US, Korea and NI announce economy-boosting connectivity projects

The US and South Korean governments have released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to securing digital connectivity and ICT technologies to support the growth of digital economies in developing countries.

An initiative is also underway in Northern Ireland, where a consortium has launched a smart manufacturing testbed to bolster regional economic growth and investment opportunities.

The US-Korea collaboration expands on the nations’ joint promise to promote open and secure 5G wireless technologies, networks, and services to support the development of the global digital economy, with a focus on developing countries.

The initiative also focuses on international coordination in areas such as AI, cloud policy, and secure and trusted flows of data.

The joint commitment will include providing technical assistance such as feasibility studies, trial demonstrations, support for testing and integration infrastructure, and financial support for commercial deployments.

Both countries also recognised in the statement the need for an inclusive approach to developing AI governance that supports the development of trustworthy AI, aligned with democratic values and human rights.

Smart manufacturing in NI

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, has launched the country’s largest 5G testbed with the aim to accelerate smart manufacturing.

The local technology consortium, Smart Nano NI, created the testbed with UK technology enabler, Digital Catapult.

The consortium hopes to see the 5G testbed bolster economic growth and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland by providing an open access facility, providing expert technical support to local start-ups and businesses.

The testbed facilities will be delivered by IT and business consulting services firm CGI, and will include technologies such as 5G, NarrowBand-Internet of Things – which uses radio technology to connect to electronics.

“This is an exciting milestone for the project as we bring access to the latest 5G technology to both industry and academia and enable businesses to take advantage of the substantial market opportunities offered by 5G,” said William Revels, managing director at Digital Catapult, Northern Ireland.

The smart education site at the Industry 4.0 Centre at Northwest Regional College in Derry-Londonderry, aims to provide students and industry access to test and explore new use cases of the 5G private network.

The manufacturing site, hosted by Seagate’s manufacturing facility, will allow businesses to test technology in a live setting.

Digital Catapult has launched an open call for businesses to access the 5G testbed for the first time, with a focus on solving manufacturing challenges, through its Smart Nano Accelerator Programme.

Participating Northern Ireland-based companies in the accelerator programme will have the chance to compete for a £75,000 grant from Techstart Ventures to further develop their innovation ideas.

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