Berlin, July 10, 2026 – With the election of a new Executive Board, the Innovation Cluster 5G BERLIN e.V. is entering a new strategic phase. The Board's objective is to further develop the association into a leading platform for open mobile and enterprise networks of the next generation while strengthening the sustainable transfer of innovative communication technologies from research into practical applications.
Since its foundation, the Innovation Cluster 5G BERLIN e.V. has connected companies, research institutions, and public stakeholders across Berlin's innovation and business ecosystem. Together, its members advance modern mobile and communication technologies, accelerate the transfer of research results into real-world applications, and lay the foundation for future-oriented solutions for industry, business, and society. The association's activities focus on knowledge and technology transfer, open and interoperable network architectures, and the development of a sustainable European ecosystem for digitally sovereign mobile communication networks.
A key element of this strategic transformation is the planned integration of the Alliance for Open xG Enterprise Networks (xG-ALOE) initiative.
The initiative was officially launched on June 12, 2025, at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Berlin. As the host organization of xG-ALOE, Fraunhofer HHI coordinates the initiative's activities and supports the development of an open European innovation ecosystem through its internationally recognized expertise in 5G, 6G, and Open RAN.
xG-ALOE builds upon the results of the three-year "CampusOS" research project, which established key foundations for open and interoperable private 5G campus networks. The initiative continues this work by fostering a sustainable innovation ecosystem for next-generation open mobile and enterprise networks.
Strategic Priorities of 5G BERLIN e.V.
- Promoting open and interoperable private campus networks and Open RAN solutions
- Supporting research and innovation in 5G and future xG technologies
- Connecting industry, SMEs, start-ups, academia, and the public sector
- Accelerating the transfer of research results into market-ready applications
- Promoting open source, open interfaces, and digital sovereignty
- Supporting testing, validation, and certification of network components and end-to-end solutions
- Building a sustainable European innovation ecosystem for open enterprise networks
- Providing a central knowledge and technology catalog for the 5G/6G ecosystem
Tangible Results Already Achieved
Both 5G BERLIN and xG-ALOE have already established a wide range of concrete activities and jointly developed resources. These include international Plugfests, user forums, and technical events that foster knowledge exchange and demonstrate the interoperability of open network solutions. Technical collaboration is driven through several dedicated working groups addressing topics such as industrial communications, Open RAN security, positioning and sensing, as well as open hardware and edge cloud architectures.
New Executive Board Elected
Effective June 26, 2026, a new Executive Board has been elected to lead the strategic development of Innovation Cluster 5G BERLIN e.V. and oversee the integration of the xG-ALOE initiative.
The newly elected Executive Board consists of:
- Dr.-Ing. Martin Kasparick (airpuls), Chairman
- Elena Kempf-Loeck (Fraunhofer HHI), Vice Chairwoman
- Gabriele Schrenk (EANTC AG), Treasurer
The new Executive Board will build on the association's successful foundation while driving its strategic transformation into a leading European platform for open, interoperable, and future-ready mobile and enterprise networks.
The outgoing Executive Board consisted of:
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Slawomir Stanczak (Fraunhofer HHI / TU Berlin), Chairman
- Carsten Rossenhövel (EANTC AG), Vice Chairman
- Dr. Andreas Eisenblätter (ATESIO), Treasurer
Over the past years, they have successfully established the association and made significant contributions to research, innovation, and collaboration.
Our sincere thanks go to Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Slawomir Stanczak, Head of Communication and Networks Division and Head of the
Wireless Communications and Networks Department, Scientific research at Fraunhofer HHI, who, as co-founder and long-serving Chairman of the Executive Board, played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the Innovation Cluster 5G BERLIN e.V.
The association also extends its sincere appreciation to Carsten Rossenhövel, Dr. Andreas Eisenblätter, and everyone else whose expertise, commitment, and dedication have contributed to the successful development of the Innovation Cluster. In their new roles as members of the Advisory Board, they will continue to support the association with their experience and strategic guidance.
Statements on the Strategic Realignment
"With the further development of 5G BERLIN e.V. and its convergence with xG-ALOE, we are creating a strong platform for the future of open mobile communications and private network technologies. Our goal is to accelerate the transfer of innovation into real-world applications, strengthen collaboration between research and industry, and actively support the development of open 5G and 6G networks."
— Dr.-Ing. Martin Kasparick, Chairman
"The future of digital infrastructures is built where research, industry and users work closely together. Berlin offers an excellent environment for bringing these stakeholders together. Our ambition is to further develop the association into a leading platform for innovation, knowledge transfer and cooperation, thereby making a lasting contribution to Berlin’s competitiveness as a leading innovation and business hub."
— Elena Kempf-Loeck, Vice Chairwoman
"Open and interoperable networks are key building blocks of digital transformation. I look forward to supporting the sustainable development of the association and working together with our members to unlock the economic and technological potential of future mobile network generations."
— Gabriele Schrenk, Treasurer
About 5G BERLIN e.V.
5G BERLIN e.V. is an innovation cluster bringing together research organizations, companies and public stakeholders. The association promotes the development, testing and adoption of innovative mobile communications technologies and supports the implementation of new applications for industry, science and society.
About Fraunhofer HHI
Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute is a world-leading research institute shaping the digital future. It pioneers innovative technologies at the forefront of materials science, communications, and photonic integration, supporting global connectivity and smart infrastructure. Fraunhofer HHI delivers practical solutions across diverse fields, including medicine, agriculture, critical infrastructure, disaster response, energy, and mobility.