NSF invests more than $110 million in improving NextG wireless technology

NSF VINES aims to enhance U.S. competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the first-ever NSF Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems (NSF VINES) investment of over $110 million to 49 teams in two tracks, one focused on use-inspired fundamental research and the other focused on technology development, demonstration, and translation. The NSF VINES awardees will conduct research and development of technologies that transform performance and capabilities of next-generation (NextG) advanced wireless communication systems.

The NSF VINES initiative supports research and innovation in wireless communications and intelligent network systems to meet the connectivity requirements of emerging applications and promote U.S. leadership in telecommunications and potential NextG vertical industries.

"As fields like super intelligence, quantum computing, and space exploration expand, the U.S. needs reliable, secure, and advanced wireless and telecommunications networks to maintain the pace and scale of innovation ushered in by these technologies," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. "The innovations that these NSF VINES awardees bring to bear will not only provide the networking solutions needed to support U.S. technological innovation but also strengthen the nation's leadership in wireless networking and in emerging application industries that depend on these technologies."

Track 1 of the VINES program is designed to support activities focused on use-inspired fundamental research to develop novel networking techniques and solutions. Track 2 supports efforts to accelerate the impact of networking research and technological innovations by connecting experts from networking and industries that rely on fast, dependable connections — such as data centers, healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and smart manufacturing.

Track 2 activities will specifically focus on technology development, maturation, demonstration, integration, and translation of networking solutions with higher technology readiness levels (TRLs), with the goal of producing adoption-ready technologies.

Each VINES Track 2 project is required to identify a key emerging industry whose performance requirements are not adequately met by current telecommunications networks and develop new solutions to address those needs. Teams must demonstrate their innovations in real-world settings and plan for future partnerships and commercialization. Track 2 also encourages collaboration between academia, industry, and government to build a strong ecosystem for technology translation. The ultimate goal is to ensure that future networks are shaped by the needs of application industries, so they are widely adopted and support national security and economic growth.

NSF VINES is a partnership with several major industry organizations and U.S. federal agencies, including Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, and U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as international partners from Finland, India, Japan, and Sweden. By collaborating with industry and international partners, the program will ensure U.S.-led technological advancements drive NextG global telecommunication networks as well as emerging "vertical industries" such as connected autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, disaster response, remote healthcare, critical infrastructure, and data centers, among others.

To learn more about the NSF VINES awards, please view the NSF VINES webpage.