Supporting 5G Ecosystem Innovation at the Campus Technology Hub

Through the Daresbury Laboratory 5G Ecosystem, SMEs and technology innovators have been able to:

• Rapidly trial, validate and refine new products and services
• Use a standalone private 5G network
• Access the wider Campus Technology Hub (CTH) facilities
• Gain support from the STFC Hartree Centre, which is the UK’s largest supercomputing facility

5G is a revolutionary technology that operates with speed, reliability and capacity. It drives innovation, productivity, and contributes to the technological progression of several industries, including healthcare and manufacturing.

To launch the 5G Ecosystem, we held a Proof of Concept (POC) Call which provided seven businesses with access to the CTH allowing them to test their applications in a real-world setting, and experience the benefits of high-speed, low-latency digital networks. The core purpose of the project was to accelerate innovation and demonstrate how 5G can transform industries through ultra-fast, reliable connectivity. In the long-term, this aims to position the UK as a global leader in 5G innovation and accelerate the commercialisation of the technology.

Below we explore the seven projects that were funded in the 5G POC call, and the outcomes of their research.

All Green Energy

At present, energy management systems struggle with reliable connectivity, integration of distributed energy resources and real-time decision-making capabilities. This leads to fragmented data streams and difficulties in coordinating on-site resources. To tackle this, All Green Energy have optimised an Energy Management System which has seen the reduction of a building’s energy consumption by up to 30%. The office facilities at the CTH were used for testing, reporting and ongoing development, and were therefore critical to the production of this prototype. This new system has led to several proposed benefits being realised, with the prototype laying the foundation for future commercial products and revenue streams. The 5G element of the project acted as a catalyst in developing a future proof solution, and they now have ongoing projects with John Moores University to improve energy efficiency across campus buildings

Dynamic Devices

With the recent Building Safety Act and the upcoming Terrorism Protection of Premises Bill, there is a growing need to evolve health and safety training. Dynamic Devices used the funding to create a mixed reality solution that meets the evolving needs of companies which are required to become Health & Safety compliant. They produced a proof of concept demonstrator with a range of device compatibility, using spatial mapping and design tools to be deployed rapidly in unfamiliar environments. The programme has allowed the company to differentiate themselves from other products on the market that focus on training rather than location.

Sustainable Smart Technologies (SST)

There is currently more need for businesses to adopt 5G networks, because current infrastructure creates electronic waste, operator injury and more expensive upgrades due to failures. SST developed two demonstrations (The Legacy Device Integration and Machine Monitoring with Real-Time Fault Detection) showing how existing IoT devices can be integrated into 5G infrastructure, and how capable 5G could enable instant detection and mitigate faults. They were able to confirm the feasibility of both demonstrations, leading to a significant reputational benefit and increased credibility with businesses. They are now able to enter new sectors and industries in Aerospace, Research Campuses and Advanced Manufacturing.

Proaptus

Current critical infrastructure monitoring has several challenges, including authorised intrusions, environmental hazards, data errors and gaps, which escalates maintenance costs and prevents proactive decision-making. Proaptus developed and validated an advanced security and monitoring solution through Adaptive Edge Security, with a specific focus on railways. They created a working proof of concept which successfully demonstrated 5G enabled Edge AI Agents, working with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). By having UAV’s remotely monitor specific areas, this reduced site visits and travel emissions, ensuring that expected environmental benefits were fully realised.

Rendernation

Training methodologies for extreme environments are outdated and require regular quality and management reviews. Rendernation sought to transform traditional methodologies by created a fully interactive virtual reality (VR) training experience with VR technology and 5G connectivity, which focused on generating a realistic and immersive offshore oil-rig helideck environment. This resulted in an improved training delivery, enhanced engagement, retention and increased commercial viability of the product. A secondary sub-brand has been created since, which has been boosted by examples from this programme in the hope that more commercial opportunities will follow.

MVine

MVine sought to address the challenges faced by disabled and older visitors to the Daresbury Laboratory site, who often struggle due to lack of accessibility. They successfully delivered a proof of concept demonstrator which provided access to interactive maps, step-free route planning and pre-recorded video guides. This significantly improved user experience and showcased the commercial viability of 5G-enabled wayfinding. They plan to extend this technology to hospital environments and explore applications in emergency services and large venues.

Inovus

Unreliable internet connectivity is a critical challenge in hospital environments. Inovus achieved full integration of 5G connectivity into SIM Stations, which ensures stable, high-speed connectivity and provides failover support during network interruptions. Field tests confirmed significant improvements in data upload reliability, enabling seamless transmission of surgical performance metrics and video recordings, as well as establishing a scalable framework for future deployments. Surgical training centres, medical universities and healthcare institutions have expressed an interest in adopting the SIM Station going forward.

Where are they now?

Since their participation in the call, All Green Energy, SST and MVine continue to engage with the Campus Technology Hub in various capacities, with SST specifically continuing to explore projects relating to both 5G and LoRaWAN. MVine and Dynamic Devices have subsequently worked together. Rendernation are continuing to develop their technology and solution and are eventually planning to showcase a demonstration within the CTH.

The facilities provided by the CTH, combined with the support in funding from UKRI, was crucial to the respective commercial development of these companies and subsequent progression of their technology and projects. Both aspects acted as a catalyst for innovation, and without it, the companies would have faced significant development challenges. As a result of the programme, three companies reported new partnerships, and many gained new revenue opportunities.

The programme demonstrated many other benefits, such as providing the companies with a risk-free environment to test and validate, as well as enabling collaboration between businesses, resulting in the formation of several partnerships and synergies.

The projects highlighted are only the beginning. As the Daresbury Laboratory 5G Ecosystem continues to develop, opportunities are expanding for businesses to test, validate and accelerate new digital products and services in a real-world innovation environment.

To find out more about the 5G Ecosystem, visit our 5G Ecosystem webpage.