Strategic Collaboration between Eureka, CELTIC-NEXT and ESA ARTES
Connecting Terrestrial ICT with Space ICT
Strategic Collaboration between Eureka, CELTIC-NEXT and ESA ARTES
Eureka Chairman Miguel Bello Mora, Elodie Viau – Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications and Head of ECSAT at the European Space Agency (ESA), and CELTIC Office Director Xavier Priem.
Porto, 22 November 2021. Eureka Cluster CELTIC-NEXT (CELTIC-NEXT) and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) today, which aims to bring their respective communities closer together. This will enable the faster convergence and development of terrestrial and non-terrestrial network and service technologies in the innovative field of Space ICT.
The MoI will help to foster economic growth and jobs through coordinated R&DI activities and the commercial exploitation of integrated space and terrestrial systems enabled by 5G and 6G. The collaboration aims to leverage the complementarity of ESA and CELTIC-NEXT and build on synergies to maximise the return on investment and to support achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The MoI will focus on technology pathfinders and solutions to develop and validate research & development projects initiated by ESA and CELTIC-NEXT. In addition, the MoI includes the organisation of joint events as well as the dissemination of relevant information to terrestrial, non-terrestrial, and combined operators and vertical market stakeholders.
More specifically, the MoI will encourage terrestrial ICT and Space ICT industry collaboration with other industry verticals to facilitate the adoption of advanced Space ICT technologies in the business models and processes of all industry sectors. The focus of the cooperation is to consider the issues in a holistic way by considering the end-to-end perspective of new communications services enabled by 5G and 6G technologies, including an understanding of the economic, environmental, and societal benefits.
ESA is a key actor in the development of all aspects and fields of space activity. Establishing a close collaboration between EUREKA, CELTIC-NEXT and ESA is, thus, a major step in mobilising the full innovative potential and synergies of terrestrial ICT and Space ICT technologies.
The combination of ESA’s long-term experience and track record of success in satellite telecommunications programmes with the demonstrated capacity of Eureka and the CELTIC-NEXT Cluster in organizing and financing international consortia for business innovation is a strong success factor that has motivated the strategic collaboration agreement.
Signing the Memorandum of Intent (from left): Eureka Chairman Miguel Bello Mora, Elodie Viau – Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications and Head of ECSAT at the European Space Agency (ESA), and CELTIC Office Director Xavier Priem.
About EUREKA: Eureka is a global intergovernmental network of national funding agencies and ministries, with 35 years of existence and gathering more than 45 countries, including countries outside of Europe such as Canada, Singapore, South Africa and South Korea. The network supports global market-oriented research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects of companies, universities and research organizations in all technology fields. Such collaboration across these like-minded countries enables Eureka to tackle global challenges, increase competitiveness and the innovation capacity of its businesses.
Portugal is currently holding the Presidency and Chairmanship of Eureka from July 2021 until June 2022, following on from the Portuguese Chairmanship of the Council of European Union (January-June 2021), and in parallel to the co-Chairmanship by Portugal of the Council of the European Space Agency (ESA) at Ministerial level. Portugal will use the momentum of these roles to explore unique synergies for promoting new programmes and activities within the Eureka Network, and to strengthen ties with the European Union and ESA activities.
About CELTIC-NEXT: CELTIC-NEXT is the EUREKA Cluster for developing and fostering Next-Generation Communications for a secure, trusted, and sustainable digital society. Within the EUREKA Clusters Programme, CELTIC-NEXT constitutes the communications pillar, focussing on the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) domain, including 5G and 6G aspects, and the Space ICT dimension, to stimulate and orchestrate international collaborative projects in the ICT field, as demonstrated in both CELTIC-NEXT’s strategic roadmap and portfolio of projects.
CELTIC-NEXT is an industry-driven initiative, involving all the major ICT industry players as well as many SMEs, service providers, and research institutions. The CELTIC-NEXT activities are open to all organisations that share the CELTIC-NEXT vision of an inclusive digital society and are willing to collaborate to their own benefit, aligned with their national priorities, to advance the development and uptake of advanced ICT solutions in EUREKA Countries and associated.
The Eureka Cluster CELTIC-NEXT brings the major European telecommunications vendors and operators together into an ambitious European intergovernmental R&D programme that orchestrates projects to address the end-to-end “system of systems” approach and provide innovative ICT services and communications, while integrating and supporting the vertical sector applications.
About ESA and the Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate: The European Space Agency is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organisation with 22 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
The Telecommunications and Integrated Applications Directorate (TIA) supports innovation to boost the competitiveness of European industry in the global space market. This involves a wide range of activities, from space-based technology, systems, product for telecommunications development to the down-to-Earth application of space-based services. It also calls for engagement with a wide range of industrial, academic and institutional partners.
About Strategic Line – Space for 5G and 6G: 5G and 6G are the next two generations of cellular connectivity and the next big leap forward for terrestrial and satellite telecommunications.
They will allow us to be connected to everything, everywhere, at any time and nearly any speed. Satellites and space technologies are instrumental to build and operate such future 5G and 6G networks. They offer unique advantages in terms of security, resilience, coverage, and mobility; they remain the only way to make 5G and 6G available everywhere, accessible to enterprises and citizens all across Europe.
ESA`s strategic programme line Space for 5G & 6G demonstrates the essential nature of satellites for 5G and 6G. It sets the standards and frameworks for systems and services interoperability, as well as the base for integrating terrestrial networks with satellites.
We draw technology and product roadmaps; we support and foster the development of integrated satellite terrestrial systems and value-added services.
Space for 5G & 6G:
We help overcome the digital divide.
We connect Europe.
We build innovation hubs and testbeds for 5G and 6G pilots and trials.
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CELTIC-NEXT Press contact
Milon Gupta, Public Relations Manager
Phone: +49 6221 989 121, e-mail: office@celticnext.eu
