The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) urging researchers to submit proposals under its Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) program that focus on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) agent ecosystems.
“PESOSE supports the maturation of the organizations that manage open-source ecosystems by helping them distribute development and grow broad user and contributor communities across academia, industry, and government. The program also advances security and privacy by addressing vulnerabilities that affect how open ecosystems evolve,” NSF said.
The announcement, published last week, highlights the agency’s interest in strengthening protocols that allow autonomous AI agents to work together securely and efficiently across platforms.
NSF defines AI agent ecosystems as networks of autonomous agents that communicate, coordinate and complete tasks by sharing data and interfacing with tools and services. These systems go beyond basic chat applications to handle complex operations like coding, database searches, and even managing laboratory equipment. Central to their effectiveness are shared standards and open protocols that allow agents developed by different organizations to interact seamlessly.
Proposals to PESOSE should prioritize interoperability, scalability and security, with special emphasis on features such as identity verification, secure communication channels, fine-grained authorization and auditability.
Projects that support open science, foster partnerships across academic, industry, and government sectors or enhance education and workforce training in secure AI ecosystems are also encouraged.