The National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States is advancing the development of 5G technology to enable the U.S. government and operators of critical infrastructure to always communicate securely and in all locations.
With a US$ 12 million investment from the Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (DOD OUSD R&E), NSF has chosen 16 multidisciplinary teams to work on the research project tagged as “Track G: Securely Operating Through 5G Infrastructure” under the Convergence Accelerator programme 2022 cohort.
“5G wireless networks are crucial components of the modern communication system and a key aspect of how we operate. We must have viable solutions to support the military and federal government’s missions,” says Amanda Toman, Acting Principal Director for 5G at DOD OUSD R&E.
The Department is thrilled to collaborate with NSF and its Convergence Accelerator to hasten the development of 5G technologies for its systems as well as those of its friends and partners, she continued.
Track G expands on the DOD’s 5G Initiative, which intends to identify and mitigate 5G risks; educate 5G standards and policies through rigorous research; to support technology development to improve 5G communications for the US military and federal government.
Each team will spend the following nine months developing their initial idea into a proof of concept, identifying new team members and collaborators, and participating in the unique Convergence Accelerator innovation programme.
Human-centred design basics, team science, use-inspired research, early-stage prototyping, communications, storytelling, and pitching are all part of the innovative curriculum.
The teams will participate in a formal Phase 2 proposal and pitch at the end of Phase 1. The oral pitch and formal proposal will be used to select teams for Phase 2 which is a 24-month solution development and sustainability phase.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator is focused on addressing some of the most difficult national and societal concerns, to have a beneficial societal and economic impact.
The methodology and basics of the programme will be expanded to solve this national security challenge and support the DOD’s 5G goal.
The primary purpose of the Convergence Accelerator’s Track G: Securely Operating Through 5G Infrastructure is to pursue enhancements to end devices and augmentations to 5G infrastructure, allowing military, government, and critical infrastructure operators to work through public 5G networks while meeting safety and resilience requirements.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator, which debuted in 2019, leverages basic research and discovery to expedite ideas toward societal impact. The initiative provides funding to teams that solve societal problems through convergence research and innovation.
To maximise its impact, the Accelerator groups teams into cohorts, allowing them to synergize their work through assisted collaboration.
Meanwhile, four new Engineering Research Centres will open with an expenditure of $104 million over five years, according to NSF. The centres’ transformation of technology will have an impact on urban planning, manufacturing, agriculture, and health.
The ability of NSF Engineering Research Centres to bring together interdisciplinary academic teams in convergent research to find cutting-edge solutions to difficult societal challenges is one of its strengths. The centres expand their level of innovation and translate practical, long-lasting solutions thanks to their distinctive testbeds and business partners.
The NSF Engineering Research Center Program, which was established in 1985, has provided funding for 79 centres over a period of up to 10 years. The centres form alliances with academic institutions, governmental organisations, and representatives of the private sector to promote inclusiveness and creativity in both existing and developing engineering research.
