WISPER NSF IUCRC

Wireless Innovation towards Secure, Pervasive, Efficient and Resilient NextG Networks

Pioneering transformative NextG wireless and networking technologies

A tall cell tower with multiple antennas is framed by green leafy trees on a sunny day. The sky is blue with a few clouds, conveying a serene atmosphere. — A cell phone tower in downtown Blacksburg. (Photo by Luke Hayes/Virginia Tech)

The NSF IUCRC for NextG Research

WISPER is a Center founded on the National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) model by Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and The University of Arizona to pioneer transformative NextG wireless and networking technologies.

Mission

WISPER will coordinate a concerted effort between academia and industry to bring transformative research on NextG wireless and networking technologies, founded on world-class faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and workforce development. WISPER aims to:

Grow U.S. competitiveness and innovation capacity in NextG wireless by developing close, sustained partnerships among leading industry innovators and world-class academic researchers.
Identify key drivers and barriers across societal and technological requirements and catalyze breakthrough pre-competitive research to enable secure, pervasive, efficient, and resilient NextG.
Contribute to the emerging North American vision for the next generation of networks, coordinated by the Next G Alliance.
Train a workforce that is prepared to tackle complex NextG challenges.
Conduct breakthrough, pre-competitive research with social and economic impact in four key research thematic areas.