UW Receives Nearly $9M to Advance AI Innovation Across Wyoming

The University of Wyoming’s strategic efforts to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) innovation across the state and beyond will receive a significant boost, thanks to $6.25 million in funding commitments from donors and industry matched by state funds, for a total of $8.75 million.

 

UW secured $6.25 million in commitments from donors and from companies and foundations for sponsored research projects, which unlocked $2.5 million from the state matching fund program.

 

“This investment reflects our commitment to positioning Wyoming as a leader in AI,” UW President Ed Seidel says. “By combining state-of-the-art research with real-world applications across energy, agriculture, health care and more, we are empowering our students, faculty, communities and industries to thrive in an AI-driven future.”

 

UW’s AI Initiative is a people-centered effort to guide the future of Wyoming and beyond, empowering citizens and communities to thrive in an AI-driven world. By addressing key industries, such as energy, agriculture, tourism, wildlife conservation and rural health care, UW will ensure that AI enriches lives and drives sustainable growth. The initiative aims to empower people, uplift businesses, attract investment and equip every student and community to lead in the global AI transformation, securing a prosperous future for all of Wyoming.

 

“These funds will accelerate cutting-edge research that directly benefits Wyoming’s people and economy,” says Parag Chitnis, UW’s vice president for research and economic development. “From livestock management to renewable energy, AI offers transformative solutions, and this initiative ensures our faculty and students have the resources to turn innovation into impact.”

 

Industry- and foundation-sponsored research projects that will be matched by the state will support projects in the areas of livestock management, wildlife, wild raptors, nuclear, hydrogen, energy exploration and more.

 

Private funding commitments, combined with state matching funds, will support the innovation and application of AI in programs across campus, including those in the College of Business; College of Education; College of Engineering and Physical Sciences; College of Law; Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources; and the School of Computing.

 

UW also has been advancing its AI expertise through other opportunities and collaborative efforts. These include launching the School of Computing; supporting strategic faculty hires in AI research and applications; receiving a nearly $4 million National Science Foundation grant to acquire state-of-the-art computing infrastructure; and collaborating with the University of Utah to advance a joint AI and rural health care partnership.

 

Expected outcomes from the AI Initiative include increased enrollment at UW; enhanced AI literacy among UW students and in Wyoming’s K-12 schools; assistance to Wyoming businesses in applying AI in their practices; and additional revenues for UW through federal and private grants and industry partnerships.

 

For more information about UW’s AI Initiative, go to www.uwyo.edu/president/initiatives/ai4wy/index.html.