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H2020Doctoral network2016–2020

SILIKA · Silicon-based Ka-band massive MIMO antenna systems for new telecommunication services

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2016-09-01 → 2020-08-31
EU contribution
€3,078,374
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-ITN-EID

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Results in brief

Silicon-based Ka-band massive MIMO antenna systems for new telecommunication services

The continuously growing need in wireless communications for higher data rates necessitates more wireless spectrum to be made available for new applications. For the next generation of mobile communication, called 5G, licenses in the millimeter-wave (mm-wave) spectrum, i.e. starting around 30 GHz, are going to be issued on top of the current sub-6 GHz bands to meet this demand. Since higher frequencies experience a larger free space attenuation, large-scale multi-antenna massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) base-stations with hundreds or thousands of active antenna elements are needed. To offer mm-wave 5G technology at affordable prices to the end-user, these base-stations have to make use of reliable, low-cost antenna architectures and technologies. The fact that RF power generation is distributed over a large number of active antenna elements allows the use of highly integrated and cost-effective (Bi-)CMOS technologies. In combination with novel massive MIMO signal processing techniques, this approach can achieve a high-performance system at low costs. However, Europe requires specialists in this area that are trained to develop such multi-disciplinary systems. These experts can take leading roles within the EU ecosystem and maintain European leadership in the domain of wireless communications. Due to the novelty of these base-stations, these specialists have to be trained first. Therefore, SILIKA aims at educating 12 early-stage researchers (ESRs) to develop low-power, low-cost, silicon-based massive MIMO solutions and equip them with a comprehensive set of transferable skills relevant for long-term innovation and long-term employability. Working on different aspects throughout the entire system value chain and in cooperation with leading European industry, the ESRs will build a solid, multi-disciplinary and intra-European network that will fuel innovation and excellence in the EU for the coming decades.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The continuously growing need for higher data-rates and, therefore, more signal bandwidth in wireless communications, requires the use of multi-antenna base stations employing the recently introduced massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) concept and operating at millimeter-wave frequencies, e.g. 30 GHz. However, the implementation of such complex antenna systems into highly-integrated, energy- and cost-effective solutions is very challenging. Therefore, we propose an innovative antenna system concept utilizing silicon semiconductor electronics that can generate or receive at millimeter-wave frequencies in order to truly expand wireless communications into the outer limits of radio technology. SILIKA establishes a training network with leading R&D labs from European industries, universities and technology institutes in the domain of wireless infrastructure. This will be achieved by a multi-disciplinary approach combining expertise in all required areas to create a breakthrough towards millimeter-wave multi-antenna systems for energy-efficient and low-cost base stations for 5G wireless infrastructure. In the SILIKA Graduate School we will train 12 ESRs with post-master level technical courses and industrial workshops which are complemented by several professional-skill training modules relevant for working in multi-disciplinary project teams. All ESRs will perform secondments in an industrial setting. The SILIKA consortium consists of key European players in the field of wireless infrastructure with a complementary field of expertise and with a proven track-record in joint collaborations. As a consequence, SILIKA will provide the ESRs with a comprehensive set of transferable skills relevant for innovation and long-term employability. The high level of participation of leading industries will ensure that the scientific results of SILIKA will be transferred to future products in the area of wireless infrastructure which will benefit the European economy.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN · EindhovenCoordinatorNetherlands
  • CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB · GoteborgSweden
  • ERICSSON AB · StockholmSweden
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN · LeuvenBelgium
  • NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO · Den HaagNetherlands
  • NXP SEMICONDUCTORS NETHERLANDS BV · EindhovenNetherlands
  • ORBAN MICROWAVE PRODUCTS NV · LEUVENCity levelBelgium
  • QAMCOM RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AB · GoteborgSweden
  • SAAB MICROWAVE SYSTEMS AB · MOLNDALSweden
  • STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN · UtrechtNetherlands

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union