Bradford seals £1m funding for 6G research projects

The University of Bradford has been awarded £1 million from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme to lead pioneering research into the socio-economic and sustainability impacts of disruptive technologies, including 6G networks and edge computing.

Secured by a team of researchers at the University’s School of Management, the funding supports three ambitious projects—COP-PILOT, 6G-VERSUS, and 6G-PATH. These initiatives aim to explore how emerging digital technologies can address global challenges and enhance societal well-being. This grant places the University of Bradford at the forefront of digital innovation, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in transformative research and applied technological advancement.

The COP-PILOT project (Collaborative Open Platform for PILOTing services across emerging smart Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing environments) seeks to develop an open platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Edge computing is a distributed computing model which brings data storage closer to the sources of data.  

This platform aims to enable seamless services across critical sectors, including energy, smart cities, agriculture, and manufacturing. Supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI), COP-PILOT is part of a €22.5 million initiative involving 47 partners from industry, academia, research institutions, SMEs, and non-profits across 12 European cities.

6G-VERSUS (6G Vertical Trials for Sustainability) integrates 6G technology with real-world experimentation to create sustainable 6G applications. With €12.1 million in research and development funding distributed among 34 partners from industry, academia, and research institutions across six European countries, the project aims to design a 6G-enabled framework for vertical, AI, and network applications. It will propel towards a more sustainable and prosperous society with the help of 6G technology. 

These projects build on the University’s involvement in 6G-PATH (Pilots and Trials Throughout Europe), a consortium of 26 partners from 13 countries. Launched in Greece in January 2024, 6G-PATH investigates the societal impact of 6G rollout, supported by Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.

The University of Bradford’s School of Management plays a pivotal role in leading the evaluation and impact assessment of these projects. The research will focus on understanding the implications of 6G and edge computing on society, sustainability, and business.

Bradford’s project team includes Professor Vishanth Weerakkody (Professor of Digital Governance), Dr Kamran Mahroof (Associate Professor in Data Analytics), Dr Amizan Omar (Associate Professor in Strategic Management) and Dr Jing Li (Reader in Accounting, Associate Dean Research and Innovation). They will be supported by three PhD researchers or research associates funded through the EU programme. 

The team will formulate key performance indicators (KPIs) and key value indicators (KVIs) to evaluate the socio-economics, business and sustainability impacts, ensuring that emerging technologies are harnessed responsibly to deliver meaningful public value.

These projects not only solidify the University of Bradford’s standing as a centre of excellence for digital governance and emerging technologies but also contribute to the broader EU agenda of fostering digital innovation for societal good.

This ambitious research initiative unites leading minds from industry, academia, and research institutions across Europe, highlighting the University of Bradford’s influential role in international digital innovation. The anticipated research outcomes are expected to drive sustainable development, smart city solutions, and digital transformation across various sectors.

This landmark funding underscores the University of Bradford’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges through impactful research. By leading the development and application of 6G, IoT, and edge computing technologies, the University is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape of the future, contributing to societal well-being and global sustainability.

This strategic initiative not only enhances the University’s global research profile but also paves the way for transformative digital solutions that will define the next generation of technological advancements.

Bradford’s work includes formulating and applying key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the societal impact and sustainability of the disruptive technologies.

With research and development (R&D) funding of €12.1m distributed among 34 partners, the projects aim to address challenges in five environmentally focused industries through trials and pilots.

Professor Weerakkody said: “I am delighted to reconnect with our European colleagues to launch groundbreaking R&D initiatives focused on evaluating the transformative impact of high-speed 6G networks in enabling sustainable services across diverse industry sectors.

“Our contributions to these projects aim to ensure that emerging disruptive technologies are leveraged responsibly, delivering meaningful public value and benefiting society as a whole.”

Dr Mahroof said: “We are immensely proud to be at the forefront of research that tackles some of the most pressing global challenges and the projects exemplifies how innovative thinking and collaboration can unlock the potential of emerging technologies to deliver meaningful societal and environmental impact.”

Dr Omar said: “We are excited to leverage our knowledge to ensure that COP-PILOT’s innovative solutions not only meet technical milestones in IoT and edge computing but also deliver tangible benefits to society and the economy.”

Dr Li said: “These projects will allow us to build on the knowledge and experience gained from the 6G-PATH project to tackle global challenges by leveraging 6G, IoT and edge computing to deliver sustainable, inclusive and impactful solutions.”