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

September 24-25, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

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.

Agenda

Sessions and timing subject to change.

Thursday, September 24, 2026

JHU Bloomberg Center Auditorium

8:00 AM – Registration, Breakfast, Networking
8:30 AM – Welcome and Introductory Remarks
9:00 AM – Panel: Why Programmable Cloud Laboratories, Why Now?
9:40 AM – Meet the PCL Network I (Nodes 1-5)
10:35 AM – BREAK
11:05 AM – Meet the PCL Network II (Nodes 6-10)
12:00 PM – The Future of AI-Enabled Scientific Discovery
12:40 PM – NETWORKING LUNCH
1:45 PM – Meet the PCL Network III (Nodes 11-15)
2:40 PM – Global Perspectives on Programmable Laboratories
3:20 PM – BREAK
3:50 PM – Meet the PCL Network IV (Nodes 16-20)
4:50 PM – Session TBA
5:00 – ADJOURN

Thursday Evening Showcase Reception

Senate Hart Building SH-216

5:30 PM – Registration
6:00 PM – Program TBA
8:00 PM – Reception Concludes

Friday, September 25, 2026

Convene Hamilton Square

8:00 AM – Breakfast and Networking
8:30 AM – Welcome
8:40 AM – From 20 Nodes to One Network
9:25 AM – Collaborating and Innovating with the Astera Institute
9:55 AM – PCL Network Portal
10:10 AM – BREAK
10:30 AM – Breakout Sessions 1-3
- Breakout 1 – AI in the Loop
- Breakout 2 – Science Drivers
- Breakout 3 – Computational Needs/Requirements
12:00 PM – NETWORKING LUNCH
12:30 PM – OKN Presentations and Panel (Concurrent with Lunch)
2:00 PM – Breakout Sessions 4-6
- Breakout 4 – Data Accessibility & Standards
- Breakout 5 – Human-in-the-loop
- Breakout 6 – Node Management and User Support
3:30 PM – Plenary discussion, wrap-up, next steps
4:00 PM – ADJOURN