New coalition to promote development of future 6G technology — Tampere University participates in 6G Finland collaboration entity

The 6G Finland was announced on 11 May 2022, while Prime Minister Sanna Marin brought it out at a high-level technology seminar in Tokyo during her visit to Japan.

The founding members of 6G Finland are Tampere University, Aalto University, University of Helsinki, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Nokia Bell Labs, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finnish Defence Research Agency and BusinessOulu.

6G Finland operates as a network to which new members are invited on a content basis. The members of 6G Finland now start creating a 6G R&D roadmap on the most important common priorities. 6G Finland also operates as a national contact point for Finnish 6G know-how, and actively participates in 6G discussion nationally and internationally.

“Leading the mobile communications technology development is in our DNA in Finland. 6G will be integrating together super-resolution radio positioning and radio-based sensing, in addition to the next-generation wireless data communication – all in the same network. We are very excited in Tampere to be part of this leading activity, shaping the future towards 6G era. Our research priorities are in physical-layer algorithms, integrated sensing and communications as well as in applications of 6G technology in intelligent machines and augmented human paradigms” says Professor Mikko Valkama, who leads the Tampere University part of the research.

Industry chairperson of 6G Finland, Dr. Mikko Uusitalo, Head of Research Department at Nokia Bell Labs Finland, is delighted with the timeliness and significance of the foundation of the coalition for Finnish 6G research and development.

“6G development and discussion is currently accelerating globally. For Finland, this is an excellent moment to strengthen 6G cooperation nationally, and to be even stronger player as a Finnish team in 6G development globally,” Uusitalo states.

Finland has been at the forefront of 6G research and development globally since the world's first large-scale 6G research program, 6G Flagship was launched in Finland in 2018. Currently, Finland also leads the European 6G flagship initiative Hexa-X funded by EU and plays a significant role in other 6G measures of the EU as well. The close collaboration of research institutes and companies in 6G Finland makes it one of the most notable alliances of 6G expertise in the world. Similar coalitions have been set up in Japan, the United States, and Germany.

Further information

Mikko Valkama
+358 40 849 0756
mikko.valkama [at] tuni.fi

Chairpersons of 6G Finland

Mikko Uusitalo, Head of Research, Nokia Bell Labs
mikko.uusitalo [at] nokia-bell-labs.com

Jaakko Sauvola, Head of Ecosystem, 6G Flagship
jaakko.sauvola [at] oulu.fi