Future communications technologies, including 6G, faster internet access and cloud computing, will all be the target of a new investment worth £6m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The EPSRC is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Three platforms have been selected for investment, with each set to receive £2m in funding.
The three platforms are: TITAN, a consortium of 17 universities researching future communication networks; a hub of teams from eight universities investigating how to provide high-speed, low-latency internet access; and The CHEDDAR, which is a communications hub focused on distributed cloud computing applications.
The platforms have been established to develop innovations in communications systems, while also connecting the wider academic, business and international communities.
“Digital communications infrastructure underpins the UK’s economy of today and tomorrow and these projects will help support the jobs and industry of the future,” said Jane Nicholson, director for research base at the EPSRC.
“Everybody relies on secure and swift networking and EPSRC is committed to backing the research which will advance these technologies.”
Professor Dominic O’Brien, professor of engineering science, University of Oxford, said: “Reliable, high-speed communications is a key part of our national infrastructure. Our hub partners are looking forward to working with the other hubs, industry and government to help address the challenge of creating the future generations of these vital systems.”
