NSF Workshop: US Advancing Leadership in Global Networking Standards (US-ALIGNS)
NSF Workshop: US-ALIGNS: US Advancing Leadership in Global Networking Standards
3625 Potomac Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22305, May 14–15, 2026
Join top academic researchers, industry visionaries, standards leaders, and policymakers for a two-day collaborative NSF workshop focused on strengthening U.S. leadership in global networking standards
With the onset of 6G, US stands at a pivotal moment in the evolution of global networking technologies. Strengthening U.S. leadership in global networking standardization is thus a conjoined national and economic security imperative. With a focused, well-resourced strategy, the US can again define the next era of global networking innovation and uphold a free, open, and secure digital future. US-ALIGNS brings stakeholders together to identify priorities, align efforts, and advance a shared strategy for effective participation in international standards bodies and related ecosystems.
Dates
May 14–15, 2026
Location
Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing
3625 Potomac Ave
Alexandria, VA, 22305
Who Should Attend
- Standards experts and leaders (e.g., 3GPP, IEEE, IETF, ITU)
- Industry technical leaders (e.g., telecommunication operators, infrastructure vendors, small and medium players)
- Leading 6G researchers from academia
- Federally funded research labs
- Regulatory/policy bodies, technology think tanks, trade organizations & independent experts
Themes & Topics
- How can U.S. build an academic-industry-government eco-system to enhance the leadership in existing 3GPP 6G standardization efforts?
- Identify U.S. strategies to further new disruptive technology-cum-market eco-system concepts for 6G and Beyond.
Format
- Panel discussions with cross-sector stakeholders
- Breakout working sessions to surface needs, gaps, and action plans
- Collaborative synthesis and next-step planning
Keynote and invited talks
Outcomes
Participants will contribute to:
- Shared understanding of priorities and challenges in global networking standards
- Recommendations for coordinated national and cross-sector engagement
- A clear roadmap for collaboration across research, industry deployment, and standards work
Organizers:
Dr. Lingjia Liu, IEEE Fellow
Andrew J. Young Professor, Bradley Department of Electrical & Comp. Engineering, Virginia Tech.
Dr. Sumit Roy, IEEE Fellow
Integrated Systems Professor, Electrical & Comp. Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle.
