Digital Catapult European 6G Consortium

Technology incubator Digital Catapult, backed by the UK government, became a member of a recently launched European Commission-supported 6G innovation project. Unveiled last month, the three-year program 6G-LEADER now counts a consortium of 19 academic and industry partners, including companies like Samsung, 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 decarbonization 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 program.

Digital Catapult will contribute to proof-of-concept work on open RAN, AI-based network optimization, as well as 6G RAN technologies. The organization further intends to utilize 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 program, after re-entering the initiative last year.

Joe Butler, CTO at Digital Catapult, stated the company aims to bolster 6G innovation through collaboration. He added that after its history of involvement with Horizon projects, it is now expanding its work in advanced connectivity with cutting-edge, AI-driven, and sustainable solutions.