NSF commits over $110 million to advance next-generation wireless technology

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced more than $110 million in funding for 49 research and development teams to advance next-generation (NextG) wireless communications and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in advanced telecommunications.

The investment marks the first round of awards under the NSF Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems (VINES) initiative, which aims to develop wireless technologies capable of meeting the growing connectivity demands of emerging industries and advanced digital applications.

The selected teams will work across two research tracks, focusing on fundamental research and the development, demonstration and commercialisation of practical networking technologies. Their work is expected to improve the performance, reliability and capabilities of future wireless communication systems.

The initiative comes as advances in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and space exploration increase the need for secure, dependable and high-performance telecommunications infrastructure.

“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.

He said the awardees’ work would help deliver networking solutions to support technological innovation while reinforcing U.S. leadership in wireless communications and the industries that depend on them.

Two tracks target research and real-world applications

The NSF VINES programme divides its funding into two tracks designed to move wireless networking research from foundational discoveries towards practical applications.

Track 1 supports use-inspired fundamental research aimed at developing new networking techniques and solutions. The focus is on addressing emerging connectivity challenges and expanding the capabilities of next-generation networks.

Track 2 aims to accelerate the transition from research to deployment by bringing together networking experts and industries that depend on fast, reliable connections. These include data centres, healthcare, autonomous transportation and smart manufacturing.

Under Track 2, projects will focus on developing, testing, integrating and refining technologies that are closer to commercial use. Teams must identify an emerging industry whose connectivity requirements cannot be adequately met by existing telecommunications networks and develop solutions tailored to those needs.

Projects are also required to demonstrate their technologies in real-world environments and establish plans for future industry partnerships and commercialisation.

By encouraging collaboration among universities, businesses and government agencies, the programme seeks to ensure that future wireless networks respond to practical industry needs and move more efficiently from laboratories into the marketplace.

Partnerships to strengthen US technology leadership

The NSF VINES initiative brings together major technology companies, industry organisations and U.S. federal agencies, including Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, and the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The programme also involves international partners from Finland, India, Japan and Sweden.

The broader objective is to build a strong innovation ecosystem that supports U.S.-led advances in next-generation telecommunications while accelerating the adoption of wireless technologies across emerging industries.

Potential applications include connected autonomous vehicles, advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, disaster response, remote healthcare, critical infrastructure and data centres.

By linking research with real-world deployment and commercial opportunities, NSF VINES aims to help develop the advanced networks needed to support future technological breakthroughs, strengthen national security and drive economic growth.