Roughly 130 attendees turned out to hear presentations from the teams, learning the details and potential impacts of their endeavors. During the networking time, each project had a stand that gave visitors the chance to learn more.

“These projects really take 5G to that next level of tangibility by showing what this technology can look like in our daily lives, ” explains Anne Miller, Advisor, Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy. “This event showcased all the hard work these teams have put into developing 5G-based solutions that matter for society.”

After all, the goal of the 5G Pilot Projects initiative, co-funded by Digital Luxembourg and the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy, is to leverage 5G as a positive force for society. 

“Such an event creates synergies by bringing together the national ecosystem working on 5G and connectivity innovation, ” says Sébastien Faye, 6G Technology & Innovation Line Manager at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology. “Meeting the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, was also a fantastic opportunity to exchange on our ideas and the digital development of the country.”

Prime Minister Bettel, whose government has long invested in the country’s 5G infrastructure, opened the event and took time to learn about each of the projects.

So far, the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy has conducted two calls for projects: one in 2019 focused on a variety of applications that showcase the added value of 5G across industries, and the other in 2021 asking for projects tailored to the wider public that raise awareness about 5G.

This process ultimately led to the selection of 11 projects that span healthcare, resource management, transportation, science communication and research on 5G technology. Each of them received funding and support to help further develop their concepts.

LiLa 5G (Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch) and IoT Healthcare Platform (Hôpitaux Robert Schuman) include attempts to improve access to data by healthcare professionals, leading to better continuity of care across providers and locations. Smart Water Eislek (the Distribution d'Eau des Ardennes), on the other hand, aims to analyze data from smart meters to provide predictive drinking water management.

“This is the first time that all the 5G pilot projects in Luxembourg have come together in a dedicated event, ” Faye adds. “As a research and technology organization, we always find it very relevant to learn about the latest developments in the country, and this obviously gives us ideas for the future.”

To build on the initiative’s success, Digital Luxembourg and the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy will continue exploring socially responsible ways to mine 5G’s positive potential.