Contributing to Scotland's 5G Innovation Ecosystem
Building partnerships and developing real-world 5G use cases for healthcare, energy, and Net Zero
The Story
The Context
Scotland recognised 5G as transformational for businesses, public services, and citizens — with the potential to support the transition to a net-zero economy and help sustain remote and rural communities. The Scotland 5G Centre was established in 2019 as a partnership between the University of Strathclyde, the University of Glasgow, and the Scottish Futures Trust, with investment from the Scottish Government.
My Contribution
As Co-Investigator for the Scotland 5G Centre Testbed led by Prof Muhammad Imran at the University of Glasgow and a member of the Communication Sensing and Imaging (CSI) group, I contributed to developing 5G use cases and establishing industry partnerships. My role focused on machine learning applications for 5G-enabled solutions, particularly in healthcare and energy monitoring.
Key Activities
- Co-organising the Scottish First Minister's visit to the CSI group to showcase 5G-related research projects
- Leading the organisation of the inaugural workshop on "Creating Sustainable 5G Technology and Services" at James Watt School of Engineering, attended by 50+ senior industry representatives, eight academic institutions, and three policy stakeholders
- Contributing to industry engagement events that helped establish partnerships and secure collaborative funding
- Led/Contributed to developing practical testbeds demonstrating real-world 5G applications
The Partnerships
These engagement activities contributed to building relationships with organisations including Nokia, Samsung, Cisco, Vodafone, VMO2, and Albyn Housing Society — connections that supported successful grant applications including the CISCO-led 5G New Thinking Project and Scotland 5G Centre Wave II funding.
The Impact
- The University of Glasgow team developed effective 5G solutions including the Persuasive Energy Conscious Network (PECN) and tele-operational robotic arm
- The CSI Group at University of Glasgow has been developing new 5G technologies, such as intelligent reflective surfaces and use cases in robotics, healthcare and energy
- Research featured on Scotland 5G Centre website as exemplar 5G-enabled solutions
- Contributed to demonstrating how 5G has a significant role to play in helping meet Scotland's target of net zero by 2045
- Supported the Centre's mission of accelerating the deployment and adoption of 5G connectivity across Scotland's industry and public sectors
- Programme delivered £29 million return on investment for Scotland
Why It Matters
5G holds significant possibilities for Scotland — estimates suggest that enhancing 5G infrastructure and creating commercially viable use-cases could add £17 billion to GDP by 2035, create 160,000 new jobs, and increase productivity.
Contributing to this national initiative demonstrates how university research can support regional economic development and position Scotland competitively in emerging technology landscapes.
Industry Partners
Academic Partners
- University of Glasgow
- University of Strathclyde
- Scottish Futures Trust
- 8 Academic Institutions (Workshop)
Funding Successes
Economic Impact Projections
Related Projects
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