New Report: 5 Wireless Research Priorities for U.S. Competitiveness in Global Technology Race
Engineering Research Visioning Alliance’s latest report highlights five key research priorities for the United States to lead next-generation wireless innovation
APRIL 3, 2025 -- As wireless demand surges, a new report released today by the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), an initiative funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), outlines strategic engineering research priorities critical to advancing next-generation wireless technologies and maintaining U.S. global competitiveness.
In an increasingly connected world, the demand for faster, smarter, more reliable, more secure, and higher-capacity networks is intensifying. A 2024 survey revealed that in 2023, Americans used 100 trillion megabytes of data—26 trillion more megabytes than in 2022— the largest single-year increase in wireless data consumption to date. Investing in advanced wireless technologies is essential to meet this growing demand and support transformative initiatives such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and advanced health care applications. But according to ERVA’s report, Strategic Engineering for Next-Generation Wireless Competitiveness, the United States faces significant challenges in maintaining wireless competitiveness in this global technology race. Unlike the United States, countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, and Finland have invested heavily in wireless research beyond 5G. They are rapidly setting standards and research priorities for 6G and beyond.
“The United States is at a pivotal moment as the complexity of wireless technology accelerates,” said Daniel Mittleman, professor of engineering at Brown University. “The priorities identified in this report are critical areas where the engineering research community can lead in driving the next generation of wireless breakthroughs. By prioritizing strategic research discovery, we can unlock solutions that meet future demands and elevate U.S. competitiveness.”