#Taiwan #ITRI #Hsinchu #6G Technology

Taiwan's ITRI Advances Global 6G Partnerships in the EU and UK

On July 6, 2025, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) from Taiwan led a delegation at the EuCNC 6G Summit 2025, a major European event focused on next-generation communication technologies. This strategic endeavor aims to enhance Taiwan's 6G technology development and bolster international industrial cooperation.

A Collaborative Effort

The trip included representatives from the government, industry, and academia as ITRI co-hosted a UK-Taiwan joint workshop on 6G technologies and future networks at the University of Cambridge. This event was organized in collaboration with UK Federated Telecoms Hubs (UK FTH) and the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN). It highlighted key British 6G initiatives like TITAN (Towards 6G via Integrating Telecoms and Networks) and JOINER (Joint Open Infrastructure for Experimentation and Research).

The workshop facilitated discussions among major telecom stakeholders from both nations to address strategic topics such as Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), Open RAN, AI-native networks, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS). These discussions are instrumental in laying the groundwork for a global 6G innovation ecosystem, potentially accelerating technology advancements.

Pioneering Technology Partnerships

Notable participants included representatives from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation, & Technology (DSIT), UKTIN, BT Group, and Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as MediaTek, Compal, and other key players. The discussions focused on shared objectives regarding technological breakthroughs and reinforced bilateral collaboration in the 6G realm.

"Openness has been a key value since the era of 5G," stated Pang-An Ting, ITRI's Vice President and General Director of ICT Research Laboratories. He emphasized the Institute's ongoing partnerships with industry, academia, and research centers to advance Open RAN technologies, thereby establishing a robust foundation for future 6G engagements.

In addition, ITRI is setting up a pilot 6G network with a public demonstration scheduled for 2026, showcasing Taiwan's advancements to the global community. Pang-An Ting extended an invitation to international partners to join in joint trials and validate essential 6G technologies.

Acknowledgement from the UK

Catherine Page, Deputy Director at UK DSIT, reiterated the UK’s commitment to advancing next-generation digital technologies, noting the success of the 5G deployment and rising interest in future networks. She stressed the importance of solid international partnerships, particularly with Taiwan, in areas like semiconductors and Open RAN, expressing enthusiasm for deepening bilateral cooperation.

University of Cambridge Professor Harald Haas highlighted the significance of real-world testing to transform innovations into market-ready solutions. He emphasized the synergy between UK R&D capabilities and Taiwan's telecommunications supply chain, presenting significant mutual success potential in the field of 6G.

Concluding Mutual Commitments

The workshop concluded with a mutual commitment to continue working on NTN, Open RAN, and AI-native networks. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to fundamental research and open-source innovation, while Taiwan, through ITRI, presented a comprehensive 6G strategy leveraging its strengths in semiconductors, electronic manufacturing, and open supply chains.

Both nations agreed to expand joint testing platforms and deepen cooperation to accelerate the global rollout of 6G technologies. At the EuCNC 6G Summit, ITRI also signed several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with the 6G-SENSES project and the Dutch research organization TNO, broadening collaboration on ISAC and RIS technology validation while aligning with global standardization efforts.

In its international outreach, ITRI announced three major cross-border collaborations, including an MoU with Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) in Germany and a partnership with Taiwanese company YTTEK to co-develop a metaverse solution for intelligent industry, which will be tested at the Fraunhofer testing facility—showcasing Taiwan's capability to apply advanced technologies to real-use cases.

The Taiwanese 6G delegation included members from the DoIT, NSTC, ITRI, and several prominent universities. ITRI also presented its FORMOSA-6G initiative, which covers the development of AI-RAN, integrated circuits, and the establishment of end-to-end testing platforms. A 6G experimental network is set to launch this year at ITRI's Hsinchu campus, serving as a hub for international collaboration.

About ITRI

Established in 1973, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a leading global technological R&D institution committed to innovating for a better future. With a mission to transform labor-intensive industries into innovation-driven sectors, ITRI has developed a strategic technology roadmap for 2035 focusing on intelligent living, quality health, sustainable environments, and resilient societies. Over the years, ITRI has nurtured young businesses and spinoffs, including notable names like UMC and TSMC. Besides its headquarters in Taiwan, ITRI has branches in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and Thailand, expanding its R&D horizons and promoting international collaboration worldwide.