CommUnity: TU Dresden and TU Munich launch joint research project on the future of communication

With the launch of the joint research project CommUnity, TUD Dresden University of Technology and Technical University of Munich (TUM) are setting another milestone in communications research. The goal of the project is to develop the next generation of communication systems that promote technological sovereignty, resilience, and societal prosperity.

A toolbox for the communication of the future

CommUnity brings together the most advanced research areas in communication technology – including AI-supported resilient and energy-efficient 6G mobile networks, quantum communication, and molecular communication – into an innovative concept. The goal is to develop a flexible toolbox of interoperable technologies, architectures, and design principles that can adapt to the evolving needs of society.

“CommUnity stands for Shared Prosperity – that is, for technologies that not only enable cutting-edge applications but also benefit the general public. Mobile communications have demonstrated how infrastructure can make prosperity widely accessible. When it comes to artificial intelligence, this broad participation is still not a given today: Benefits, control, and value creation are often concentrated among a few. This is precisely where CommUnity comes in. We are developing communication technologies with integrated AI that are open, efficient, and trustworthy – and that make AI-powered communication widely accessible. This turns AI into an infrastructure for everyone,” explains Professor Frank Fitzek, project coordinator at TUD.

Disruptive approaches for industry

CommUnity deliberately goes beyond linear advancements and focuses on disruptive research areas that are currently considered too risky for companies. By establishing testbeds and demonstrators, the project creates open access structures that enable companies – from large corporations to startups – to test new technologies at an early stage.

“Through open testbeds and demonstrators, we are creating an ecosystem that combines basic research with industrial value creation and enables long-term innovation. We are thus providing industry and society with the tools to successfully master the challenges of digital transformation. Some of these technologies will be crucial for the competitiveness of entire industrial sectors in Germany in the future,” adds Professor Holger Boche, project coordinator at TUM.
 

A project with societal vision

CommUnity envisions a future in which communication systems are not merely technological extensions but strengthen society through technological sovereignty and shared prosperity. With a clear focus on transfer to industry and startups, the project has been designed to be practice-oriented from the outset.
 

Funding and duration

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) with a grant of EUR 15 million and will run until the end of December 2029.

Website: https://6g-community.de/

Contact
Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks, TU Dresden
Doreen Böttcher
Public Relations
+49 351 463-40407