Advancing Global Collaboration and Training Through the Inter-American Network of Networks of QCD Challenges (IANN-QCD)

We present the status and vision of the Inter-American Network of Networks of QCD Challenges (IANN-QCD), a community-driven initiative now in its implementation phase with support from the NSF AccelNet program. Building on prior intercontinental collaborations, IANN-QCD is designed to accelerate scientific discovery by integrating efforts across the various subfileds of QCD science. While rooted in quantum chromodynamics, the network aspires to benefit the broader nuclear science community by fostering interdisciplinary methodologies and embracing emerging technologies to address grand scientific challenges.

A central focus of this new phase is the cultivation of the next generation of nuclear physicists through a talent pipeline. Coordinated training schools, immersive research exchanges, and jointly led workshops provide early-career researchers with critical technical skills, collaborative experience, and a broad scientific perspective. The network also supports the development of digital infrastructure and collaborative software ecosystems that reflect the evolving needs of modern nuclear science.

Initial outcomes include the formation of thematic working groups, the rollout of pilot training programs, and strategic alignment with major international efforts such as the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) and related global QCD initiatives. By linking existing networks and nurturing new ones, IANN-QCD is building a framework for innovation and cooperation across the Americas.

We invite the DNP community to engage with IANN-QCD as it grows into a platform for advancing nuclear science, empowering early-career researchers, and catalyzing transformative interdisciplinary collaboration.