Promoting innovation in digitisation
In the FNS partner interviews, we feature a partner every week. Our partners give insight into developments and innovations within their organisation and their role at 6G Future Network Services.
In a rapidly changing digital world, the development of advanced communication networks remains crucial. ECP, the platform for the information society, is a foundation that has been working for a responsible digital society in the Netherlands for 25 years. During a recent interview with Aldert de Jongste, project leader at ECP, it became clear why the organisation is involved in the FNS program and how they are contributing to the development of 6G technology.
A platform for innovation
ECP aims to promote the digitalisation of society by organising collaboration. Aldert has worked at ECP since 2016 and explains: "We act as a platform in which we guide digital issues responsibly together with various public and private partners." This means that ECP focuses not only on technological advances, but also on the preconditions essential for responsible development, implementation and scaling up, such as digital security, skills and ethics. As a foundation, ECP acts as a neutral party, effectively bringing industry and government to the table. Well-known programmes in which ECP is involved include the Netherlands AI Coalition, Digivaardig in de Zorg, Veiliginternetten.nl and Aanpak Begeleidingsethiek.
For ECP, participation in the FNS program is a logical continuation of their previous involvement in infrastructure projects, such as the roll-out of fibre in outlying areas and the 5G innovation network. Aldert says: "Stimulating innovation in digitalisation has always been an important goal for ECP. Our involvement in the FNS program fits perfectly with our approach and experience."
ECP and cooperation
Within the FNS program, ECP focuses on organising and stimulating knowledge sharing. The program is complex, with many different participants. To make optimal use of the program, it is essential that participants from different program lines and work packages understand each other's work and know how to find each other. The field labs play a central role here; they act as test environments where companies and institutions can try out and develop new 6G applications. "There are several 6G field labs spread across the country, including in Groningen (ICCS), Zuid-Holland (Do IoT) and Eindhoven (BIC). A test environment in Twente is also under construction. In the past, these field labs often did not know from each other what was being tested. Connecting them creates synergy," Aldert explains.
Knowledge sharing in practice
Within the consortium, ECP facilitates knowledge sharing between partners, but also with interested parties outside the consortium. To this end, ECP develops various initiatives. For example, interviews conducted by ECP colleagues are shared on the FNS website together with partner profiles. In addition, ECP organises monthly 'coffee mornings' of 30 minutes, during which one or two project partners talk about their work within the program.
ECP also focuses on engaging and informing SMEs that have not yet joined the FNS program. For this purpose, special SME MIT sessions are organised in cooperation with the field labs and the Regional Development Companies (ROMs). In this way, ECP ensures that innovations are widely taken up and applied in different sectors of the Dutch economy. Aldert stresses the importance of partnerships: "The close ties with partners such as Top Sector ICT enable us to get the right resources and support to organise our activities to reach a wide range of companies."
Opportunities and challenges
One of the biggest opportunities presented by the FNS program is the creation of an ecosystem in which innovation can flourish. Aldert sees this as a crucial success factor: "Through strong cooperation between government, industry and knowledge institutions, we can ensure that technologies are not only developed, but also actually applied in the market."
Yet there are also challenges. The program is complex, with four major program lines, a multitude of work packages and over 60 partners, each with their own focus. "One of the biggest challenges is effectively connecting the different parts of the program. The most ground-breaking innovations often take place at the intersection of disciplines and knowledge areas," Aldert said. "This requires good coordination and a shared vision to ensure that information flows between the different partners and knowledge is shared effectively."
Future wish
At the end of the interview, Aldert shares a long-held wish: to set up a robust infrastructure for use cases within the FNS program. He suggests developing a system where information on different use cases and involved parties can be easily shared and exchanged. "It would be great if we can build something within the FNS program that facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing between different field labs and partners and can also be used outside the FNS ecosystem. By providing better insight into what is happening where, we could strengthen the Dutch innovation landscape. Such an infrastructure would not only increase efficiency, but also benefit other field labs and programmes in the Netherlands," concludes Aldert.