UK government-backed technology incubator Digital Catapult became the latest member of a recently launched European Commission (EC)-supported 6G innovation project, as research and development around the upcoming technology in the continent continues to ramp-up.
Unveiled last month, the three-year programme dubbed 6G-LEADER, now counts a consortium of 19 academic and industry partners, including telecoms heavyweights Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Telefonica.
Outlined in a statement at launch, key priorities for the group include the convergence of AI and wireless communications and advancing sustainable connectivity to support the decarbonisation of the telecoms sector.
The initiative aims to build smarter, faster, and greener network solutions central to Europe’s future digital infrastructure. With a global budget of €8.5 million, the initiative is funded under the EC’s wider Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking programme.
Digital Catapult will contribute to proof-of-concept work on open RAN, AI-based network optimisation, as well as 6G RAN technologies. The organisation further intends to utilise its existing work in advanced connectivity, including its network of 5G testbeds and accelerator initiatives.
The company previously participated in 17 projects under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research funding programme, after re-entering the initiative last year.
Joe Butler, CTO at Digital Catapult, stated the company aims to bolster 6G innovation through the collaboration, adding that after its history of involvement with Horizon projects, it is “now expanding our work in advanced connectivity with cutting-edge, AI-driven, and sustainable solutions”.