NSF: MRI: track 2: summit: development of a secure and resilient multi-site smart grid testbed for multidisciplinary research and training

The National Science Foundation Division of Computer and Network Systems awarded the University of Massachusetts Lowell $1.7 million on October 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to develop a secure and resilient multi-site smart grid testbed for distributed research and education.

The testbed will be physically distributed across campuses at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, New York University, and West Virginia University, connected via software-defined networking to simulate realistic wide-area power grid operations. The instrument integrates four technical capabilities: distributed hardware-in-the-loop simulation joining equipment across sites, Internet-in-the-loop simulation embedding real wide-area communications in the control loop, heterogeneous distributed digital twins, and a federated platform incorporating an existing testbed at a partner campus. Cross-cutting thrusts address resilient networking, network monitoring, and cybersecurity for grid operations. The testbed will function as an open, shared facility for external researchers and institutions while supporting graduate and undergraduate education through new courses, outreach, and workforce training in grid resilience, multi-source energy integration, and critical infrastructure cybersecurity. Period of performance runs through September 30, 2031, with place of performance in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Abstract

The electric power grid is one of the most important systems in modern life. IT is changing fast as multiple generation sources are quickly added while computers and networks are taking over its control. These changes make the grid smarter, but they also open new ways for IT to fail or be attacked. Studying how to keep IT safe and reliable needs a realistic place to test ideas. This collaborative project brings together investigators from the university of massachusetts lowell, new york university, and west virginia university to build a new kind of testbed that is spread across campuses in different states and linked over the internet, so IT can imitate a real power grid that spans a wide region. Technically, the instrument will develop a modular, extensible, multi-site smart grid testbed with hardware-in-the-loop simulation, built around real-time digital simulators connected by software-defined networking. The work is organized into four capabilities: (1) distributed hardware-in-the-loop simulation that joins equipment at different sites into one experiment, (2) internet-in-the-loop simulation that places real wide-area communication inside the control loop, (3) heterogeneous distributed digital twins, and (4) a federated platform that incorporates an existing testbed at a partner campus. Cross-cutting thrusts include resilient networking, network monitoring, and cybersecurity for wide-area grid operation. The testbed advances research and training in grid resilience, integration of multiple energy sources, and the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. IT is designed as a shared, open facility that external researchers and other institutions can access, and as a hands-on teaching and workforce tool for graduate and undergraduate students through new courses, outreach, and a training program. By enabling realistic, geographically distributed experiments that a single laboratory cannot support, the facility strengthens the security and reliability of the nation's electric power grid and builds the regional workforce in energy and cybersecurity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are planned for this award.