diff --git a/OWNERS_ALIASES b/OWNERS_ALIASES
index 0839cb169b6..1f90e3076c8 100644
--- a/OWNERS_ALIASES
+++ b/OWNERS_ALIASES
@@ -130,6 +130,11 @@ aliases:
- mwielgus
- soltysh
- swatisehgal
+ wg-checkpoint-restore-leads:
+ - adrianreber
+ - haircommander
+ - rst0git
+ - viktoriaas
wg-data-protection-leads:
- xing-yang
- yuxiangqian
diff --git a/sig-api-machinery/README.md b/sig-api-machinery/README.md
index d2389c6600a..dbc765d5670 100644
--- a/sig-api-machinery/README.md
+++ b/sig-api-machinery/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
## Working Groups
The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-api-machinery:
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [WG Structured Logging](/wg-structured-logging)
diff --git a/sig-apps/README.md b/sig-apps/README.md
index fa2e645ea70..a3b7d21e645 100644
--- a/sig-apps/README.md
+++ b/sig-apps/README.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-apps:
* [WG Batch](/wg-batch)
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [WG Data Protection](/wg-data-protection)
* [WG Node Lifecycle](/wg-node-lifecycle)
* [WG Serving](/wg-serving)
diff --git a/sig-auth/README.md b/sig-auth/README.md
index ee26f690abb..a072e740b3d 100644
--- a/sig-auth/README.md
+++ b/sig-auth/README.md
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
- [@kubernetes/sig-auth-test-failures](https://github.com/orgs/kubernetes/teams/sig-auth-test-failures) - Test Failures and Triage
- Steering Committee Liaison: Patrick Ohly (**[@pohly](https://github.com/pohly)**)
+## Working Groups
+
+The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-auth:
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
+
+
## Subprojects
The following [subprojects][subproject-definition] are owned by sig-auth:
diff --git a/sig-cli/README.md b/sig-cli/README.md
index 3fe661cb7ea..7f19251f64e 100644
--- a/sig-cli/README.md
+++ b/sig-cli/README.md
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
## Working Groups
The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-cli:
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [WG Node Lifecycle](/wg-node-lifecycle)
diff --git a/sig-list.md b/sig-list.md
index f9bd8485863..4cb30eae780 100644
--- a/sig-list.md
+++ b/sig-list.md
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ When the need arises, a [new SIG can be created](sig-wg-lifecycle.md)
| Name | Label | Stakeholder SIGs |Organizers | Contact | Meetings |
|------|-------|------------------|-----------|---------|----------|
|[Batch](wg-batch/README.md)|[batch](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/labels/wg%2Fbatch)|* Apps
* Autoscaling
* Node
* Scheduling
|* [Kevin Hannon](https://github.com/kannon92), Red Hat
* [Marcin Wielgus](https://github.com/mwielgus), Google
* [Maciej Szulik](https://github.com/soltysh), Defense Unicorns
* [Swati Sehgal](https://github.com/swatisehgal), Red Hat
|* [Slack](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-batch)
* [Mailing List](https://groups.google.com/a/kubernetes.io/g/wg-batch)|* Regular Meeting ([calendar](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=8ulop9k0jfpuo0t7kp8d9ubtj4%40group.calendar.google.com)): [Thursdays (starting February 15th 2024)s at 3PM CET (Central European Time) (monthly)](https://zoom.us/j/98329676612?pwd=c0N2bVV1aTh2VzltckdXSitaZXBKQT09)
+|[Checkpoint Restore](wg-checkpoint-restore/README.md)|[checkpoint-restore](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/labels/wg%2Fcheckpoint-restore)|* API Machinery
* Apps
* Auth
* CLI
* Node
* Scheduling
|* [Adrian Reber](https://github.com/adrianreber), Red Hat
* [Peter Hunt](https://github.com/haircommander), Red Hat
* [Radostin Stoyanov](https://github.com/rst0git), University of Oxford
* [Viktória Spišaková](https://github.com/viktoriaas), Masaryk University
|* [Slack](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [Mailing List](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/kubernetes-wg-checkpoint-restore)|
|[Data Protection](wg-data-protection/README.md)|[data-protection](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/labels/wg%2Fdata-protection)|* Apps
* Storage
|* [Xing Yang](https://github.com/xing-yang), VMware
* [Xiangqian Yu](https://github.com/yuxiangqian), Google
|* [Slack](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-data-protection)
