it matters.
Innovation moves fast when you remove the barriers. That’s what we’re doing here.
IAIRI advances the formation, convergence, and dissemination of high-value work in artificial intelligence through cross-institutional research collaboration, professional exchange, and international connection.
This page presents materials developed within IAIRI-related support and research frameworks, together with selected publicly released reports from relevant institutions that carry broad reference value.