National Network of AI-Programmable Cloud Laboratories Summit (PCL Kickoff)

About the Event

Automated, self-driving laboratories that design, execute, and analyze experiments at a scale unavailable in conventional research settings have the opportunity to catalyze innovation across the science and engineering enterprise. NSF has recently invested $380 million in 20 teams to establish the National Science Foundation Test Bed: Toward a Network of Programmable Cloud Laboratories (NSF PCL Test Bed) initiative, a national network of AI-enabled automated laboratories spanning seven areas of science and engineering. Across two days of team presentations, posters, and breakout discussions, the PCL Test Bed Kickoff Meeting will set the stage for these teams to collaborate, share ideas and identify initial priorities for interoperable data standards, shared infrastructure, and coordinated safety and security across the network. Participants will include PIs and key team members from each team, alongside NSF program staff, industry participants, and international counterpart projects.

Event Organizers

The PCL Test Bed Kickoff Meeting is convened by the National Science Foundation PCLNET, the Astera Institute, and the Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC). Thank you to our hosts at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center for hosting day one of the meeting.

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Logistics

Event Dates/Times: September 24, 2026 starting at 8:00am ET – September 25, 2026 ending at 4:00pm ET

Location:
Thursday, September 24: JHU Bloomberg Center Auditorium
Friday, September 25 (PCL Nodes Only): Convene Hamilton Square

Hotel:
EBRC has a block of rooms reserved at the JW Marriott Washington DC at $309.00 per night. If you would like to reserve a room within EBRC’s room block, please book your room using the link provided in your invitation email. You are responsible for booking your accommodations; please contact the hotel directly with any questions. You will be asked to provide a valid ID and credit card for payment upon check-in.

Questions?
Please email helix@ebrc.org, referencing “PCL”