Every year, NEC Labs America researchers and interns bravely embark on our annual Kayaking trip—because nothing says “cutting-edge research” like a bunch of PhDs trying not to capsize. But here’s the twist: while most people kayak for fun, we treat it like a floating lab. We bring our laptops, hydrophones and fiber-optic sensors to secretly eavesdrop on the water while we argue about paddle technique, and then we feed all that splashy chaos into AI. The result? Insights into maritime safety and ecological monitoring. A strong reminder that laptops and rivers don’t mix. And the obvious conclusion is that we are just as bad at steering a kayak as everyone else.
This summer at NEC Laboratories America was full of energy, teamwork, and connection. From volleyball games in San Jose and TopGolf with colleagues from Princeton to kayaking adventures, a campus picnic, and celebrating our incredible interns, our teams came together to learn, laugh, and grow. Here’s a look back at the highlights that made Summer 2025 so memorable.
Princeton Office
4 Independence Way, Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540
+1 609-520-1555
San Jose Office
2033 Gateway Place, Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95110
+1 408-863-6007
NEC Laboratories America, Inc. (NEC Labs) is the US-based center for NEC Corporation’s global network of corporate research laboratories. Our diverse research groups collaborate with industry, academia and governments to provide disruptive solutions to complex problems. A leader in the integration of IT and network technologies with more than 100 years of expertise, NEC provides a combination of products and solutions that cross-utilize the company’s experience and global resources to meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers.