Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication SystemsOpen6GHub+ launches: Germany's 6G research becomes an industrial driver
With the launch of Open6GHub+, Germany will have a national 6G transfer hub as of January 1, 2026. It closes the gap between 6G basic research and economic and social impact. Fraunhofer FOKUS offers 6G core network technologies, AI-based core networks, and digital twins of networks and applications in the hub, which can be used to test and optimize new services.
Open6GHub+ is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) and is part of the German 6G program. With this, the BMFTR is implementing a central component of its 6G strategy, which aims to position Germany as the leading market and provider for the next generation of mobile communications. At the same time, the program addresses the increased need for technological sovereignty, resilient critical infrastructures, and trustworthy digital systems. Close cooperation with industry, start-ups, SMEs, public authorities, and other public actors is a central element of this. The aim is to quickly transfer research results from Germany to industry and public authorities.
AI and 3D networks: The 6G focus areas
One of the main focuses of Open6GHub+ is the integration of artificial intelligence into 6G. The consortium is developing AI-based network functionality and using generative and hybrid AI to design, implement, and specify future mobile communications technologies more quickly. In addition, AI-based digital twins of networks and applications are being created that can be used to test and optimize new services before they are rolled out in reality.
In addition, Open6GHub+ connects ground-based networks with drones and non-terrestrial platforms to form so-called 3D networks. This creates ubiquitous, resilient connectivity that continues to function reliably even when traditional mobile networks reach their limits – for example, in agriculture, logistics, or critical infrastructure.
Prof. Thomas Magedanz, director of the Software-based Networks business unit at Fraunhofer FOKUS and professor at the Technische Universität Berlin, explains: “As a Fraunhofer Institute, the transfer of our research expertise to industry and public authorities is at the heart of what we do. Our goal with Open6GHub+ is to offer providers of critical infrastructure in particular an evaluation of 6G campus networks for their applications in order to ensure resilient communication.”
Dr. Marius Corici, also director of the Software-based Networks business unit, emphasizes: “The integration of diverse technologies into a functional overall system is often underestimated – yet it is the key to transferring research results to industry.”
From research to industry
The work in Open6GHub+ is organized in a mission-oriented manner and is accompanied by industry sponsors to ensure a consistent focus on results and transfer. Key results are tested in open experimental fields and OpenLabs and made available to industry at an early stage.
The launch of Open6GHub+ implements a central instrument of the 6G research roadmap published by the BMFTR at the end of 2025. The roadmap envisages the establishment of 6G transfer hubs as a link between excellent research, industrial application, standardization, and qualification. Open6GHub+ assumes this role by further developing existing research infrastructures, establishing transfer-oriented ecosystems, and specifically supporting the transition from research to economic and social impact.
Strong consortium for 6G excellence
The Open6GHub+ consortium brings together leading research institutions in the fields of communication technology, artificial intelligence, and system integration: the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), the Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt), the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), the University of Bremen, and the University of Stuttgart.
Fraunhofer FOKUS is focusing on the design, implementation, and integration of open, modular 6G core network architectures in Open6GHub+. The aim is to provide flexible and secure platforms that support campus networks, future 3D networks, and automated and trustworthy network control. The systematic integration of network functions, security mechanisms, and management concepts enables end-to-end solutions. These are validated in scalable demonstrators and OpenLabs and prepared for transfer to industrial applications.
With its clear transfer orientation and close links to industry, standardization, and national 6G structures, Open6GHub+ makes an important contribution to strengthening the national and European 6G ecosystem.
Last modified: