On November 12th and December 10th 2025 (Pietro Micca Museum) and on November 13th and December 11th (Risorgimento Museum), the Extended Reality (XR) experiences, implemented and led by TIM, achieved notable public success, offering complete immersion in the underground tunnels of the Pietro Micca Museum and an interactive virtual game developed by TIM on the history of the Risorgimento.

This success validates crucial Key Value Indicators (KVIs), both at a social level (improving heritage accessibility ) and a commercial level (confirming high engagement and scalability). The modularity of the platform ensures its readiness for rapid replication, leveraging Turin’s recognition as the European Capital of Innovation and Smart Tourism 2025. This is how European Research and Development investment translates into scalable, market-ready service offerings.

We are now channelling these results for commercial adoption and as input for B5G standardization. We invite potential partners to explore how this validated platform can enrich the cultural heritage of your city.

You can also explore the Top-10 Key Achievements showcased and revisit the details of TrialsNet’s success in the SNS Key Achievements Repository, here

Held on November 7th at the MEET cultural center in Milan, the event brought together representatives from operators, industries, institutions, and technology partners with the goal of sharing visions and fostering new collaborations to accelerate the development of the digital infrastructures Italy needs to strengthen its competitiveness.

Ericsson and IIT Showcase Groundbreaking 5G-Powered AI Prosthesis

In a dedicated experience room, Ericsson and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) presented the TrialsNet project, featuring a prosthetic hand that leverages the power of 5G and Artificial Intelligence to deliver a more intuitive and seamless user experience.

As demonstrated in October during Ericsson R&D Italy Innovation Day, the core objective was to show how mobile communication technology enables a prosthesis to perform complex tasks without being burdened by heavy onboard computers. By offloading intensive AI algorithm processing to high-performance remote servers via a 5G connection, the prosthesis remains lightweight and energy-efficient.

Visitors witnessed the prosthesis in action, utilizing object segmentation and advanced AI algorithms developed in the Ericsson and IIT labs in Genoa. Thanks to these technologies, the hand can autonomously adapt its movement and grip as it approaches an object, a capability demonstrated in the trials in Pisa (UC9).

The demonstration attracted strong interest from attendees, including representatives of all major Italian telecom operators, who engaged with numerous questions to the presenters: Giancarlo Sacco from Ericsson and Federico Vasile, Giulia Caserta, and Lorenzo Natale from IIT.

Transforming the Live Event Experience

Live events—whether concerts, sports matches, or festivals—are environments where connectivity is both critical and challenging. Thousands of people gather in a confined space, generating massive data traffic while demanding seamless communication. Traditional networks often struggle to balance safety, efficiency, and user experience under such conditions.

TrialsNet’s achievement shows how high‑speed, low‑latency B5G connectivity can overcome these limitations. By deploying advanced XR services at live events, we demonstrated two groundbreaking capabilities:

• Real‑time crowd safety monitoring, enabling organizers to track crowd dynamics, detect anomalies, and respond proactively to ensure public safety.
• Immersive fan experiences, where attendees can enjoy augmented and virtual reality applications that enrich their engagement with the event, from interactive replays to holographic overlays.

Why 26 GHz Matters

Operating at 26 GHz, TrialsNet’s testbed leverages millimeter‑wave spectrum to deliver ultra‑fast data rates and minimal latency. This frequency band is particularly well‑suited for dense environments like stadiums and arenas, where large numbers of users require simultaneous access to advanced services. The demonstration proves that B5G networks can support fully wireless, large‑scale event infrastructures, eliminating the need for cumbersome cabling and enabling flexible, scalable deployments.

Key Highlights of the Achievement

• Deployment of B5G connectivity at 26 GHz in real-life event scenarios.
• Integration of real‑time monitoring tools to enhance crowd safety and situational awareness.
• Delivery of immersive XR fan experiences powered by ultra‑low latency links.
• Validation of a fully wireless setup, paving the way for safer, more engaging, and scalable event infrastructures.

A Step Toward Safer, Smarter, and More Engaging Events

This achievement is more than a technical milestone—it sets the stage for the future of live events. By combining safety and entertainment into a single, network‑enabled framework, TrialsNet demonstrates how Beyond‑5G technologies can redefine the way people experience large gatherings. From ensuring public safety to creating unforgettable immersive experiences, the possibilities are vast.

Recognition Among Europe’s Best

With more than 180 achievements submitted across 63 SNS JU projects, we are honoured that TrialsNet has been selected among Europe’s most impactful contributions to the future of connectivity. This recognition underscores the importance of our work in advancing B5G and XR technologies, and highlights the role of TrialsNet in shaping the next generation of wireless innovation.

Find out more about the SNS JU Key Achievements here.

The event, organized by the Athens International Airport (AIA), the Municipal IT Development Agency of the City of Athens (DAEM), and WINGS ICT Solutions, showcased cutting-edge 5G, Beyond 5G (B5G), and 6G connectivity solutions applied in real-life scenarios — from smart city infrastructure to airport automation and emergency response.

Participants had the opportunity to experience:

• Predictive asset management for public infrastructure (AIA–DAEM–WINGS)
• Autonomous apron operations (AIA–WINGS)
• Emergency rescue and mass casualty incident management (WINGS–DAEM)
• Passenger service robots (AIA–WINGS)
• XR museum experiences (WINGS)
• 5G-enabled secure surveillance systems (Zelus)

A big thank you to all participants, partners, and attendees who made this event a success!

Together, we are paving the way toward a smarter, safer, and more connected future.

The event was co-organized by CNR, Ericsson, TIM, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, and IIT, and brought together telecommunications providers, vendors, universities, research centers, and healthcare professionals to explore how the results achieved within the EU-funded TrialsNet project can be further exploited and valorized beyond the project’s conclusion.

The workshop fostered dialogue between the technological and clinical domains, showcasing how 5G and next-generation network technologies are transforming healthcare delivery and biomedical innovation. Participants discussed real-world applications, future opportunities for eHealth, and strategies for collaboration and exploitation.

Key themes and highlights

The event focused on three main perspectives:

• Biomedical Applications: Several TrialsNet use cases, including UC7, UC8, and UC9, demonstrated practical implementations such as remote surgical proctoring, smart ambulances, and intelligent prosthetic systems, highlighting the tangible benefits of advanced connectivity in healthcare.
• Network Evolution: The Ericsson Network Orchestrator and related technological solutions were presented as enablers for new eHealth services, improved resource management, and innovative business models.
• Innovation and Exploitation: The workshop emphasized pathways for technological innovation, research collaboration, and commercial exploitation of the project’s outcomes.

Participants also had the opportunity to experience live demonstrations of the eHealth trials developed within the project, including the Open Call sub-project COM05, which further enriched the technological scope of the TrialsNet ecosystem.

Thematic sessions and panel discussion

The day was structured into three main sessions and a final Panel Discussion:

• Session 1 – Clinical Needs and Use Cases (UC7, UC8): identification of key healthcare challenges and presentation of innovative eHealth trials.
• Session 2 – Biomedical Applications (UC9 and Open Call COM05): insights into advanced prosthetics and the extension of network-enabled healthcare solutions to new clinical fields.
• Session 3 – Network Evolution and Monetization: exploration of orchestration technologies, vendor perspectives, and business opportunities for differentiated connectivity.

The final Panel Discussion featured experts from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Regione Toscana, Boston Scientific, Ericsson, and TIM, who discussed lessons learned, exploitation strategies, and opportunities for future collaboration across sectors. Within the TrialsNet framework, the Pisa cluster implemented three use cases involving multiple organizations and institutions.

The achievements of this cluster have received significant attention in the media, reinforcing Pisa’s role as a strategic hub for innovation and research in the field of eHealth and advanced network technologies.

The Ericsson R&D Italy Innovation Day is a yearly corporate event that highlights Italian research and development, focusing on the future of mobile communications, including 5G and 6G technologies. The 14th edition of the event, held on October 14th/15th, 2025 at the Ericsson R&D center in Pagani, showcased innovation in areas such as intelligent connectivity, cognitive networks, and reliable systems. This year’s event also celebrated the achievement of over 1,000 patents from Italian researchers.

The event drew significant attention, attracting representatives from local institutions, universities, telecommunications operators, and students from local technical and scientific high schools. Also in attendance was local and international management from Ericsson, who witnessed a demonstration so impactful it was selected for a live stream across the entire company.

Ericsson and IIT Showcase Groundbreaking 5G-Powered AI Prosthesis

In a dedicated exhibit, Ericsson and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) presented the TrialsNet project, showcasing a prosthetic hand that leverages the power of 5G and Artificial Intelligence to offer users a more intuitive and seamless experience.

The core of the prosthesis demonstration was to illustrate how mobile communication technology can enable a prosthesis to perform complex tasks without being weighed down by heavy onboard computers. By offloading the intensive AI algorithm processing to high-performance remote servers via a 5G connection, the prosthesis remains lightweight and energy efficient. This innovative approach eliminates the need for cumbersome cables or additional components, freeing the wearer from physical constraints.

Visitors saw the prosthesis in action, utilizing object segmentation and advanced AI algorithms developed in the Ericsson and IIT labs in Genoa. Thanks to these technologies, the hand can autonomously adapt its movement and grip as it approaches an object. This intelligent function was tested in trials in Pisa (UC9).

A key takeaway from the presentation was the result of the final experimentation phase. A group of trial participants reported an equivalent user experience whether the prosthesis was connected to the server via a traditional cable or a wireless 5G connection. This crucial finding validates the feasibility and effectiveness of using 5G for real-time, critical applications like assistive robotics.

