The project kick-off on 18/19 February 2026 focused on technology transfer – at the GEMIC in Karlsruhe (9–11 March 2026), the IHP will be presenting a real-time demonstration for stable millimetre-wave connections.
Frankfurt (Oder). Fast radio links can react sensitively if the direct "line of sight" between the transmitter and receiver is briefly obscured, for example by people, vehicles or buildings. In order to better address such challenges in the future, the IHP – Leibniz Institute for Innovative Microelectronics is working on the xG-RIC project to further develop 6G technologies so that they can be transferred more quickly into applications for industry and society. On the occasion of the project kick-off on 18 and 19 February 2026, the institute is now announcing a first application-oriented live demonstration at the German Microwave Conference (GEMIC) in Karlsruhe.
The "Technology Transfer Hub for the Medicine and Mobility of the Future" (xG-RIC) project is designed as a central platform for technology transfer. Research, technology development and application-oriented innovation are to be closely interlinked, including in areas such as connected medicine and urban mobility, as well as in continuous dialogue with industrial partners, start-ups and other stakeholders. The aim is to advance key technologies for future 6G networks and systematically accelerate their transfer into practical environments. This includes proof-of-concepts (PoCs) as well as integration into realistic test environments, for example in clinical settings.
The IHP will be showcasing a concrete example of this approach at GEMIC 2026: High-frequency radio links in the millimetre wave range enable very high data rates, but often require a direct line of sight. In the planned demonstration, a millimetre-wave ICAS system (Integrated Communication and Sensing) will be presented in real-time operation. The special feature is that the system can predict potential blockages using integrated environment detection, without dedicated sensors or radar. On this basis, countermeasures can be taken at an early stage, for example by pre-emptively switching to alternative connections or suitable diversions paths.
"Data communication in the 60 GHz range usually requires a direct line of sight. With 'Integrated Communication and Sensing – ICAS', the system detects potential blockages at an early stage and can switch to a reflection bypass path or an alternative connection as a preventative measure – this keeps communication stable," explains Dr Markus Petri, xG-RIC project manager at IHP.
In addition to the demonstration, IHP is also contributing to the further development of key technology components as part of xG-RIC. These include components for a fully digital transmitter in the FR3 range, a broadband D-band transceiver and signal processing approaches for "next-generation MIMO". AI-supported approaches for network and edge intelligence are also being developed. The aim is to test these technologies in realistic scenarios at an early stage and prepare for their integration into future 6G networks. The IHP is thus preparing developments from the Open6GHub and 6G Research and Innovation Cluster initiatives, among others, for further utilisation.
xG-RIC is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute. Other partners in the consortium are the German Heart Centre at Charité, the German Aerospace Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, Technische Universität Berlin and Technische Universität Braunschweig. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space as part of the programme "Communication Systems – Sovereign. Digital. Networked" programme. The total project volume in phase 1 (01.01.2026-30.06.2028) is 15.5 million euros, of which around 1.5 million euros will go to the IHP. A second project phase until the end of 2029 is planned following a successful interim evaluation.
The next step is to further develop the ICAS system into a millimetre-wave ICAS testbed that can be used by industrial partners and start-ups in the future. In this way, the IHP is helping to transfer innovative 6G technologies into practical applications at an early stage and further strengthen Germany's and Europe's technological sovereignty in the field of future communication systems.