Industrial 5G Accelerator launches

Digital Catapult, the UK’s leading advanced digital technology innovation centre and Ericsson, one of the world’s leading providers of information and communications technology, will partner in a new Industrial 5G Accelerator programme to demonstrate 5G’s key role in industrial settings.

The Industrial 5G Accelerator will produce a series of real life test cases proving 5G’s potential, and making the case for rapid adoption. Through a combination of technical excellence and leading innovation it will be clear that the predicted role of 5G is not only possible, but vital to optimising industrial processes and increasing efficiency, and has the potential to contribute up to £15.7 billion per year to the UK economy by 2025.

Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult, said “The potential for 5G to boost UK productivity and increase efficiency is hugely exciting. 5G is a significant investment for any company so to be able to showcase its value in a real life environment, through tangible and relevant examples, is absolutely vital to developing a concrete business case. We’re excited to work with Ericsson, pairing our deep technical knowledge and agile approach to innovation with their world renowned technical and business excellence, helping to provide the ammunition business leaders need to accelerate adoption of 5G across the country.”

5G is set to be at the heart of UK industries such as manufacturing, logistics and supply chains. Understanding 5G’s applications and potential will help unleash knowledge from infrastructure providers and mobile network operators. Early investment in a 5G-enabled ecosystem and infrastructure base will foster the business environment necessary to advance the UK’s status as a world-leading digital economy.

Marielle Lindgren, CEO, Ericsson UK & Ireland said “Technologies like IoT, robotics and AI, are transforming UK businesses, but the lack of consistent, high-quality connectivity is preventing them from realising Industry 4.0’s full potential. With its super-fast data rates, ultra-low latency and vastly increased network capacity, 5G provides the solution to this challenge. Ericsson is a world leader in communications technology, and today in the UK, we are collaborating with mobile network operators, businesses and agencies such as Digital Catapult to ensure Industry 4.0 is capable of delivering on its promise.”

5G can address a wide range of use cases, from onsite processes to connected goods. Experimentation can help reduce industries’ concerns around cellular technologies for in-factory connectivity, including perceived barriers such as cost, interoperability with existing networks and security considerations. It will also enable new business models and help UK supply chains deliver new services for their customers such as improved health and safety applications, predictive maintenance and remote asset monitoring.

Digital Catapult and Ericsson’s Industrial 5G Accelerator is a bespoke, challenge-led programme focused on presenting demonstrations with the ambition to showcase 5G prototypes to corporate end-users. By displaying the feasibility and value of 5G for industrial service providers and end-users, early adoption will be incentivised.

The Industrial 5G Accelerator is looking for companies providing industrial equipment into manufacturing, logistics, heavy industry and the relevant supply chains as well as large industrial players to take part. Participants will benefit from the vast assets and expertise from Ericsson and Digital Catapult to set a road map for enabling 5G. This commitment will increase the effectiveness of their products and services, with the ambition to co-develop demonstrations of capabilities ready for industry.
 

To find out more and register your interest in the programme click here.

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About Digital Catapult

Digital Catapult is the UK’s leading advanced digital technology innovation centre, driving the adoption of advanced digital technologies to make UK businesses more competitive and productive to grow the country’s economy.

We connect large established companies, startup and scaleup businesses and researchers working with artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and future networks (5G & LPWAN) to discover new ways to solve big challenges in the manufacturing and creative industries. Through this collaboration businesses are supported to develop the right technologies to solve problems, increase productivity and open up new markets faster.

Digital Catapult provides physical and digital facilities for experimentation and testing that would otherwise not be accessible for smaller companies. As well as breaking down barriers to technology adoption for startups and scaleups, our work de-risks innovation for large enterprises and uncovers new commercial applications in the advanced digital technologies that underpin a modern industrial economy. For more info please visit www.digicatapult.org.uk

About Ericsson

Ericsson enables communications service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s portfolio spans Networks, Digital Services, Managed Services, and Emerging Business and is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s investments in innovation have delivered the benefits of telephony and mobile broadband to billions of people around the world. The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com

Note to editors

Digital Catapult is working to remove barriers to market and supports the growth of 5G. Digital Catapult’s 5G programme creates discussion papers helping to drive adoption of the technology and projects including the 5G Testbed in Brighton and the launch of the UK’s first 5G enabled Immersive Lab at The Landing in Manchester.

Ericsson is at the forefront of 5G research and development. With leading manufacturing specialists as partners in several countries, real business needs are met with technology-led solutions. As a major manufacturer of advanced equipment, Ericsson continuously tests 5G-enabled technologies in their factories around the world.