Welcome to the Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World at the University of Florida, a hub for innovation, research, and collaboration in the rapidly evolving landscape of Internet of Things (IoT).
Inspired by UF alumnus Warren B. Nelms’ legacy of ingenuity and vision for intelligent automation, our institute serves as a catalyst for interdisciplinary research, workforce development, and collaboration at the convergence of Artificial Intelligence and IoT (AIoT).
With over 60 affiliated faculty across the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, College of Education, College of Medicine, IFAS, and other units, the Warren B. Nelms Institute facilitates true cross-disciplinary collaboration across the university. To expand our regional and national impact, we’ve established robust partnerships with universities throughout the Southeast region of the United States. Our strong relationships with local companies and industry leaders have enabled us to translate research advances into real-world applications, directly fueling the next industrial revolution.
Cutting-Edge Research with Real-World Impact
Together with industry, academic, and government partners, our faculty and student researchers are tackling global challenges with next-generation technologies and novel applications to improve lives and shape a smarter, safer, and more connected world.
The Warren B. Nelms Institute is nationally recognized for research in hardware, software, edge computing, trustworthy AI, and device security, driving innovations that make devices safer, smaller, more secure, and more efficient. We’re leveraging these technologies in numerous applications, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, agriculture, transportation, and education.
Since the institute’s founding in 2017, we have secured over $85M in external research funding and filed over 50 patents and invention disclosures. Currently, our faculty researchers are leading more than 75 active, cross-disciplinary projects.
Shaping Future Leaders: Education and Outreach
Our mission extends beyond technological advancement. We are also dedicated to developing the next generation of IoT leaders through hands-on training and mentoring.
Our approach emphasizes experiential and peer-to-peer learning, bringing AIoT education into K-12 classrooms and extracurricular activities, creating accessible, hands-on curricula for undergraduate students, and reaching unique learners such as military veterans to strengthen the workforce pipeline. The institute has received both federal funding and national recognition for these efforts.
Through the IoT Students Club at UF, we foster student leadership and growth in the sphere of AIoT. The club organizes an exciting lineup of hands-on training workshops, impactful panels, and other engaging activities each semester to involve the undergraduate and graduate student community. All interested students are encouraged to join.
The Warren B. Nelms Annual IoT Conference
The Warren B. Nelms Annual IoT Conference stands as a signature event that brings together hundreds of IoT experts, industry leaders, and researchers from across the nation.
Expert speakers deliver talks and participate in panel discussions, covering a wide variety of IoT and AI topics and their influence across various sectors. A hallmark of the conference is the student demo and poster session, where over one hundred students showcase their latest research, share innovations, and engage directly with professionals in the field.
With active participation from leading companies, government agencies, and universities throughout the Southeast, the conference embodies our mission to drive interdisciplinary IoT innovation and promote cross-cutting collaboration.
We are thrilled to be hosting the next iteration of the conference in December, and we invite you to attend!
Partner with the Warren B. Nelms Institute
Whether you are a faculty member, student, or industry professional, I encourage you to be part of our dynamic community. Join us as a collaborator, researcher, or sponsor and help shape the future of AIoT. Together, we can develop transformative technologies, inspire the next generation of AIoT leaders, and lead the way in advancing the connected world.
With warm regards,
Swarup Bhunia
Director, Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World
Distinguished Professor and Semmoto Endowed Professor of IoT, Department Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida