IMDEA Networks drives Digital Innovation at Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Info Day

Organised in collaboration with CDTI, this session presented upcoming calls from the WP 2025 Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space of Horizon Europe, as well as the “Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking” (SNS-JU), bringing together nine companies from the ICT sector

23 May 2025

On 22 May, IMDEA Networks, in collaboration with the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), organised the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Info Day. The event was funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) and the State Research Agency (AEI), within the framework of the INCREASE-HE project. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen IMDEA Networks’ participation in Horizon Europe, acting as a driving force to encourage the involvement of Spanish organisations—particularly companies—in the EU Framework Programme.

The opening address was given by Albert Banchs, Director of IMDEA Networks. The session, led by CDTI experts, provided strategic insights to successfully address upcoming calls under the new 2025 Work Programme of Horizon Europe, with a focus on Cluster 4 and the SNS-JU initiative—two of the most relevant areas in R&D&I for the European ICT sector. Additionally, the European Union’s new “3C Networks” initiative was presented, designed to promote innovation, security, and resilience in digital infrastructures through public-private collaboration. At the end of the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to receive personalised advice from CDTI for preparing proposals under the calls discussed during the event.

In the second part of the event, 5TONIC—the open research and innovation laboratory for new technologies founded by Telefónica and IMDEA Networks—highlighted the key role of public-private collaboration in driving digital innovation, through the presentation of two new use cases developed and validated in its facilities.

Supported by industrial and academic partners, representatives from the lab demonstrated how this collaboration translates into tangible, applicable technological solutions. The demonstrations also emphasised the importance of testbed environments like 5TONIC’s, where technologies can be trialled and validated before being deployed in real-world scenarios.

The first use case, presented by Ericsson, showcased the application of private 5G networks in millimetre-wave bands at the Movistar Arena during the basketball games between Movistar Estudiantes vs. Super Agropal Palencia and Real Madrid vs. Baskonia. Three innovative applications were demonstrated in the fields of safety, transport, and tourism:

• Smart crowd monitoring, using AI and advanced sensors to ensure safety at events;
• Mass casualty incident, coordinating emergency response through smart wristbands;
• Immersive fan engagement, a virtual reality experience designed to enhance fan interaction.

The second case, presented by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, focused on multi-domain, multi-technology solutions for deterministic, low-latency communication networks in industrial environments. The primary objective was to design advanced network infrastructures with integrated technologies such as 5G, WiFi, and industrial Ethernet, ensuring highly reliable, predictable, and ultra-low-latency connectivity for critical applications such as industrial robotics, real-time machine control, or autonomous systems—marking significant progress toward Industry 5.0.

Carlos Jesús Bernardos, Vice President of 5TONIC and Professor at UC3M, stated: “This event is an exceptional opportunity to showcase the true value of public-private collaboration. Thanks to these synergies, we’ve made significant strides in 5G innovation and continue to develop solutions that bring us closer to the next generations of connectivity. Moreover, the participation of companies in events and calls like this contributes to building the research and innovation ecosystem 5TONIC envisions. This is how the future begins: a smart, sustainable, and connected society.”