Universities, like other industries, see extensive benefits to be gained from the deployment of private cellular networks, but a use case has arisen on campuses that stands out from the commonly-understood gains of wider connectivity, faster throughput, and improved security: the rise of innovation hubs.
An innovation hub is a space on or near a college campus that creates an entrepreneurial initiative by bringing together a blend of students, faculty, researchers, and industry experts under one roof to collaborate, providing businesses with new opportunities and students with unparalleled chances to learn. To establish these facilities, colleges and universities are dedicating resources to establishing robust and dependable private cellular (4G and 5G) networks.
Innovation Hubs – Enabling Real-Time Collaboration in Research
Here are a few universities that have already deployed campus innovation hubs.
Purdue University
The Purdue Research Foundation (PRF), next door to Purdue University in Indiana, established a dedicated cellular network using CBRS shared spectrum at the expansive Discovery Park District (DPD). Situated on a 400-acre expanse at the western edge of Purdue, various industries are experimenting with diverse network deployment strategies and unearthing novel avenues to harness the potential of private cellular networks.
Within the District, one can find cutting-edge manufacturing installations. Among them is Saab, a prominent company specializing in defense and security, currently constructing a facility dedicated to producing a next-generation fighter plane for the US Air Force. The network has expanded to cover a nearby airport, while on the horizon is the imminent establishment of a micro-hospital within the district’s confines. Companies operating within the District have their own private networks within DPD’s CBRS network for managing testbed solutions for a range of 5G solutions in security and communications to transportation, logistics, and robotics. The District also serves as a diversified development featuring an array of elements, encompassing over 1,000 residential units, with single-family houses, condominiums, and multi-family dwellings. Alongside these residences lie retail spaces, communal park areas, professional offices, eateries, and grocery outlets. The PRF has also launched its Lab to Life (L2L) digital innovation platform to advance the development of 6G networks.
“I like to say that I have the best job at Purdue and the Purdue Research Foundation because I get to work with a lot of really smart people, with terrific organizations, trying to solve their most important problems,” says David Broecker, the PRF’s Chief Innovation and Collaboration Officer.
Northeastern University
The Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things (WIoT) at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, in conjunction with the schools’ Open6G R&D Center, has deployed a wireless 5G network that’s entirely O-RAN compliant. The school deployed a ‘private 5G network fully automated through artificial intelligence (AI)’ with the aid of NVIDIA and Dell Technologies.
This private 5G deployment opens the doors for research in cutting-edge wireless networks, experimenting with advanced features, AI-driven models, and diverse applications such as spectrum sharing, AR/VR, end-to-end slicing, and enhanced security measures.
“Northeastern’s Open6G is at the forefront of innovation in Open RAN testing, architectures, algorithms, software, and experimentation. Together with our partners, we are creating an innovation and testing ecosystem that will continue to serve the federal government, industry, and academia.” Tommaso Melodia, Director of Northeastern’s Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has built a private 5G network to expand its Connected Systems Institute (CSI) manufacturing research facility to connect IoT sensors and controls. Ericsson, Rockwell, and UScellular are collaborating with the university to find new digital manufacturing solutions for Industry 4.0. CSI’s mission is to “support talent development and research to solve real-world problems with industrial automation in commercial applications.”
Mark Mone, UWM Chancellor, says CSI is a partnership linking industry and academia. It “plays a critical role in Wisconsin and beyond to accelerate innovation, develop a highly-skilled workforce, and drive economic growth. UScellular’s technology and investment in CSI allows us to advance research and business use cases while helping our students develop the skillsets needed for Industry 4.0. “
Initial use cases for the network include digital twins, AR/VR, and autonomous robots. UScellular also provides educational material that includes a curriculum covering the supply chain, Industrial IoT, and smart manufacturing.
“This is an incredible opportunity to bring our wireless expertise in private cellular networks to advance the vision in smart manufacturing developed by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Connected Systems Institute.” Kim Kerr, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Sales and Operations for UScellular.
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) has created a 5G CBRS innovation network with the help of Federated Wireless and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) is designed to increase the adoption of 5G features such as the IoT, digital twins, and autonomous farming. The network will also ‘enhance bandwidth and advance connectivity across the San Luis Obispo, California, campus.’ Faculty and students have worked together recently on a project to use a digital twin for the university campus. The 5G network allows the university to leverage CBRS to advance new research. “Cal Poly was the first time there was a cloud innovation center deployed at a university, where the university, along with AWS, partnered with public sector entities to expedite their digital transformation journeys, said Jonathan Polly, Digital Transformation Advisor and Program Manager for the 5G Innovation Lab at California Polytechnic State University on a podcast for the OnGo Alliance hosted by PrivateLTEand5G.com’s Ashish Jain. He added, “We brought in students as project managers, developers, and architects, to work side by side with industry-leading engineers and architects.”
“Cal Poly continues to lead in the development of a digital campus. We’re driving innovation for smart buildings and smart agriculture by introducing new devices and applications, and now we have a more reliable way to get data from point A to point B.” Bill Britton, Cal Poly’s Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer.
Conclusion
The evolution of innovation hubs across university campuses, integrated with private cellular networks, ushers in a remarkable era of advancement across education, research, and entrepreneurial endeavors. These centers have transcended their conventional roles, blossoming into ecosystems of ingenuity, cooperation, and technological innovation. From real-time research collaboration to international networking and IoT-driven transformations, these hubs are fountains of innovation and catalysts for 5G adoption in enterprises. Of course, creating an on-campus innovation hub is not the only motive colleges and universities have to deploy private cellular networks – each has its reason, from enhanced throughput to broader coverage, from improved resource management to classroom upgrades, and preparing a smarter workforce for the connected era. Private cellular networks are a driving force, enabling the future and nurturing tomorrow’s leaders.
