Open6GHub+ launches: Germany's 6G research becomes an industrial driver

The Open6GHub+ is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and is part of the German 6G programme. With this, the BMFTR is implementing a central component of its 6G strategy, which aims to position Germany as the leading market and provider for the next generation of mobile communications. At the same time, the programme addresses the increased need for technological sovereignty, resilient critical infrastructures and trustworthy digital systems. Close cooperation with industry, start-ups, SMEs, public authorities and other public actors is a central element of this.

One of Open6GHub+'s main areas of focus is the integration of artificial intelligence into 6G. The consortium is developing AI-based network functions and using generative and hybrid AI to design, implement and specify future mobile communications technologies more quickly. In addition, AI-based digital twins of networks and applications are being created to test and optimise new services before they are rolled out in reality.

In addition, Open6GHub+ connects ground-based networks with drones and non-terrestrial platforms to form so-called 3D networks. This creates ubiquitous, resilient connectivity that continues to function reliably even when traditional mobile networks reach their limits – for example, in agriculture, logistics or critical infrastructure.

Other areas of focus include laying the groundwork for intelligent 6G modems ‘Made in Europe’ in the areas of end devices and NTN, as well as for autonomous 6G subnets. Depending on the application, these meet very high requirements in terms of resilience, security and trustworthiness.

The work in Open6GHub+ is organised in a mission-oriented manner and is accompanied by industry sponsors to ensure a consistent focus on results and transfer. Key results are tested in open experimental fields and OpenLabs and made available to industry at an early stage.

The launch of Open6GHub+ implements a key instrument of the 6G research roadmap published by the BMFTR at the end of 2025. The roadmap envisages the establishment of 6G transfer hubs as a link between excellent research, industrial application, standardisation and qualification. Open6GHub+ assumes this role by further developing existing research infrastructures, establishing transfer-oriented ecosystems and providing targeted support for the transition from research to economic and social impact.

The Open6GHub+ consortium brings together leading research institutions in the fields of communications technology, artificial intelligence and system integration: the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt), the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), the University of Bremen and the University of Stuttgart.

In Open6GHub+, DFKI is focusing on the integration of AI into the entire 6G ecosystem: from AI-supported network operation and language models for intuitive operation to digital twins of networks and production facilities. DFKI is also researching new positioning and sensor concepts within the framework of Integrated Communication and Sensing (ICAS), which will be crucial for Industry 4.0 and automated driving, for example.

With its clear focus on transfer and close ties to industry, standardisation and national 6G structures, Open6GHub+ makes an important contribution to strengthening the national and European 6G ecosystem.