From Infrastructure to Impact: IT and NNCI
Posted Date: May 28, 2026
Northwestern is taking a major step forward in artificial intelligence and data science through the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI)—a University-wide effort to advance research, education, and impact through AI. NNCI is structured around the idea of three strategic pillars: Research, Education, and Infrastructure, and success depends on how closely they work together.
As part of this initiative, Joe Paris, associate vice president of IT Services and Support, has joined the NNCI strategic leadership team to guide the Infrastructure pillar. In this role, he will focus on ensuring the technology foundations at Northwestern meet the emerging needs for AI-driven research and education.
Participation in NNCI brings IT and academic AI leadership into a closer partnership that will enhance future AI infrastructure decisions being driven by rapidly evolving research and teaching needs.
Northwestern relies on a cohesive, accessible IT environment to support research and academics. We focus on enabling faculty, students, and researchers with straightforward access to computing, data, AI tools, and the guidance needed to use them well.”
Associate Vice President, IT Services and Support
From Ideas to Impact: FORGE
One example of NNCI in action is FORGE, an emerging initiative that brings hands-on experimentation to the AI ecosystem. This initiative creates a collaborative physical and digital environment that connects students, researchers, and industry partners around real-world problem solving, supported by shared infrastructure, modern tools, and expert guidance.
FORGE enables student teams to develop, deploy, and refine solutions with mentorship and support spanning technical, usability, security, and team development practices. Through programs like student cohorts, workshops, and technical deep dives, participants work in teams to solve applied, practice-informed challenges, often producing models, demonstrations, and findings that can be shared across the University.
For IT, initiatives like FORGE are an opportunity to directly engage with the campus community and highlight why our experience matters: innovation depends not only on having the right technology in place but also on having people with diverse backgrounds who can lend knowledge, advice, and wisdom.
FORGE reflects how IT contributes to innovation—by pairing strong infrastructure with the people, expertise, and support needed to turn technology into meaningful outcomes.”
Joe Paris
Associate Vice President, IT Services and Support
Visit the NNCI website to learn more about its mission, people, AI initiatives, and, most importantly, how to get involved in the group’s work.