“6G Valley” in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region

The vision: Innovation and dialog

The 6G Valley has set itself ambitious goals. The focus is on establishing a flagship innovation cluster that not only establishes the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region as a major location for mobile communication technology and applications, but also attracts companies, researchers, students and start-ups from around the globe. The Free State of Bavaria supports the project as a decisive building block for the digital future.

“We want to bring together all relevant stakeholders, leading experts and creative talents from academia and education, from industry, from politics and from society and take the next steps to develop 6G and communication technologies of the future together,” explains Prof. Dr. Norman Franchi, Chair of Smart Electronics and Systems and initiator of the 6G Valley. Networking events, joint research and development projects and application-oriented working groups (for example in the areas of medicine, safety, automotive, critical infrastructures, smart city, automation, extended reality) aim to strengthen the network’s collaborative spirit.

Unique opportunity for the future of mobile communications

“The 6G Valley offers a unique opportunity for revolutionizing mobile communication technologies. Working closely with the Fraunhofer IIS, we are shaping the future of mobile communications in Germany and Europe. FAU is once more benefiting from our wide range of disciplines, the excellence of our researchers and last but not least the creativity of our partners who share our vision,” says FAU President Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger.

“The potential 6G can offer our economy is already becoming apparent. Especially in this phase, on the way towards establishing the next standard, Fraunhofer IIS recognizes the importance of working closely together with our partners such as Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. The 6G Valley provides a forum for encouraging dialog between applied research, academia, manufacturers and users and creates a framework for future pioneering developments in the area of communications technology in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region,” explains Prof. Dr. Albert Heuberg, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer IIS and Chair of Information Technologies with Focus on Communication Electronics at FAU.

Specific challenges and issues

The 6G Valley focuses on research topics that are crucial for the continued development of mobile communications and other communication technologies. The question as to how specific applications can be developed and implemented for example in the area of smart cities, autonomous driving or Industry 4.0 is particularly relevant.

In addition, cyber security, IT security, resilient infrastructures and civil and national security will also play a major role. As 6G technologies are intended to provide more extensive connections and more data streams, it is crucial that we create new protective mechanisms and security architectures.

A further important aspect is energy efficiency and sustainability for future 6G infrastructure. Research areas include how to combine growing demands for computing power and network coverage with as low energy consumption as possible and minimal CO2 emissions. “These topics are not only important for research, but also for industry and society in the future,” explains Prof. Dr. Norman Franchi.

Benefits for science, industry and society

The collaboration in the 6G Valley is hoped to bring clear benefits for all involved sectors. For research, the network offers an unique opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration and promotion of innovative research projects, in Germany and abroad.

Companies from the area of mobile communications and communication technology and neighboring sectors benefit from direct access to current research findings and the opportunity to work together on pioneering technologies. In addition, support will be provided for spin-offs and start-ups in the area of 6G or communications technology, which will entail new economic impulses and incentives for the region.

The 6G Valley alliance also aims to involve and educate the general public in the process of digital transformation, raising awareness today of the advantages and applications future technologies will offer society tomorrow.