The success of the demonstration was mainly due to the on-site presence and passion of Giancarlo Sacco from Ericsson and Carmela Calabrese and Francesco Brand from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Charting the Future of Work with XR

Another important voice from the TrialsNet Project, Professor Franco Tecchia of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, gave an insightful presentation on the topic “Charting the Future of Work: XR Technology for Industrial and Healthcare Applications” during the “Disruptive Testimonies” plenary session of the event. His talk highlighted how XR technologies are redefining collaboration not only in industrial maintenance but also in healthcare. He illustrated real-world applications where surgeons and medical experts can share the same field of view through smart glasses, enabling remote proctoring, mentoring, and second opinions in real time. This transformation, Tecchia explained, is already improving learning outcomes and clinical decision-making, as confirmed by recent academic studies. The XR technologies he presented to a large and attentive audience were central to the two use cases developed in the Pisa cluster of TrialsNet: Remote Proctoring (UC7) and the Smart Ambulance (UC8).

Tecchia concluded by emphasizing the ongoing shift from isolated devices to connected ecosystems, where edge and cloud computing provide the intelligence that makes extended reality scalable and reliable for mission-critical scenarios such as emergency response and smart healthcare. His contribution underscored how XR, when supported by secure and high-performance networks, becomes a true enabler of human capability in healthcare.

Conclusion The contribution of TrialsNet to the Ericsson event was extremely appreciated as the theme of “mission-critical” services is of growing importance as networks evolve towards 6G. Operators see the provision of differentiated connectivity, including mission-critical applications, as a key opportunity for network monetization.

Press articles (in Italian)

1. 6G e servizi all’America’s Cup: i nuovi progetti di ricerca Ericsson
2. Post Instagram Ericsson
3. Ericsson punta sull’Italia: Bel Paese protagonista dell’innovazione
4. Grazie a Ericsson l’Italia è in prima linea per lo sviluppo della connettività
5. Telcoffee Asstel – Telecomunicazioni e 5G (LinkedIn post)

The event fully achieved its goal, going beyond a simple presentation of the core activities of the European TrialsNet and CONVINCE projects. A distinctive and valuable element was the ample space given to the experiments funded through TrialsNet Open Calls and to the museum verticals, which enriched the workshop with a wide range of technology demos. The day was an opportunity to discover the solutions developed within the European projects TrialsNet and CONVINCE, funded by the Horizon Europe program, as well as the initiatives promoted by CTE Next. 

A special thanks was extended to Chiara Foglietta, Deputy Mayor in charge of Innovation of the City of Torino for opening the proceedings with her greetings and insights, and to the partners of the European TrialsNet project, TIM Enterprise and Crossmedia Europe, for their valuable contributions. An engaging roundtable featured Marco Mazzaglia, Andrea Basso, Giancarlo Caratti, and Carmen Criminisi, who discussed the TrialsNet project’s experiments in Torino, focusing on the use of augmented and virtual reality in museums and at Valentino Park.  

The day gave ample space to companies that presented their pitches and technology demos. In the first session, dedicated to innovations within museums, speakers included MIAT, New Generation Sensors, Neosyn, Fondazione Links, and 2Hardware Games. The second session, focused on tourism in the city, hosted Stendhapp, EURIX, Studio 5T, and Domethics.  

The closing panel, moderated by Claudia Chiavarino, was a moment of high value, bringing together the directors of important museums in Torino: Anna Follo, Alessandro Bollo, and Ambrogio Zaffaroni. They shared concrete experiences and reflections on the application of emerging technologies, particularly from the TrialsNet and CONVINCE projects, demonstrating how digital solutions can become an integral and distinctive part of the museum offering.  

The entire day was facilitated by the KICÈ app, which supported networking among participants.

The day combined interactive and practical activities designed to foster engagement and dialogue. Participants attended a presentation about the Madrid cluster’s work within TrialsNet, and were introduced to the Design Thinking+ methodology and how it adapted to the specific project needs. This was integrated by two live demonstrations of key use cases:

• Smart Crowd Monitoring, presenting innovative solutions for the management and monitoring of large gatherings to improve safety and efficiency in public spaces.
• Immersive Fan Engagement, showcasing cutting-edge immersive technologies that elevate the spectator experience in sports and live events.

The agenda also included a guided visit to 5Tonic’s X3 laboratory, offering participants the chance to observe first-hand the millimetric wave connectivity infrastructure supporting next-generation network innovation.

Beyond the demonstrations and presentations, the event created a dynamic space for networking and knowledge sharing, bringing together representatives from institutions, industry, and research centers. The discussions reinforced Madrid’s position as a key hub for innovation in next-generation communication networks, and highlighted the collaborative spirit driving the development and deployment of advanced connectivity solutions in Europe.

The article presents how TrialsNet is conducting large-scale B5G trials across Europe, combining cutting-edge 5G infrastructure with advanced 6G-ready technologies to evaluate performance, sustainability, and impact in real environments.

Through its 13 use cases, the project explores applications in:

• eHealth and emergency response
• Infrastructure, transportation, and public safety
• Culture, tourism, and immersive entertainment

By engaging real users and partners across multiple countries, TrialsNet demonstrates how next-generation networks can transform society and deliver real value to citizens and industries.

This recognition highlights the project’s role in advancing the European 6G vision and contributing to the global dialogue on future network innovation.

The full journal is available here.