* [Mailing List](https://groups.google.com/a/kubernetes.io/g/wg-data-protection)|* Regular WG Meeting: [Wednesdays at 9:00 PT (Pacific Time) (bi-weekly)](https://zoom.us/j/6933410772)
|[Device Management](wg-device-management/README.md)|[device-management](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/labels/wg%2Fdevice-management)|* Architecture
* Autoscaling
* Network
* Node
* Scheduling
|* [John Belamaric](https://github.com/johnbelamaric), Google
* [Kevin Klues](https://github.com/klueska), NVIDIA
* [Patrick Ohly](https://github.com/pohly), Intel
|* [Slack](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-device-management)
* [Mailing List](https://groups.google.com/a/kubernetes.io/g/wg-device-management)|* Regular WG Meeting (Asia/Europe): [Wednesdays at 9:00 CET (Central European Time) (biweekly)](https://zoom.us/j/97238699195?pwd=cy9IMm1ZeERtRlJ3VS8yWUxHUWIrQT09)
* Regular WG Meeting (Europe/America): [Tuesdays at 8:30 PT (Pacific Time) (biweekly)](https://zoom.us/j/97238699195?pwd=cy9IMm1ZeERtRlJ3VS8yWUxHUWIrQT09)
|[etcd Operator](wg-etcd-operator/README.md)|[etcd-operator](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/labels/wg%2Fetcd-operator)|* Cluster Lifecycle
* etcd
|* [Benjamin Wang](https://github.com/ahrtr), VMware
* [Ciprian Hacman](https://github.com/hakman), Microsoft
* [Josh Berkus](https://github.com/jberkus), Red Hat
* [James Blair](https://github.com/jmhbnz), Red Hat
* [Justin Santa Barbara](https://github.com/justinsb), Google
|* [Slack](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-etcd-operator)
* [Mailing List](https://groups.google.com/a/kubernetes.io/g/wg-etcd-operator)|* Regular WG Meeting: [Tuesdays at 11:00 PT (Pacific Time) (bi-weekly)](https://zoom.us/my/cncfetcdproject)
diff --git a/sig-node/README.md b/sig-node/README.md
index 1ef3742dbb3..1826db21a11 100644
--- a/sig-node/README.md
+++ b/sig-node/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-node:
* [WG Batch](/wg-batch)
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [WG Device Management](/wg-device-management)
* [WG Node Lifecycle](/wg-node-lifecycle)
* [WG Serving](/wg-serving)
diff --git a/sig-scheduling/README.md b/sig-scheduling/README.md
index 1d6b8c590f0..f0365b30bc6 100644
--- a/sig-scheduling/README.md
+++ b/sig-scheduling/README.md
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ subprojects, and resolve cross-subproject technical issues and decisions.
The following [working groups][working-group-definition] are sponsored by sig-scheduling:
* [WG Batch](/wg-batch)
+* [WG Checkpoint Restore](/wg-checkpoint-restore)
* [WG Device Management](/wg-device-management)
* [WG Node Lifecycle](/wg-node-lifecycle)
* [WG Serving](/wg-serving)
diff --git a/sigs.yaml b/sigs.yaml
index 5eda987da38..303efc25973 100644
--- a/sigs.yaml
+++ b/sigs.yaml
@@ -3583,6 +3583,43 @@ workinggroups:
liaison:
github: aojea
name: Antonio Ojea
+- dir: wg-checkpoint-restore
+ name: Checkpoint Restore
+ mission_statement: >
+ This working group aims to provide a central location for the community to discuss
+ the integration of Checkpoint/Restore functionality into Kubernetes.
+
+ charter_link: charter.md
+ stakeholder_sigs:
+ - API Machinery
+ - Apps
+ - Auth
+ - CLI
+ - Node
+ - Scheduling
+ label: checkpoint-restore
+ leadership:
+ chairs:
+ - github: adrianreber
+ name: Adrian Reber
+ company: Red Hat
+ email: areber@redhat.com
+ - github: haircommander
+ name: Peter Hunt
+ company: Red Hat
+ email: pehunt@redhat.com
+ - github: rst0git
+ name: Radostin Stoyanov
+ company: University of Oxford
+ email: radostin.stoyanov@eng.ox.ac.uk
+ - github: viktoriaas
+ name: Viktória Spišaková
+ company: Masaryk University
+ email: spisakova@ics.muni.cz
+ meetings: []
+ contact:
+ slack: wg-checkpoint-restore
+ mailing_list: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/kubernetes-wg-checkpoint-restore
- dir: wg-data-protection
name: Data Protection
mission_statement: >
diff --git a/wg-checkpoint-restore/README.md b/wg-checkpoint-restore/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7de361d4213
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wg-checkpoint-restore/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+
+# Checkpoint Restore Working Group
+
+This working group aims to provide a central location for the community to discuss the integration of Checkpoint/Restore functionality into Kubernetes.
+
+The [charter](charter.md) defines the scope and governance of the Checkpoint Restore Working Group.
