An action-packed conference programme – comprising presentations by leading experts, a dynamic exhibition featuring more than 55 cutting-edge research projects and elevator pitches demonstrating opportunities for future investment in new technologies – allowed representatives from companies, academia, government and the global investment community to experience novel innovations up-close and at first-hand.
The event was opened by Chair, Michaela Eschbach of Cambridge Wireless who steered the audience through the day’s proceedings, adding insights and knowledge from her background in global telecommunications to the topics under discussion. During the morning:
- The Directors of the FTH: Prof Harald Haas, TITAN Telecoms Hub; Prof Julie McCann, CHEDDAR Communications Hub; Prof Dominic O’Brien, HASC Hub; and Prof Dimitra Simeonidou, JOINER Platform, each explained the strategic focus of their respective Hub. Prof. Haas explained how the research translation interventions within the FTH address the important gap between Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 3 and 6, and how these have lowered the barrier to spin-outs and technology licensing.
- Maisie England, Head of Communications Research at EPSRC, addressed the importance of connecting academia, industry and government to advance UK capability; growing skills to support the UK telecoms ecosystem, and using partnerships to build resilience.
- Simon Clement, Director of Technology Due Diligence & Trials at Liberty Global gave the keynote: Decoding investment tech due diligence: bridging innovation and value, discussing areas including emerging tech analysis as a strategic investment opportunity, the creation of long term value and making the leap from innovation to successful enterprise.
- Tales Gaspar, Programme Manager, Satellite and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum at techUK, spoke about advanced communications technologies, as well as citing key, recent activities of techUK such as the launch of the Optical Wireless Communications Roadmap.
Next up, was an intensive round of quick-fire elevator pitches, delivered by representatives of entrepreneurial research teams, that are pushing the boundaries with emerging new technologies that have commercial and market potential. Pitches spanned a broad range of development projects ranging from ‘The Hearth: AI-Human Co-Design Platform for Accelerated Digital Transformation’ through to ‘NanoSync: Time-Driven Optical Switching for Future Computing’ and ‘Securing Wi-Fi Connectivity by Radio Frequency Fingerprints’.
The afternoon was centred around the exhibition, with delegates interacting with and exploring some 55+ demonstrations, posters of new ideas, and prototypes of new processes, products, systems and technologies, showcased by research teams from around 35 leading UK universities who are working closely with industry partners and stakeholders groups. Exhibits were themed across the five domains of: advanced radio systems and physical layer technologies, and spectrum innovation; AI-native networks and automation; emerging technologies and frontier communication; next-generation network architectures; and security, privacy and trust. There was also plenty of time for networking during the event, enabling attendees to forge new connections, expand on existing relationships and open up conversations about future collaborations and investment opportunities.
The FTH Advanced Connectivity Showcase concluded with an interactive panel session between the FTH Directors and delegates, resulting in a lively final debate about the future of telecommunications, and agreement on the power of combining academic research and industrial know-how to achieve innovation that supports the UK’s position on the global stage, and how the FTH aims to contribute to the next telecoms unicorns in the UK.
