SweWIN hosted its fourth wireless innovation workshop, in collaboration with the advanced connectivity project, in which SweWIN is an active partner. The event, attended by 41 people, featured three keynote speeches by members of the international advisory board of the project. The topics varied from sustainability and wireless machine learning to electronics design for 6G connectivity.
One of the keynote presentations by Ana Pérez-Neira
On January 12, 2026, the SweWIN center hosted its fourth workshop (9.00 – 12.00) at KTH Campus (Arenan, teknikringen 1), bringing together speakers from the wider research community to discuss the future of connected intelligence. The gathering provided a platform to explore the newly initiated
Advanced Connectivity excellence cluster
, beginning with a welcome address by Center Director Emil Björnson and an introduction to the initiative by Fredrik Tufvesson.
Liesbet Van der Perre presented on "I-o-Creatures," discussing sustainable wireless sensing in IoT and the ecological concerns of electronics-based solutions, questioning whether tailored designs are preferable to simply adding a new generation of connectivity. The following sessions covered a range of forward-looking topics, including Ana Pérez-Neira’s insights on "Learning in the Air," which highlighted the convergence of machine learning and communication towards lightweight, task-oriented edge systems. The event concluded with a presentation by Aarno Pärssinen on the journey of 6G from early research to commercialization, specifically focusing on communications hardware and the research funnel towards the next generation of wireless technology
Abstract: Advanced Connectivity is one of the Vinnova excellence cluster planning project with the aim to form a national excellence cluster in the wider area of connectivity and connected intelligence. This talk will introduce the initiative.
Liesbet
I-o-Creatures for sustainable wireless sensing – in ‘a’ G
Abstract: IoT has been advocated as a key technology to enrich features and improve efficiency of a plethora of applications. There's no 'one fits all' solution: creative tailored designs need to bring valuable innovation. The pleasure of design is confronted with ecological concerns involved in the production and deployment of electronics-based solutions. This talk will share learnings from case studies in vertical domains. The connectivity requirements deviate from conventional communication services. This raises questions: is a new G needed or should an old G be revisited?
Ana
Learning in the Air, a focus on lightweight AI, efficient access and waveforms.
Abstract: Wireless networks are undergoing a major transformation driven by the convergence of machine learning, Big Data, and machine-to-machine communication. In a wide range of applications, processing may shift from centralized cloud servers to edge computing, bringing intelligence closer to users and devices such as autonomous vehicles and smart cameras. This transition reduces latency, lowers energy consumption, and enhances security. As a result, future wireless networks will evolve beyond simple data transmission to intelligent, task-oriented systems capable of sensing, processing, and decision-making. Communication will increasingly focus on semantic relevance, with smart nodes transmitting meaning rather than raw data.
This talk is structured in two parts. First, we present the expressive neuron as an innovative, energy-efficient AI alternative for resource-constrained devices. The second part examines how task-oriented communications influence waveform design and emerging multiple access techniques, supported by representative application examples.
Aarno
6G from early research towards commercialization
Abstract: Finland established globally the first program for 6G research and development in 2018 as national flagship. The vision of data-driven sustainable future society enabled by wireless connectivity covered topics from fundamental technology research to human-centric services and applications. The broad scope has enabled a large number of research directions and global collaborators studying various potential solutions towards next generation of communications and sensing. This talk will focus on aspects related to communications hardware and gives some selected examples of the research funnel.
