The German Platform for Future Communication Technologies and 6G

Enabling Digital Sovereignty for the Citizens in a Hyperconnected World

Welcome to the 6G Platform Germany

Communication systems are the central nervous system of a digital economy and society. In order to be able to shape the digital future, it is crucial for Germany to be able to act with technological sovereignty. An important prerequisite for digital and technological sovereignty is to help define and appropriately implement the complex standardization and security requirements for core components and critical systems in future communications networks. The discussions on the deployment of the 5G network have highlighted the high relevance of key technologies in the field of mobile communications. In order to act in a sovereign manner, it is important for Germany and Europe to play a key role in shaping technology development and not just to use technology. In shaping the technological foundations of 6G, it is crucial that Germany takes a strong role to act at the forefront of the international research that is already underway. Central to this is, in particular, strengthening the networking and cooperation of all relevant players.

The goal of the project „Platform for Future Communication Technologies and 6G (6G Platform)“ is both to make scientific contributions to the content design of 6G and to ensure the scientific-organizational support of the processes that are necessary for the successful implementation of the German-European 6G program. To this end, harmonization with international regulation and standardization will be promoted, and opportunities for participation by society and industry will be created. Accordingly, the platform ensures that user groups that are not actively involved in mobile communications research can also contribute to the identification of 6G leading applications and requirements. The focus is on ensuring efficient harmonization of visions and concepts with the aim of defining a uniform German position. The necessary comprehensive and inclusive consideration of as many stakeholders, projects and key parties as possible is part of the accompanying research activities of the 6G platform. This takes into account that the definition of 6G is a dynamic process with currently still dynamically changing agendas.

The scientific contributions of the 6G Platform deal in particular with issues of high social relevance. In addition to internal science communication within the framework of the 6G initiative, the 6G platform is also aimed at recipients outside the scientific community. Space for dialog is created, through which broad sections of the population, from those with an affinity for technology to groups less interested in technology, are to be reached. In this way, the broadest possible participation in the innovation potential of 6G is generated in society at an early stage, which will also benefit the economy in the long term. Overall, the 6G platform is making an important contribution to the development of a 6G ecosystem and thus to advancing Germany’s technological sovereignty in future 6G technologies.

EVENTS & SPECIAL DATES

The 6G Platform will participate in the following events (as of December 2023):

9.-11. April 2024

DMEA

Venue: Messe Berlin (Exhibition Center)

17.-18. April 2024

WWRF Huddle

Venue: Berlin

22.-26.April 2024

Hannover Messe

Venue: Hannover

13.-14. May 2024

IEEE 6G Summit Dresden

Venue: Dresden

03.-06. June 2024

EUCNC

Venue: Antwerpen Belgium

02.-04. July 2024

Berlin 6G Conference 2024

Venue: bcc in Berlin

A brief glimpse into the past Berlin 6G Conference 2023:

6G Research-Hubs

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6G Research-Hub "6G-RIC"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Slawomir Stanczak, 

Fraunhofer HHI Berlin

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6G Research-Hub "6G-life"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Frank Fitzek, 

Technical University Dresden

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Holger Boche,

Technical University MĂŒnchen

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6G Research-Hub "6GEM"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Haris Gačanin,

RWTH Aachen University

Open6GHub.svg

6G Research-Hub "Open6GHub"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Hans D. Schotten,

DFKI GmbH

6G-RIC-Logo_Neu-1.png

6G Research-Hub "6G-RIC"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Slawomir Stanczak, 

Fraunhofer HHI Berlin

6G-life.svg

6G Research-Hub "6G-life"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Frank Fitzek, 

Technical University Dresden

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Holger Boche,

Technical University MĂŒnchen

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6G Research-Hub "6GEM"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Haris Gačanin,

RWTH Aachen University

6G Research-Hub "Open6GHub"

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Hans D. Schotten,

DFKI GmbH

6G INDUSTRIE- & RESILIENZPROJEKTE

CONTACT US

6G Platform Office

 

Rheinland-PfÀlzische Technische UniversitÀt Kaiserslautern-Landau

Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 11 · 67663 Kaiserslautern

 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans D. Schotten
Tel. +49 631 205 3595
schotten-office@eit.uni-kl.de

Plenary Keynote Session

Opening Session

09:00 – 09:05
Welcome on behalf of the 6G Plattform Germany
Gerhard Fettweis

09:05 – 09:15
Message
Mr Engelbert Beyer, BMBF

09:15 – 09:35
Keynote: â€œAccelerating Beyond 5G/6G R&D in NICT”

Prof. Tokuda, President, NICT

09:35 – 09:55
Keynote: „Harnessing the transformational nature of AI for 6G“

Peter Merz, VP and Head of Standardisation, Nokia

09:55 – 10:10
Keynote: „RF, Power and Sensor Solutions for energy efficient 6G Networks“
Ludger Verweyen, Head of Product Line RF, Infineon Technologies AG

