Karen Cham has been appointed to one of six working groups under the UK5G initiative, the national innovation network promoting research, collaboration and the commercial application of 5G in the UK.
Karen, the University of Brighton’s Academic Lead for Connected Futures and Professor of Digital Transformation Design, is one of 100 recruits and is now a member of UK5G’s Local Enterprise Partnerships and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises working group, one of six such groups.
UK5G said: “The purpose of each group is to understand specific needs and challenges in the UK’s 5G eco-system and to develop practical ways of overcoming these over 12-18 months.”
UK5G is a ‘network of networks’ to “facilitate and encourage the engagement and coordination of organisations working on 5G activities across the UK. It will enhance links between ongoing research and development activities being undertaken by organisations across telecoms and other sectors, including the UK Government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme. UK5G is independent and impartial, supported by a senior national advisory board who provide expert feedback from industry, identifying their priorities and advising on future areas of focus”.
It said: “5G technology is expected to boost the UK economy by up to £15.7bn by 2025 and much of this will come from small and medium enterprises located in innovative regions across the UK.”
Karen said: “I’m delighted to join the working group which will form an essential part of UK5G’s mission to drive the promotion of research, collaboration and commercial application of 5G in the UK. I am particularly interested in policy to support University research driving the digital economy.”
Karen also recently chaired a €2m research panel. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) “ensures quality and innovation in science and facilitates its impact on society. Its main task is to fund scientific research at public research institutions in the Netherlands, especially universities. NWO focuses on all scientific disciplines and fields of research”.
Earlier this year, Karen was appointed to the board of Nest, the Government’s occupational pension scheme.