+
+## Stakeholder SIGs
+* [SIG API Machinery](/sig-api-machinery)
+* [SIG Apps](/sig-apps)
+* [SIG Auth](/sig-auth)
+* [SIG CLI](/sig-cli)
+* [SIG Node](/sig-node)
+* [SIG Scheduling](/sig-scheduling)
+
+
+
+## Organizers
+
+* Adrian Reber (**[@adrianreber](https://github.com/adrianreber)**), Red Hat
+* Peter Hunt (**[@haircommander](https://github.com/haircommander)**), Red Hat
+* Radostin Stoyanov (**[@rst0git](https://github.com/rst0git)**), University of Oxford
+* Viktória Spišaková (**[@viktoriaas](https://github.com/viktoriaas)**), Masaryk University
+
+## Contact
+- Slack: [#wg-checkpoint-restore](https://kubernetes.slack.com/messages/wg-checkpoint-restore)
+- [Mailing list](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/kubernetes-wg-checkpoint-restore)
+- [Open Community Issues/PRs](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/labels/wg%2Fcheckpoint-restore)
+
+
+
diff --git a/wg-checkpoint-restore/charter.md b/wg-checkpoint-restore/charter.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f777899ad11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wg-checkpoint-restore/charter.md
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+
+# WG Checkpoint Restore Charter
+
+This charter adheres to the conventions described in the [Kubernetes Charter README] and uses
+the Roles and Organization Management outlined in [sig-governance].
+
+## Scope
+
+The Checkpoint/Restore Working Group aims to solve the problem of transparently
+checkpointing and restoring workloads in Kubernetes, a functionality discussed
+for over five years. The group will deliver the design and implementation of
+Checkpoint/Restore functionality in Kubernetes, serving as a central hub for
+community information and discussion. This initiative addresses a wide range of
+problems, including fault tolerance, improved resource utilization, and
+accelerated application startup times.
+
+### In scope
+
+- Identify core Kubernetes checkpoint/restore use cases (e.g., live migration,
+ fault tolerance, debugging, snapshotting) and gather stakeholder requirements.
+- Investigate and propose Kubernetes APIs for checkpoint/restore operations.
+- Work with SIGs for the best integration of checkpoint/restore functionality
+ and APIs.
+- Provide guidance for developers on checkpoint-friendly app design and
+ recommendations for operators on feature management.
+- Work closely with relevant upstream projects (CRI-O, containerd, CRIU, gVisor)
+ for alignment and integration.
+- Revisit the existing implementations to find and remedy possible inefficiencies.
+ One example is the existing checkpoint archive format which has already been
+ identified as being a major source of slowdown.
+
+### Out of scope
+
+- Not focused on general OS-level checkpointing outside Kubernetes
+ pods/containers.
+- Will not dictate internal application checkpointing logic; focuses on
+ Kubernetes platform orchestration of *container/pod state.
+
+## Stakeholders
+
+Stakeholders in this working group span multiple SIGs that own parts of the
+code in core kubernetes components and addons.
+
+- SIG CLI
+- SIG API Machinery
+- SIG Node
+- SIG Scheduling
+- SIG Auth
+- SIG Apps
+
+## Deliverables
+
+The list of deliverables include the following high level features:
+
+- In the early stage, we mainly want to offer a well-defined location for the
+ community to find information, ask questions, and discuss the next steps of
+ enabling checkpoint and restore in Kubernetes.
+
+Later:
+
+- Ability to checkpoint and restore a container using kubectl
+- Ability to checkpoint and restore a pod using kubectl
+- Integration of container/pod checkpointing in scheduling decisions
+
+## Roles and Organization Management
+
+This WG adheres to the Roles and Organization Management outlined in [wg-governance]
+and opts-in to updates and modifications to [wg-governance].
+
+[wg-governance]: /committee-steering/governance/wg-governance.md
+
+Additionally, the WG commits to:
+
+- maintain a solid communication line between the Kubernetes groups and the
+ wider CNCF community
+- submit a proposal to the KubeCon/CloudNativeCon maintainers track
+
+## Timelines and Disbanding
+
+As a first mandate, the WG will define a roadmap and tasks in the first quarter
+of operation.
+
+After that the WG will distribute the different tasks to different community
+members to define possible APIs and how it can be integrated in Kubernetes.
+
+Achieving the aforementioned deliverables, also mentioned in the `In Scope`
+section, will allow us to decide when to disband this WG. There is no
+expectations that the Working Group will be converted into a SIG long term.
+
+[sig-governance]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/committee-steering/governance/sig-governance.md
+[Kubernetes Charter README]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/committee-steering/governance/README.md