DCMS Launches £2.4m UK/South Korea 5G Rollout Challenge

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has launched the 5G Infotainment Services for Transport Environments UK-South Korea 5G Funding Competition. The scheme aims to help prepare the UK for a future 5G rollout. 5G is the next generation of mobile connectivity, providing speeds up to 20 times faster than current 4G technology.

Through the programme, businesses are encouraged to apply for an opportunity to trial new content and services on South Korea’s transport networks. The UK and South Korean Governments are funding this project to support businesses in the two countries and develop 5G technology. The project will live test content and services on the Seoul metropolitan subway system.

£1.2 million in grant funding will be available in each country (total grant funding of £2.4 million) to support organisations in their respective countries to participate in the collaboration. One or more organisations (as a consortium, with one lead partner) from the UK will be awarded the £1.2 million DCMS capital grant funding to deliver the project.

The successful UK applicant will be required to test solutions in a real-life environment (rather than a lab environment). The test environment will be provided by South Korean partners and the technical architecture provided is a hybrid 4G/5G network, but any solution should be designed for a 5G future.

Applications must be from a consortium. UK-based business, of any size, can lead a project. They will carry out some of the project work in the UK and intend to exploit the results in or from the UK. To collaborate on a project, the applicant must be a UK-based business, academic organisation, charity, public sector organisation, third-sector organisation or research and technology organisation. Projects must involve at least one ​micro, small or medium-sized enterprise​ (SME).

Minister for Digital, Margot James said:

“We want the UK to be a world leader in 5G services, and this collaboration with South Korea will create new opportunities for UK businesses abroad and encourage more inward investment. The UK has a huge pool of 5G scientific research and engineering talent, and I would encourage all businesses in this field to enter this innovative competition.”

The deadline for applications to be received is 1 June 2019.

More information about this funding opportunity and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.