10:10 – 10:30
Keynote: „1&1 makes a difference as the fourth mobile network operator“
Mr Martin, CEO of 1&1 Mobilfunk

Towards 4th Germany-Japan Beyond 5G/6G Research Workshop

Co-organized by NICT and the 6G Platform Germany

11:00 – 11:05

Opening

Prof. Schotten, Chairman, 6G Platform Germany

11:05 – 11:20

Status updates from BMBF

11:20 – 11:35

Status updates from XGMF

Prof. Nakao

11:35 – 12:25

Presentations of on-going joint projects in Japan and Germany
(2 slides each + QA, totally 50 min)

12:25 – 12:30

Wrap up and announcements for the next GER-JP workshop in Japan
Dr. Ishizu, Director of Beyond 5G Design Initiative, NICT

Next Generation Wireless Networks and the Role of Machine Learning

Dr. Renato Luis Garrido Cavalcante

  • „Towards a Universal Real-Time Neural Receiver“
    Alexander Keller, Senior Director of
    Research, NVIDIA

  • „Neural Receiver: testbeds and data collection“
    Francesco Rossetto, Rhode & Schwarz

  • „Enhancing 6G Receiver Performance: Comparative Analysis of AI-Based and Conventional Post-Distortion Techniques for Power Amplifiers“
    Ali El Husseini, Ericsson

  • „Fixed-point methods and model-driven AI for 6G PHY optimization“
    Jochen Fink, Fraunhofer HHI

Electromagnetic Exposure in 5G and Beyond Networks

Dr.-Ing. Mario Pauli

Amina Fellan

  • „Challenges for Human Exposure Assessment in 5G and impacts on 6G” (15 min)
    Tam Ta, RWTH Aachen

  • „Calculation of Protection Areas of Cellular Radio Stations using WattwĂ€chter“ (15 min)
    Thorsten Kayser, PKTEC GmbH

  • Possible research focuses (15 min)
    Josef Opitz, BNetzA

  • Panel Discussion (30 min)

Quantum Technologies for 6G and Beyond

Igor Bjelakovic

Marc Geitz

Janis Nötzel

Henrike Wissing

  • “Challenges in Quantum-Secure Communication – From
    Research to Integration”
    M. Reinecke (BearingPoint GmbH)

  • “Quantum Communication
    Technologies: Overview of Research Activities and Challenges”
    L. Krieg (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), SquaD)

  • „The road to provable quantum advantage in 6G“
    R. Bassoli (TU Dresden, 6G-life)

  • “Integrated photonics for quantum applications and
    more”
    J. Philipps (Quix Quantum GmbH)

  • “Quantum Joint Detection Receivers: Advantage and
    Challenges“
    J. Nötzel (TU MĂŒnchen, 6G-life)

  • “Quantum Hardware Aware Security for 6G Networks”
    I. Bjelakovic (Fraunhofer HHI, 6G-RIC)

Future Research Topics

Prof. Dr. Stephan ten Brink

Prof. Dr. Slawomir Stanczak

The session is organized as a panel, starting with short expert-pitches on feature topics, followed by a moderated discussion with Q&A from the audience.

  • “Medium access and link layer control”
    Prof. Marina Petrova, RWTH Aachen Thema

  • „7G“
    Prof. Gerhard Fettweis, TU Dresden

  • „Future of Integrated communication and sensing“
    Dr. Silvio Mandelli, Nokia Bell Labs

  • „New spectrum and THz communications“
    Prof. Ingmar Kallfass, U Stuttgart

  • „AI for next gen. communication networks“
    Dr. Zoran Utkovski, Fraunhofer/HHI

Optical Access and in-building Networks for 6G

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Volker Jungnickel

Introduction
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Volker Jungnickel (Fraunhofer HHI)

Optical Access and Satellite
Rene Bonk (Nokia), Luigi Martino (FAU Erlangen-NĂŒrnberg)

In-building Networks
Stefan PrĂŒcklmayer (Maxlinear), Anil Mengi (devolo)

Wi-Fi
Guido Hiertz (Ericsson)

Millimeter-wave and LiFi
Wilhelm Keusgen (TU Berlin), Christoph Kottke (Fraunhofer HHI)

Industrial and Medical Applications
Ernst-Joachim Steffens (EJS Industrie 4.0), Henner Baberowsky (Uni Leipzig, ICCAS)

Panel Discussion
All speakers

EUREKA and CELTIC Session

Session

10:50 – 10:55
Agenda
Xavier Priem, Director of CELTIC-NEXT


10:55 – 11:10
Keynote
Dr. Rudolf Haggenmueller, EUREKA Chair


11:10 – 11:20
Keynote
David Kennedy, CELTIC-NEXT Chairman


11:20 – 11:30

Keynote
Dr. Tina KlĂŒwer, BMBF, Dept 5 Director


11:30 – 11:40

Keynote
Volker Ziegler, Nokia


11:40 – 12:10

Panel discussion on “Future Pervasive Networks and how to build them ”

moderated by David Kennedy, CELTIC-NEXT Chairman


Panelists:


  • Mr Engelbert Beyer (BMBF, Dept 51)
  • Mikko A. Uusitalo (Lead, EU 6G Flagship Hexa-X II, Nokia)

  • Johannes Springer (DTAG)
  • Maria Guta (ESA)
  • Hans Schotten (6G Platform Germany)


12:10 – 12:30

CELTIC-NEXT Awards Ceremony
moderated by David Kennedy, CELTIC-NEXT Chairman

Opening Session with Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger

Opening Session

09:10 – 09:15
Welcome message by 6G Platform Germany
Hans D. Schotten


09:15 – 09:30
Opening and EUREKA message
Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger, BMBF


09:30 – 09:45
EUREKA message
Deputy Ambassador of Canada Evelyn Coulombe


09:45 – 10:10

Towards a Resilient and Secure Society: 6G Innovation for the Future
Christina Gessner, Executive Vice-President, Rohde & Schwarz

Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS)

Prof. Dr. Norman Franchi

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Falko Dressler

Part 1:

Talks by the 6G Hubs
(15 min. each)

 

  • “ISAC under Security and Privacy Constraints – from Theory to Demonstrations”
    Prof. Dr. Holger Boche, TU MĂŒnchen, Project 6G-life

  • “Implications of upcoming JCAS systems in 6G on Privacy in Public Areas”Torsten Reißland, FAU Erlangen-NĂŒrnberg, Project Open6GHub

  • „6GEM Activities and first Results on Joint  Communication and Sensing”
    Gerd vom Bögel, Fraunhofer IMS, Project 6GEM

  • “Network as a Sensor: 6G-RIC Perspective on JCAS”
    Kenan Turbic, Fraunhofer HHI, Project 6G-RIC

 

Part 2:

Talks by 6G Industry Projects

(15 min. each)

 

  • “6G HW Design Challenges for JCAS Systems”
    Marko Fleischer, Nokia, Project 6G-CampuSens

  • “Integrated Sensing and Communication for Industrial Applications in Sub-6 GHz and mmWave Bands”
    Vladica Sark, IHP, Project 6G-Campus

 

Part 3:

Panel Discussion

(30 min.)

 

On the presented perspectives and statements provided by the speakers and on, e.g., open challenges, gap analysis, relevance to commercial applications, etc.

Moderated by Norman Franchi and Falko Dressler, with all speakers, involving the audience

ICAS in Cellular Infrastructure and Sidelink

Dr. Oliver Blume

Ulrich Barth

14:00 – 14:05
Welcome

Dr. Oliver Blume (Bosch)
Ulrich Barth (Nokia Bell Labs)


14:05 – 15:05
Talks by perspective

(approx. 20 minutes each)


  • A beam of hope: the perks of beamforming for ICAS in 6G
    Slawomir Stanczak (HHI)

  • System architecture and PoCs of KOMSENS-6G

  • System architecture and PoCs of 6G-ICAS4Mobility
  •  
  •  

15:05 – 15:25

Discussion between projects: Synergies and Collaboration Opportunities


15:25 – 15:30
Conclusions and Closing

Dr. Oliver Blume (Bosch)
Ulrich Barth (Nokia Bell Labs)

International Plenary Session “6G Design Principles”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans D. Schotten

16:00 – 16:25
“Update from Hexa-X-II and 6G Design Principles”

Mikko Uusitalo, EU 6G Flagship Hexa-X-II Lead, Nokia

16:25 – 16:40
“Spectrum options for 6G”

Stefan Hiensch, BNetzA

16:40 – 17:00

“6G – an operators‘ view”

Sparsh Singhal, NGMN programme manager

17:00 – 18:00

Panel:

  • Michael Meyer (R&D Manager, Ericsson)
  • Gerald Kunzmann (6G Platform WG Architecture Lead, 6G ANNA, Nokia)
  • Aki Nakao (Co-Chairman XGMF, Tokyo Univ.)
  • Nicola Michailow (Siemens)
  • Ari Pouttu (Vice-Director 6G Flagship and 6G-ESS, Univ. of Oulu)
  • Sparsh Singhal (Programme Manager, NGMN)
  • Mikko Uusitalo (EU 6G Flagship Hexa-X-II Lead, Nokia)

International Plenary Session “Setting the Scene, Use Cases and Requirements”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans D. Schotten

14:00 – 14:05
Introduction

Hans D. Schotten, Chairman 6G Platform Germany

14:05 – 14:25
“6G Research at the European Level; Current Status and Future Plans”

Colin Willcock, Chairman, 6G-IA

14:25 – 14:50

“6G use cases – a view from the 3GPP SA1 use cases workshop in Rotterdam”

Toon Norp, SNS ICE project, TNO

14:50 – 15:30
Panel “Who will use 6G? And for what?”

