TITAN Telecoms Hub made a significant impact at the International & Horizon Engagement Conference hosted by UKTIN on 4th December at the Royal Academy of Engineering. This prestigious event brought…
TITAN Telecoms Hub made a significant impact at the International & Horizon Engagement Conference hosted by UKTIN on 4th December at the Royal Academy of Engineering. This prestigious event brought together key players from industry, government, and academia to discuss and explore the future of innovation and research in the UK.
TITAN director, Professor Harald Haas, was a prominent figure at the conference, participating in a panel discussion titled “The Strength and Depth of UK R&D and Innovation,” chaired by Professor Dimitra Simeonidou. During this session, Harald highlighted the strategic dimension that Europe offers and the value of international standards and global cooperation in scaling UK technologies. He emphasised the need to connect UK innovations to wider European opportunities to benefit from scale for 6G and beyond.
Harald identified major strategic priorities in the telecoms industry: capabilities and skills. He noted that while the UK has made significant strides in developing its own capabilities, the period of isolation from the EU has been challenging. Harald expressed gratitude for the UK government’s support but stressed the importance of re-establishing connections with European partners.
Using a metaphor to compare the UK’s situation, he said that a plant that has been uprooted and then repotted does not always grow as it did before, sometimes it needs special fertilizers to help it regrow quickly and robustly. The UK not only needed targeted measures to reconnect with the EU but also enhanced collaboration through specific projects and measures to continue growth.
Harald stated, “In the UK, we work together quite strongly on research, developing our own capability. However, it (the EU winter) was a cold period, and we are very grateful for the UK government stepping in to help us develop our agenda. But we would be much better off rejoining European initiatives, not just simply rejoining but being part of the innovation ecosystem.”
He elaborated, “We need to showcase what we have done in the UK and align our priorities with our European partners. This is a crucial step to ensure that our early career researchers and future leaders can engage effectively with Europe.”
In addition to Harald’s insightful contributions, TITAN Telecoms Hub hosted a stall at the conference. This provided an excellent platform for us to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including industry leaders, government officials, and academic researchers. Our team showcased our latest projects and innovations, discussed potential collaborations, and exchanged ideas on the future of telecommunications.
Overall, TITAN Telecoms Hub’s participation in the conference was a resounding success. We are excited about the new connections we made and the potential collaborations that lie ahead. Our involvement in the event underscored our dedication to being at the forefront of innovation and our commitment to contributing to the UK’s vibrant research and development ecosystem.
If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this article, please contact titan-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk
