Cryptographic security is built on mathematics and technology, but its strength ultimately depends on people working together. Researchers advance the science, industry transforms innovations into products, laboratories evaluate their implementations, and validation programs provide independent assurance. Progress depends on the knowledge, dedication, and collaboration of people across this entire ecosystem.
On October 26–27, FIPS ’n’ Chips 2026 will bring this community together in Austin, Texas, to exchange ideas, address emerging challenges, strengthen professional relationships, and inspire the next generation of cryptographers and cybersecurity professionals.
As the inaugural conference organized by the Crypto-V Alliance, FIPS ’n’ Chips embodies a simple philosophy: by the community, for the community. That spirit is reflected not only in the technical program but also in the extraordinary generosity of the organizations and individuals helping bring this event to life.
A generous welcome in Austin
We are deeply grateful to The University of Texas at Austin, Google, and AT&T Hotel and Conference Center for generously providing conference venues. Their hospitality allows us to bring the community together in outstanding facilities while keeping the conference accessible to a broader audience.
These contributions go far beyond logistical support. They reflect a shared commitment to fostering collaboration, advancing technical knowledge, and investing in the future of cryptographic security.
Generous sponsors, lasting impact
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors: Amazon Web Services, Chainguard, Crypto4A, Qualcomm, Brightsight/SGS, Google Cloud, Marvell, and atsec.
Their financial contributions help make FIPS ’n’ Chips a gathering where experienced professionals, emerging researchers, engineers, and students can learn from one another. In particular, sponsorship support allows us to subsidize registration fees for college and even high school students, removing financial barriers and opening doors to young minds eager to explore cryptography and cybersecurity.
The value of this support extends well beyond the two days of the conference. It creates opportunities to exchange experiences, tackle challenging questions, mentor newcomers, spark curiosity, and forge relationships that may shape careers and collaborations for years to come.
We also want to recognize our sponsors in a setting as innovative as the community they support.
At UT Austin’s Visualization Laboratory (VisLab), operated by the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), we plan to showcase our sponsors’ company profiles, logos, and messages on the spectacular Stallion display wall. This approximately 30-foot-wide installation consists of 18 large 8K monitors, offering a combined resolution of nearly 600 million pixels. Its extraordinary visual capabilities allow multiple images, videos, and scientific visualizations to be displayed simultaneously in remarkable detail.
The VisLab is much more than an impressive display facility. It demonstrates how advanced computing can transform complex scientific data into compelling visual stories, making the seemingly abstract tangible and engaging. It is an attraction worth visiting in its own right—and a fitting place to celebrate the organizations whose generosity helps make this conference possible. We are especially grateful to the VisLab staff for generously opening this remarkable, state-of-the-art facility to our conference and helping us share its extraordinary capabilities with our attendees.
Connecting generations, inspiring the future
One of our most important goals is to welcome students into the cryptographic community.
We have reached out to UT Austin, other local colleges, and a magnet high school to encourage student participation at minimal or no cost. We want young people to experience firsthand how the mathematics, computer science, and engineering they study in classrooms translate into technologies that protect our digital world.
Equally important, we want them to meet the people behind those technologies: researchers who develop new algorithms, engineers who turn ideas into working systems, and experts who evaluate and validate their security.
A conversation over coffee, a question during a presentation, or an unexpected encounter with a future mentor can open doors that no textbook can. Sometimes, all it takes is one inspiring experience to plant the seed of a lifelong passion.
By bringing seasoned experts and aspiring professionals together, we hope to create an environment where experience meets curiosity, knowledge is shared freely, and the next generation finds both inspiration and opportunity.
A community worth celebrating
Our gratitude extends beyond our venue hosts and financial sponsors to the Crypto-V Alliance board members, FIPS ’n’ Chips Program Committee members, speakers, community partners, volunteers, and the many individuals and organizations who have generously contributed their time, expertise, and resources.
Every contribution matters. Whether providing a venue, supporting a student, reviewing a presentation, sharing technical expertise, or simply helping spread the word, each act of generosity strengthens the community.
FIPS ’n’ Chips is not just about cryptographic algorithms, standards, certifications, or emerging technologies. It is about the people who make all of these possible—and the connections that enable us to accomplish more together than any of us could alone.
To everyone who has helped make FIPS ’n’ Chips 2026 possible, thank you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Austin on October 26–27, to celebrate what our community has accomplished and, more importantly, to help shape what we can accomplish together.
As a little bonus to attending our conference in Austin, you may have the opportunity to experience Tesla’s Cybercab firsthand! Austin is currently the only city where you can give it a try, so don’t miss the chance if you’re interested!
FIPS ’n’ Chips 2026 — By the Community, for the Community. We are looking forward to seeing you in Austin.