KICS signs collaboration MoU with the Singapore University of Technology and Design on ‘Beyond 5G and 6G’

04 Jan 2022

The Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences (KICS) has entered into an MoU with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) that leads the Future Communications Research and Development Programme (FCP) on January 1, 2022.

The KICS has established a foothold for international joint research and is expanding by signing a joint research agreement with the University of Surrey’s 5G/6GIC in October 2021, followed by a cooperative agreement with the SUTD’s FCP.

The MoU will pave the way for research collaboration for Beyond 5G/6G technologies between researchers in the KICS and the SUTD’s FCP.

This MoU was signed to strengthen cooperation and discover ways of collaboration between the researchers for sharing ideas and conducting joint research on Beyond 5G/6G.

The details of the MoU include reinforcing collaboration for R&D in 6G and development of 6G testing platform, expanding the scope of cooperation through continued future joint projects, holding an annual workshop/seminar, and exchanging information.

Professor Yoan Shin, President of the KICS, said: “it is highly expected that this MoU will enable us to produce synergy effects and close cooperation for innovative 6G research in advance.”

Professor Chong Tow Chong, President of the SUTD, said: “Led by the SUTD, the FCP is pleased to collaborate with international organisations and institutions like KICS in joint research activities to promote the development of beyond 5G and 6G technologies and achieve successful research outcomes on the FCP projects.”
 
Professor Een-Kee Hong, Chair of the KICS 6G Research Initiative said: "the KICS's top experts for key 6G technologies will conduct in-depth discussions on the direction of technology development, and the KICS is always ready to help and develop research and collaboration with the FCP, SUTD."

Professor Tony Quek, Director of the FCP, said: “This partnership and MOU between the KICS and the FCP will help to strengthen the collaboration between researchers from both countries, and further drive innovation and impact in beyond 5G and 6G technologies.”

The KICS, the largest ICT institute in Korea, has over 28,000 members and 30 specialised research groups. It provides open networks for universities, corporations, government-affiliated agencies, and research institutes for engaging in academic activities, technical cooperation, and policy reviews in ICT.

SUTD has been appointed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) to be the host institution for the FCP. The FCP was established with close to S$70 million funding under the Communications and Connectivity R&D Funding Initiative and supported under the Services and Digital Economy (SDE) domain of Singapore National Research Foundation’s (NRF) Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 (RIE2020) plan, which will run from 2021 to 2025. The role of the FCP is to support cutting-edge communications and connectivity research and to grow Singapore’s capabilities to translate communications and connectivity research into innovative products, services and companies.