Why the UK is the best destination for global innovation

With UK startups and investments growing by ten times in the last decade, it is clear the UK is a key destination for global innovation. To supercharge this further, the UK government is pledging the largest ever amount, ￡39.8 billion, in R&D until 2025 - to strengthen the UK’s position as a science superpower and innovation nation.?

With the UK’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation by 2035 - the telecommunications sector is one of the key innovation focus areas for the UK government. They have set out ambitious plans for the growth of the UK supply chain, with an aim to support the entrance of new vendors to help realise the full potential of next-generation mobile technology.

As Digital Catapult , we’re the UK authority on advanced digital technology. Through collaboration and innovation, we accelerate industry adoption to drive growth and opportunity across the economy.

How we’re fostering innovation in telecoms?

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), SONIC Labs (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) is a programme from Digital Catapult and Ofcom to allow new solution providers to enter the telecoms supply chain in the UK. The programme is part of the UK’s 5G Diversification Strategy and is driving forward the rollout of Open RAN, which enables mobile networks to be built using a variety of different equipment suppliers.?

Through SONIC Labs we’re:

• Providing a commercially-neutral, collaborative environment and technical platform for existing and emerging suppliers to the UK market. Through the programme we’re testing the interoperability and integration of open and software-centric networking solutions.
• Pioneering new early stage solution activities to create an innovation layer of companies that can take advantage of Open RAN as an opportunity, while addressing the supply chain diversification. This includes enabling innovators to explore new solutions and start new business ventures in this space. We’re also helping to facilitate academic research tackling emerging Open RAN challenges.

Find out more at the UK Pavilion at MWC?

Digital Catapult colleagues will be in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2023 from 27 February - 02 March. The SONIC Labs team will have a pod space within the UK Pavilion in Hall 7, Stand 7B41 at MWC - we are looking forward to exploring how we can work together, so drop by to say hello if you’re at the conference!?

We’re also excited to have several speakers from Digital Catapult within the main conference agenda:

• Jeremy Silver , CEO of Digital Catapult - From Metaverse to Matterverse, How To Do It Right? Monday 27 February, 13:15-14:15, Stage C, Hall 6.?
• Dritan Kaleshi , Co-director of SONIC Labs and Director of 5G Technology - Open RAN: The Debate panel on Monday 27 February, 16:15-17:00, Stage A, Hall 6.?
• Phil Y. , Director of Policy, Research & Strategic Engagement -? Tech Shaping the Digital Future on Wednesday 01 March 2023, 10.00-11.30, Four Years From Now (4YFN) Stage, SKY Room.?

If you’re interested in setting up a meeting with our SONIC Labs team at MWC please reach out to: [email protected]?

Find out more about the UK at #MWC23 and the Department for Business and Trade here: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/9928/??