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Focus Areas

The N+1 Institute has three primary technical focus areas:

  1. Artificial Intelligence
  2. Web3
  3. Edge computing

The advancements in each focus area fundamentally change current computing paradigms across the full technology stack. N+1 leverages UW-Madison expertise in computing systems (e.g. Data Management & Storage, Security & Privacy, Operating Systems, and UI/API) to better enable adoption by industry. 

Advances in AI/ML techniques and the ability to run them on low power, low-cost HW on the edge is driving significant innovation in the analytics layer. The distributed nature of Web3 is leading to new innovations in data management as distributed and hybrid data management platforms evolve leveraging blockchain as an enabling technology. The user and community-centric ownership models of Web3 are changing the privacy and security landscape, opening up new models of digital identity and ownership while the challenge of having billions of distributed devices poses new challenges for securing and managing distributed data assets. The global rollout of 5G and the evolution of 6G are making high-speed wireless available to the masses and enabling the explosion of IoT and IoAT. In compute and data generation, an explosion of sensors and sensing is occurring, advanced by progress in edge computing technologies. All of this change, and the wide-reaching nature of its impact, is forcing every company to become part software, data, and analytics business. 

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TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE THE FUTURE

Our unique blend of students, faculty, industry pioneers, and early adopters fuels a new approach to innovation. Research leads to groundbreaking tech advancements, education builds the skills needed to lead us forward, and industry collaboration bridges the gap between raw technology and use-inspired application. N+1 at UW-Madison is building a better future.   

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