Reflections from the 6G Conference
Hot, busy, and inspiring—that’s the best way to describe the atmosphere of this year’s 6G conference in Berlin. Last year, placed at the periphery on the first floor, we brought four startups with us. This year, we gave 12 startups the opportunity to showcase their work. We were fortunate to be right in the heart of the action, with our incubator and startup booths located in the center of the main hall.
Over three packed days, the event delivered everything from thought-provoking keynotes and workshops to networking that brought together players from academia and industry, in Germany and beyond.
The highlights were the demonstrations from 6G-RIC, 6GEM, 6G-life, and Open6GHub, showcasing 6G technologies such as novel sub-THz hardware, a live demonstration of Integrated Sensing and Communication, and innovative applications in cooperative robotics. It was also impressive to see the range of 6G technologies and applications developed within the 6G program. One notable example was the display of various healthcare-related 6G applications, including remote control for robot-assisted patient examinations—demonstrating real-life use cases at the intersection of telecommunications and medical technology.
In addition, there were talks giving insights into the perspective from industry:
Ericsson explored some early examples of 6G performance potential. For instance, 6G promises up to 77% lower network energy use (at low loads by reducing the transmission of always-on signals), a +200% boost in downlink capacity (by adding cm-wave spectrum with massive MIMO on the existing site grid), and up to 10 times better uplink throughput for cell-edge users at low load (by selecting the frequency band independently for uplink and downlink).
NGMN’s 6G key messages highlighted the need for harmonized global standards to ensure a smooth industry evolution and the recommendation that new hardware should only be deployed for new frequency bands to avoid unnecessary replacement. In addition, they flagged that prioritizing efficiencies in spectrum utilization and energy consumption is crucial, and also that modularity, flexibility, and openness should drive the development of market-aligned 6G services.
Orange’s take-aways emphasized that value and sustainability should be the core drivers for defining future network technologies (to ensure the long-term economic viability of the industry) and they also called for a reconsideration of the G-based terminology (since network evolution is driven by usage and value rather than by technology).
As incubators, our top priority was to give all 12 participating startups real exposure and valuable feedback. One key highlight was the crowd innovation workshop, which attracted a diverse group of industry experts. This format provided four selected startups with tailored insights from the field, as experts brought fresh perspectives to help tackle their specific challenges.
Additionally, our lunchtime pitch sessions at the booth gave each startup a chance to present their solutions and engage with visitors. Both formats were designed to maximize visibility for the teams, foster meaningful connections, and spark new ideas.
We saw first-hand how much momentum is created when startups, experts, and supporters come together. It’s a reminder that innovation thrives on collaboration—and that we, as incubators, are here to make these encounters happen.