SANTA CLARA, Calif. – DesignCon, a leading event for high-speed design technologies, has announced its keynote speakers for the 2026 edition, set to take place over three days. The speakers include Joseph Lukens, Associate Professor at Purdue University School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mark Ren, Founder at Agentrys; and Bhanu Sood, Chief Technologist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, according to announcements made February 17, 2026.
Lukens will deliver a keynote on the first day of the event, focusing on quantum networking. His presentation will trace the development of the field from its theoretical foundations through the early commercialization of quantum key distribution, and the current expansion of entanglement-based testbeds globally. Lukens intends to present a vision for a “quantum information superhighway,” comparable to the classical internet, and its potential to revolutionize information processing and transmission.
Ren’s keynote, scheduled for the second day, will address the role of artificial intelligence in chip design. He will detail the evolution of AI applications in this field, from systems capable of correcting syntax errors in Register-Transfer-Level (RTL) code to more advanced multi-agent systems that can generate complete RTL designs directly from specifications.
Bhanu Sood, representing NASA, will discuss technology innovations driving the agency’s science and exploration goals. These innovations are considered essential to NASA’s plans for sustainable lunar operations, Mars exploration, and broader scientific discovery within the solar system.
DesignCon organizers stated the keynotes will highlight key findings, research, and innovations that are advancing the sector through cutting-edge technologies and practical applications. Further details about the event, including registration information, are available at www.designcon.com.
