New funding phase strengthens technology transfer and test infrastructures for secure, resilient communication systems
Berlin, 02.02.2026 – International 6G research continues to gain momentum. To strengthen Germany’s technological sovereignty and competitiveness in this strategically important field, two closely interconnected research and transfer projects have been launched: xG-RIC and xG-NOVA. Both projects are funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and coordinated by the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institute (HHI).
In the first funding phase (2021–2025), the 6G Research and Innovation Cluster (6G-RIC), coordinated by Fraunhofer HHI, made significant contributions to the development of key 6G technologies. Building on these results, the focus now shifts to transferring these technologies into industry and society and supporting their integration into international standardization.
xG-RIC: Technology transfer hub for connected medicine and future mobility
xG-RIC serves as a technology transfer hub with a focus on connected medicine and the mobility of the future. Its goal is to bring key 6G technologies into practical applications at an early stage and systematically accelerate industrial utilization. Building on the results of 6G-RIC, xG-RIC addresses topics such as integrated communication and sensing, collaborative robotics, and resilient network architectures for safety-critical applications. At the same time, long-term transfer structures are strengthened, and application-oriented test and innovation environments are expanded.
xG-NOVA: Disruptive technologies and new test infrastructures
xG-NOVA complements xG-RIC by focusing on disruptive technologies and expanding test and experimentation environments within the technology transfer hub. Through the development of specialized test infrastructures for medicine and mobility, new technologies – including AI-based edge intelligence, quantum sensing, and non-terrestrial networks – will be tested and validated under realistic conditions.
Both projects are aligned with the national research roadmap for secure and resilient communication systems and contribute directly to implementing its objectives.
“High-performance key technologies are crucial for Germany’s prosperity and technological sovereignty. Building on the successful results of 6G-RIC, we are transferring the developed 6G technologies into industry and society in a targeted manner in this second funding phase. In doing so, we are building a bridge between excellent research and concrete applications in medicine and mobility, thereby strengthening the development of a sustainable 6G ecosystem. I would like to thank the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space for this forward-looking funding,” says Prof. Slawomir Stanczak, project coordinator and head of department at Fraunhofer HHI.
The BMFTR is providing around 40 million euros in funding for both projects for the period from 2026 to 2029. In addition, the participating federal states and Fraunhofer HHI are contributing further targeted measures. The coordination of both projects lies with FraunhoferHHI, under the leadership of Prof. Stanczak.
Project partners
xG-NOVA is being implemented in collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Technical University of Berlin. xG-RIC involves, among others, the German Heart Center at Charité, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, Fraunhofer IAF, Fraunhofer IIS, IHP Microelectronics, TU Berlin, and TU Braunschweig.
The official kick-off event of the research initiative will take place on February 20, 2026, together with representatives from politics, business, and science.
More information:
National research roadmap for secure and resilient communication systems
Wireless Communications and Networks
About Fraunhofer HHI:
Fraunhofer HHI (Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institut) is a world-leading research institute shaping the digital future. It drives innovations in video, AI, computer vision, photonics, and wireless communication—developing technologies that impact science, business, and society.
The institute delivers practical solutions with social value across diverse fields, including medicine, agriculture, critical infrastructure, disaster response, energy, and mobility.