Ericsson and MTS have agreed to establish a 5G research center in Innopolis, a new Russian high-tech city located in the Republic of Tatarstan. The two companies will leverage their expertise, latest technologies, and partner ecosystem to build prototypes and explore new business opportunities with 5G and Internet of Things for Smart Cities, with possible extension to other areas.
The activities will start during the second quarter 2018 and in addition to joint research and development projects, Ericsson and MTS plan to organize hackathons and collaborate with local partners, startups, and residents. The idea is to develop innovative solutions that can be deployed and evaluated locally before being scaled for the global market.
MTS is actively preparing its network for introduction of 5G technologies. It is conducting research both in-house and in partnership with key suppliers, continuously testing new solutions. Now, they have reached a new stage of their technological cooperation with Ericsson. The launch of a joint R&D Center will significantly accelerate the introduction of innovative products to the market. It hopes that the research work of both companies will allow them to bring new developments not only to the Russian but also to the global market. MTS has all the necessary competencies and experience in creating innovative products gained from its own Innovation Center and IoT Lab.
The infrastructure to be used at the research center includes the Ericsson IoT Accelerator Platform and Massive IoT solutions supporting NB-IoT. Ericsson will also provide guidance and support through the Ericsson Garage, an in-house incubator, and Ericsson Business Labs worldwide.
Innopolis offers a unique environment for the research center of Ericsson and MTS. The economy is based on high-tech industries attracting entrepreneurs from many different fields. The city also features broad opportunities for education and professional development, and has a state-of-the-art residential infrastructure built in harmony with nature.
