A Next-Generation Network for the University College of Ghent (5GENIUS)

The purpose of the project is to improve opportunities in education and training.

To achieve this, the project will deploy a private 5G non-standalone network in University College Ghent, Belgium.

What will it provide?

The project will enable the development of innovative digital services and applications in educational and research domains of University College Ghent (UGC) campus of Schoonmeersen. This campus focuses on Geo-ICT, land-surveying, research for sustainable spatial use and mobility, and 3D prototyping. The specific research domains concerned are healthcare, agriculture, logistics, mobility and industry. In so doing, the project will enable students, researchers, staff, student entrepreneurs and local communities to experience and leverage new technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and Internet of Things.

How will it work?

The project’s private 5G non-standalone network will enable the implementation of five use cases:

1. ‘Campus as a lab’ - the network will allow the exploration of innovative solutions in the Entrepreneurial Lab (E-Lab), the Bachelor of business management programme in supply chain management, the research centre for sustainable space use and mobility, and the geo-engineering and land surveying programmes, as well as various industrial areas that require outdoor experimentation. It will also enable the development of a ‘smart campus’, in relation to the management of its parking and grassland areas.
2. Smart farming - the network will enable the collection of large data sets, such as sensor data, camera images, live streams, and machine-to-machine data; the deployment of autonomous drones and automated-guided-vehicle technology with robotic functions that will assist in crop management; as well as offering opportunities for applying 5G and Artificial Intelligence in research projects on land and agriculture, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, food processing and biodiversity restoration.
3. Connectivity solutions - the network will enable data transmission for complex projects and laboratory experiments, and will allow the use of AI and machine learning in fields of study and research including robotics, energy technology, industrial automation, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM), 3D prototyping, 3D scanning, and Internet of Things.
4. e-Health research lab - the network will enable the trial and validation of new 5G-enabled sensors for activity detection, pulse and blood-pressure readings and other support tools, allowing the development of prototype e-health applications for use cases including hospital environments of the future, health@home and emergencies.
5. Computer science lab - the network will enable rapid data transfer and networking for advanced projects, as well as allowing students to experience cutting-edge technology such as the use of augmented and virtual reality in programming and development courses.

How will it be built?

The project will deploy a private 5G non-standalone network at the UGC campus of Schoonmeersen, offering download speeds of up to 400 Mbps, and comprising:

• Athonet core;
• Baseband units;
• A macro remote radio head (RRH) site;
• Active picocells;
• Edge cloud computing resources.

How is it financed?

The project has a total budget of €1.44 million, of which €1.08 million under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital programme.  

Who is involved?

The project is lead by Citymesh, as project coordinator, with Hogeschool Gent as beneficiary. 

How can I find out more about the project?

The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

Contact HaDEA

Read more:

• Visit the project page in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (europa.eu)
• Visit the project website