Inside the 5G-DiGITs Accelerator: Info Day Highlights on Accelerator Journey, Innovation Challenges and Application Process
- The 5G-DiGITs Info Day informed about its new challenge-based Accelerator, supporting 25 student-led teams working on 5G, AI, IoT and digital innovation, with mentoring, workshops and expert support.
- The Open Call is open via F6S until 10 September 2026, with the programme running October 2026–January 2027 and ending with a Demo Day for investors and stakeholders.
Brussels, 24 June 2026 – The 5G-DiGITs consortium hosted today the 1st Accelerator Open Call Info Day, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs, students, researchers, startup teams, and innovation stakeholders from across Europe to learn more about the opportunities offered by the 5G-DiGITs Accelerator Programme.
The online event provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the Accelerator journey, the challenge-based innovation model, application procedures, eligibility requirements, and the five industry challenges that will guide the programme’s first acceleration cycle.
The webinar opened with a welcome session and an introduction to the 5G-DiGITs project, highlighting its mission to foster innovation at the intersection of advanced connectivity technologies and sustainability. Participants were introduced to the project’s objectives and consortium, followed by a detailed presentation of the Accelerator Programme.
The Info Day was led by the 5G-DiGITs Consortium members Michael Mandamadiotis, Project Manager at Envolve Entrepreneurship (5G-DiGITs coordinator); Maria Carolina Oliveira, Communications Project Manager at F6S; and Gonca Kara, Head of Projects & Ecosystems at Deep Tech Foundry, who acted also as moderator of the session.
A Challenge-Based Accelerator for Student-Led Innovation
During the session, organisers explained that the 5G-DiGITs Accelerator is a transnational, fully digital programme designed to support student-led startups and innovation teams developing solutions in areas such as 5G and Beyond-5G technologies, artificial intelligence, IoT, edge computing, digital manufacturing, and green digital innovation.
The programme will select 25 startup teams, each receiving approximately 50 hours of structured support, including expert mentoring, thematic workshops, networking opportunities, progress review sessions, pitch coaching, and access to investors and industry stakeholders.
Unlike traditional accelerator programmes, 5G-DiGITs follows a challenge-based approach, allowing participants to develop solutions to real-world problems proposed by leading organisations from across Europe. Teams may also join the programme with their own innovative ideas and benefit from the business support services offered.
Five Industry Challenges Presented
A key highlight of the Info Day was the Challenge Owners’ presentation of the five challenges that applicants can choose to address:
- Mikael Holmgren, Strategist at Karlstads Kommun (Sweden), presented a challenge focused on creating digital twins of public spaces using real-time data from 5G-enabled sensors to improve urban safety and support faster incident response.
- Bengt Hallinger, 3er Lead System Analyst at Tieto Tech Consulting R&D, introduced a challenge exploring the use of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technologies in digital twin environments, with a focus on simulating structural monitoring scenarios such as bridge vibration analysis.
- Ing. Antoine C. Sciberras, Chief Officer – Spectrum Management & Technology at Malta Communications Authority, invited participants to develop AI-driven tools capable of analysing, predicting, and visualising RF-EMF exposure patterns in urban environments affected by increasingly dynamic 5G network deployments.
- Selcuk Cakmaz, 5G Core Network Engineer at Opticoms GmbH, challenged teams to create AI-powered situational awareness solutions for emergency response operations running on private 5G networks, enabling real-time monitoring and decision-making capabilities.
- Dr. Nazli Guney, PhD, MBA, R&D Projects Manager at TT Mobil at Turk Telekom, presented a challenge centred on 5G network slicing and telco APIs, encouraging participants to design platforms capable of dynamically activating premium connectivity services based on user needs and network conditions.
Programme Roadmap and Support Services
Participants were also guided through the implementation phases of the Accelerator, which will run from October 2026 until January 2027.
The consortium detailed the extensive support available to selected teams, including:
- Intensive Mentoring scheme of a various pool of mentors
- 5 thematic workshops
- Group progress sessions
- Pitch Preparation workshops
- Demo Day rehearsals
- Networking sessions
The programme will conclude with a Demo Day in January 2027, where participating teams will showcase their solutions and engage directly with potential investors and industry representatives.
Applications Open Until September 2026
During the final part of the webinar, organisers presented the application process and key dates.
Applications are currently open through the F6S platform and will remain available until 10 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. Following an eligibility and evaluation phase, successful applicants will be invited to join the programme starting in October 2026.
The Accelerator call is open to student-led startup teams affiliated with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) organisations from countries associated with Horizon Europe. Teams are not required to be formally established companies at the time of application.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which participants received additional guidance regarding eligibility criteria, challenge selection, programme commitments, and application requirements.
Watch the recording of the Accelerator Info Day
Join the 5G-DiGITs Accelerator
More information, including the Guide for Applicants and Challenge Descriptions, is available on the 5G-DiGITs website.