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The Sino-British Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks Laboratory

On the morning of August 6th, The Sino-British Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks Laboratory, a collaboration between Fudan University and the University of Surrey, was officially inaugurated at the Zibin Building of Fudan University.

Fudan University Vice President Wang Yuanyuan and University of Surrey Vice President Patrick Degg jointly inaugurated the Sino-British Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks Laboratory. During the first academic committee meeting of the laboratory, they also presented appointment letters to the committee members.

The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by experts including Huang Hong, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission; G.Q. Max Lu, President of the University of Surrey; Zhang Ping, Counselor of the State Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Shen Xuemin, Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; Tony Quek, Academician of the Singapore Academy of Engineering; as well as Zhang Yanchuan, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Communications Society. The event was hosted by Xu Xiaochuang, Deputy Director of the Office of Research Affairs at Fudan University.

In her speech, Huang Hong, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, emphasized the deep foundation and broad prospects for cooperation between China and the UK in the field of science and technology. She expressed his hope that international collaboration would bring together global wisdom to jointly address global challenges and drive scientific progress and innovation.

G.Q. Max Lu, President of the University of Surrey, highlighted in his speech that the establishment of the Sino-British joint laboratory would deepen cooperation between the two sides in research, education, and talent cultivation. He looked forward to achieving fruitful outcomes in the future and making significant contributions to scientific advancement and societal development.

Wang Yuanyuan, Vice President of Fudan University, stated in his speech that the creation of the joint laboratory not only marks a new milestone in the research collaboration between the two universities but also serves as a bridge for scientific and technological exchanges between China and the UK. He expressed his hope that through this cooperation, the two sides would break through technical barriers and advance the development and application of 6G and related technologies.

The Sino-British Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks Joint Laboratory, co-established by Fudan University and the University of Surrey, was approved for establishment by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2023. The lab aims to promote the innovative development of space-air-ground integrated network technology and jointly explore and lead the international frontier of 6G communication technology. Leveraging the innovation capabilities and research strengths of both China and the UK, the lab will focus on cutting-edge technology research, standard setting, experimental demonstrations, and other initiatives, with the goal of achieving internationally influential innovative results in the field of space-air-earth integrated networks.

The University of Surrey is a world-renowned research center for mobile communication and satellite space technology, and it holds a leading global position in both 5G/6G communication systems and satellite science. The university operates a 4-square-kilometer experimental network for 4G and 5G mobile communication systems and satellite communication systems. In October 2012, the University of Surrey established the 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC/ICS), which is the world’s first and largest research institution dedicated to 5G communication systems. In November 2021, the university launched the 6GIC Innovation Centre to focus on research into future communication systems, including antennas and signal processing, mobile and wireless communications, satellite communication, and networking.

In January of this year, Fudan University and the University of Surrey signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement to jointly explore collaboration in areas such as international exchange and talent cultivation. The unveiling of the Sino-British Space-Air-Earth Integrated Networks Joint Laboratory marks a new phase in the partnership between Fudan University and the University of Surrey.

After the unveiling ceremony, the 2024 International Symposium on Space-Air-Earth Integrated Networks was held, bringing together experts from the academic community to discuss the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the future of communications.