The UPV leads this European project to promote the leadership of higher education institutions in local and regional ecosystems related to 6G technology. The main objective of Skills2Scale is to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurship capacities of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the field of technology beyond 5G. As a leading authority in research on this technology, UPV leads a consortium consisting of six other entities – ENVOLVE Entrepreneurship, NCSR Demokritos, Fogus Innovations & Services, and the universities of Lapland (Finland), Uzhhorod (Ukraine), and Liberec (Czech Republic).
Skills2Scale will focus on creating resources to foster partnerships between HEIs and external partners to promote innovation in technology beyond 5G, accelerate the development and commercialization of novel ideas and businesses by university students, and enhance the quality of education in innovation and entrepreneurship in this field. This project is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) “HEI” initiative, which aims to promote, attract, and retain talent to strengthen Europe’s position as a global innovation leader.
Technological Transfer and New Opportunities
In recent years, mobile networks have undergone radical evolution, both in the radio access and control parts, transforming the conventional paradigm of monolithic networks into a powerful software platform. Advances such as network segmentation, the integration of virtualization and cloud orchestration technologies, new cybersecurity techniques, and more recently, the rise of artificial intelligence with all its possibilities, demonstrate the success of research and innovation in this technological field.
All these advances have allowed the shift from a business model primarily based on phone calls and SMS to a model based on the massive transfer of data and information, capable of supporting many more services and use cases. Therefore, it is essential for the university to not only be a source of technical dissemination in this field but also to provide the necessary tools for students and emerging companies to offer services powered by 5G technology and, in the near future, 6G.
Better-Prepared Universities and Students
To achieve this, the consortium will develop an advanced education program in innovation and entrepreneurship that will first train university personnel and then students to develop and launch their own businesses and startups in the field of technology beyond 5G. By providing access to top-notch training, mentoring, and funding opportunities, the consortium hopes to create a new generation of entrepreneurs who will contribute to driving innovation and economic growth. However, each region has its specificities, so the project will involve relevant actors from the business community (small and medium-sized enterprises, telecommunications operators), policymakers, and innovation agents (accelerators, hubs) to design effective resources aligned with the real needs of the sector.
