Launch of WiTECH - A milestone for wireless and semiconductor innovation

The newly established WiTECH competence centre, hosted by the Department of Electrical Engineering (E2) in close collaboration with the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), intends to be a key player in creating a sustainable future by:

• Developing next generation of robust and trustworthy wireless communication and sensor systems (e.g., the sixth-generation wireless telecommunication 6G); and
• Sustainable, energy-efficient semi-conductor components and processes.

The first physical event brough together the entire WiTECH centre consortium with nearly 100 participants from 17 partners, including Ericsson, SAAB, Volvo Cars, Gapwaves, Gotmic, Icomera, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Kongsberg, Low Noise Factory, AAC Clyde Space Omnisys, Qamcom, RISE, Satcube, UMS, UniqueSec, Virginia Diodes, and Chalmers. Students at Chalmers and Vinnova representative also attended this event.

At the event multiple operational and research activities were finalized that are necessary to set the course for a successful collaboration. The leading representatives of all 17 partners gathered to start the collaboration.

Members from the industrial steering committee were confirmed:

• Maria Wargelius as Chair, Ericsson
• Johan Carlert, SAAB
• Mikael Nilsson, Volvo Cars
• Gaute Andersen, Kongsberg
• Monika Fuller, RISE
• Mats Lindgren, AAC Clyde Space Omnisys
• Kasra Haghighi, UniqueSec
• Katarina Boustedt, Chalmers representative

A key highlight of this day were the seven individual research project meetings that ran in parallel at the same venue.

The purpose of the kick-off event was to align on goals and objectives.

“We appreciate the commitment and unwavering support of all partners during the extensive preparation phase that helped to make this transition to the WiTECH Centre start a smooth and highly engaging process,” says WiTECH Director Marianna Ivashina.

This is what some of the partners say:

“I hope that we will have a good collaboration and achieve the center's goals and meet Vinnova's expectations. In addition, we will work to ensure that WiTECH becomes a center that can be built on in the future," says Maria Wargelius, representative of Ericsson and Chair of the WiTECH Board.

“We are very well aligned partners! We jointly work on problem formulation, system specifications, and technical feedback,” says Sten Gunnarsson, representing SAAB and Adjunct Professor at Chalmers.

“A centre-wide demonstrator is of high interest to us, and we will be very active to achieve this,” says Mikael Nilsson, WiTECH centre Board member and representing Volvo Cars.

According to Christian Fager, Co-Director of WiTECH, they discussed centre demonstrators and the opportunity to share this work with the broader Swedish and European community, in particular during the Swedish Microwave Week in Gothenburg, 2026, and Europe’s flagship conference and exhibition (European Microwave Week) in Gothenburg, 2028 – both to be organized by the WiTECH partners.

A common direction is needed to jointly create a sustainable future. All parts of society and all the projects that Vinnova finance need to contribute to the global goals.

Background

WiTECH builds on the legacy of the previous centres in wireless technologies, GigaHertz and ChaseOn, which Chalmers hosted during 2008-2021, and Bridge GigaHertz and ChaseOn between 2022-2023). By merging these large scientific communities into a joint consortium, WiTECH is well-equipped to tackle technological challenges and address societal needs more effectively.

For more information, contact WiTECH

Marianna Ivashina, Professor in Antenna Systems at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers, and the Director of WiTECH centre

Christian Fager, Professor in Microwave Electronics at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers, and the co-Director of WiTECH centre

Cristina Andersson, Director Industrial Relations at the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers, and the Coordinator of WiTECH centre

Maria Wargelius, Ericsson, Chair of the WiTECH centre Industrial Steering Board