Panelists:

  • Andreas MĂŒller (Chairman 5G-ACIA, Bosch)
  • Fabian Mackenthun (NXP)
  • Ralf Irmer (Vodafone)
  • Toon Norp (TNO, SNS ICE project)
  • Colin Willcock (Chairman 6G-IA)

Innovation Management and StartUp Connect

Dr. Lisa Underberg

Dr. Tobias Recker (6GEMcubator)

Daniel Lindenschmitt (s.s.c.KL)

14:00 – 15:30

The event will start with an overview of the WG Innovation Management within the 6G Platform, highlights its role for innovations in the 6G technology. Following this, representatives from each startup 6G-incubator (xG-Incubator, 6GEM Cubator, Launch Hub42 and SSC Kaiserslautern) will present their respective impulses, highlighting their approaches and contributions to fostering innovation in the field. In addition, start-ups and prospective founders will report on their experiences in general and on lessons learned specifically from the StartUpConnect program. Our Crowd Innovation concept will be presented afterwards and discussed in an interactive format.

 

  • Introduction and WG Innovation Management: „Help with the concretization of ideas“

  • Details on the StartUpConnect program and the associated incubators: „Taking concrete ideas further“

  • Best practice presentations: “Experience report and stumbling blocks from the StartUpConnect program”

  • Crowd Innovation: „Concept and interactive discussion “

  • Conclusion & Summary

6G for Healthcare

Dr. Ralf Irmer

Christoph Lipps

Dr. Max Rockstroh

Healthcare has been identified as a core theme for 6G, as highlighted at the Berlin6GConference by Minister Stark-Watzinger. The medical sector faces numerous challenges, including staff shortages, cost pressures, and an increasing number of elderly patients. 6G technologies have the potential to alleviate and address these issues.

This session provides a comprehensive overview of current research projects in the field of 6G and their applications in healthcare. It presents an approach for a Medical Device Compliant solution that meets high standards for data security and protection. The solutions aim to enhance efficiency and improve the quality of patient care. Experts from various disciplines will share their insights and discuss the future opportunities that 6G can offer in the healthcare sector.

 

HealthNet
Dr. Matteo Große-Kampmann (Hochschule Rhein-Waal)

 

Towards 6G in Healthcare – A Holistic Approach
Clemens Möllenhoff (ICCAS)

 

Connected Health: Compliant and Efficient Integration of Medical and Non-Medical Devices by applying the MD Comp framework
Hans Wenner (VDE)

 

Hardware Security for Medical Devices
Jörn Hoffmann (InfAI)

 

Panel Discussion:

 

  • Stefan Maas (NXP)
  • Dr.-Ing. Tobias Urban (Hochschule Rhein-Waal)
  • Hans Wenner (VDE)
  • Clemens Möllenhoff (ICCAS)

Energy Savings in Future Mobile Networks

Thomas von der GrĂŒn

Thomas Windisch

“Value-based design of 6G – a systems perspective on desired 6G sustainability outcomes”
Ali Rezaki / NOKIA


“Energy Savings Sustainability, Mobile Network Operators View”
Tilo Heckmann / TelefĂłnica

“Vodafone’s Green Goals: A Perspective on Energy and Sustainability”
Rishikesh Chakraborty / Vodafone

“Sustainability Aspects in 3GPP: Network Energy Saving”
Geordie George / Fraunhofer IIS

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: Theory, Optimization, and Experiments - Panel

Prof. Dr.-Ing Aydin Sezgin

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Robert Schober

Session Part I
Presentations (45 minutes)

“RIS – RF Measurements & Qualification Aspects”
Simon Otto, IMST, Project 6G-LICRIS

“On the realization of RIS – about trade-offs, drawbacks and impairments”
Robert Stöcker,
Fraunhofer IZM, Project 6G-RIC

“Liquid-Crystal Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces based on the Delay-Line Architecture”
Alejandro Jiménez Såez, TU Darmstadt

Session Part II

Panel (45 minutes)

Vincenzo Sciancalepore
NEC

Wilhelm Keusgen
TU Berlin, Projects 6G-RIC, 6G-LICRIS

Thomas Zwick
KIT, Project Open6GHub

Markus Heinrichs
TH Cologne

Simon Otto
IMST, Project 6G-LICRIS

Robert Stöcker
Fraunhofer IZM, Project 6G-RIC

Alejandro Jiménez Såez
TU Darmstadt