While every business at a science and innovation campus is different and may require guidance to understand how they can get the most value out of a 5G MPN, it can also help to look at the bigger picture. Most of these types of campuses have businesses that fit into broader industries. For example, while the Harwell Campus may be known overall for advanced manufacturing and research and development, they have four ‘clusters’ (industries) that businesses on campus fall under—Space, Health, Energy, and Quantum.
How 5G fits in
Enabling Digital Twins through 5G connectivity
Deploying 5G across a campus enables real-time monitoring and high-speed data capture for critical functions such as security, maintenance, and environmental control. This data creates the foundation for developing a campus-wide digital twin—an advanced virtual model that can optimise operations, predict issues, and support innovation.
Use cases could include:
- IoT sensors for monitoring energy consumption and environmental conditions.
- Predictive maintenance for equipment and infrastructure using live data feeds.
- Autonomous security systems, such as drones or smart cameras, for rapid incident response.
Creating living testbeds for innovation
Campuses with established 5G infrastructure can serve as dynamic testbeds, offering staff and businesses from other sites the opportunity to experience and experiment with cutting-edge applications before committing to implementation. This collaborative approach accelerates adoption and fosters cross-campus knowledge sharing.
Use cases could include:
- AR/VR labs for immersive training and remote collaboration.
- Connected robotics for advanced manufacturing or laboratory automation.
- Smart mobility solutions, such as autonomous shuttles or real-time traffic management.
Alignment with strategic objectives
When our project gathered the strategic objectives from each Harwell cluster, we found they had some common overall objectives. Gathering this insight has proven to be an invaluable approach, so that we can understand the bigger vision for the diverse businesses within each cluster.
We found that whether the goals are better campus communication or commercialisation, the objectives are designed to ensure that each cluster can effectively advance their respective technologies, support innovation, and drive socio-economic growth.
Let’s take a look at some of the broad goals that might exist for science and innovation campus industries, and how these could be supported by a 5G MPN:
Catalyse collaboration
Most campus industries would emphasise the importance of facilitating partnerships across sectors and disciplines. This includes leveraging existing networks, building strong communities, and creating networking opportunities to unlock the potential of their respective technologies. A 5G MPN can facilitate seamless and secure communication between different sectors and disciplines. By providing high-speed, low-latency connectivity, it enables real-time data sharing and collaboration, which is essential for unlocking the potential of cutting-edge industries such as quantum technologies, clean energy innovations, and health advancements.
Support innovation and scale-up
Many campus industries, especially campuses focused on innovation, aim to support startups, SMEs, and researchers in scaling their technologies. This involves addressing key barriers such as access to funding, market entry, real-world deployment, and hardware development. 5G MPNs can provide startups, SMEs, and researchers with the robust connectivity needed to test and deploy their technologies in real-world environments. This includes supporting remote operations, real-time monitoring, and data analytics, which are crucial for scaling.
Drive global impact
Many science campuses are focused on accelerating the adoption of their technologies by industry and society. This includes supporting collaborative projects with industry partners across various sectors and ensuring that their innovations have a significant socio-economic impact. The advanced capabilities of 5G MPNs can accelerate the adoption of new technologies by providing reliable and high-performance connectivity. This is particularly important for industries such as energy, finance, healthcare, communications, cybersecurity, and transport, where real-time data and connectivity are critical for innovation and impact.
Infrastructure development and integration
Developing and integrating infrastructure to support their technologies is a key priority for many industries. This includes industrial testbeds, cross-sector collaboration, and connecting the ecosystem to national policy and funding opportunities. 5G MPNs can support the development and integration of infrastructure by providing the necessary connectivity for industrial testbeds and cross-sector collaboration. This includes enabling real-time data exchange, remote monitoring, and control of infrastructure, which are essential for growth.
Enhance workforce and community
Strengthening the community and enhancing the workforce to accelerate growth is a common goal. This involves supporting company growth, scale-up, and ensuring a sustainable supply chain anchored around campus assets. By providing reliable and high-speed connectivity, 5G MPNs can enhance the workforce and community by enabling remote work, virtual collaboration, and continuous learning. This supports company growth, scale-up, and the development of a sustainable supply chain, ensuring that the clusters remain competitive and innovative.
Deploying 5G MPNs at science and innovation campuses is a strategic investment in future-ready infrastructure. By enabling ultra-reliable connectivity, advanced data capabilities, and cutting-edge applications, campuses position themselves at the forefront of research, collaboration, and technological innovation.