From May 2022, projects in the area of digital sovereignty and cyber security for 5G/6G communication technologies can be funded with a funding program for research and development projects. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) implements the funding program as the implementing body for the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI).
Funded projects are intended to help ensure that modern network technologies are developed and tested in order to minimize the risks of using 5G/6G technologies and close security gaps. Suitable use cases for modern network technologies in digitization are to be identified. The aim is to establish new communication technologies and thus achieve competitive advantages for the players.
Early promotion for 5G/6G technologies
The program is aimed at municipalities, higher education institutions, non-university educational and research institutions and commercial companies. The latter can be, for example, network or campus network operators, manufacturers, integrators, consultants and training companies. One focus is on promoting young companies and start-ups as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Main topics of the program
- Test infrastructures and studies in the 5G/6G backbone area with a focus on software-defined networks (SDN)
- Cyber security in 5G/6G digitization fields (e.g. application scenarios in the field of Smart City and logistics)
- Establishment of 5G/6G testing and certification bodies
- Security and resilience of 5G/6G technologies and infrastructures
- Projects by SMEs, especially young companies and start-ups, in the field of 5G/6G network security and Open RAN
The projects are selected via a two-stage application and selection process in the form of a project outline and a formal application. The sketches can probably be submitted from mid-July 2022. The funding program and the associated guideline will be published promptly in the Federal Gazette.
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About the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is the federal cyber security authority and the creator of secure digitization in Germany. The guiding principle: As the federal cyber security authority, the BSI designs information security in digitization through prevention, detection and reaction for the state, economy and society.