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i2CAT has developed Neutroon, a neutral host platform that allows telecom companies to operate 5G services
The technology transfer programme is an innovation initiative conceived to connect scientific and entreprenaurial talent to create disruptive technology-based startups
The Neutroon project developed by the 5G-IoT research area of i2CAT has been selected to take part in the 2019-20 Collider tech transfer programme. The Collider is an innovation programme powered by Mobile World Capital Barcelona with the aim to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization of the innovative solutions to build marketable products and create high growth science based businesses.
Its 2019-20 edition was formally presented a few days ago by Àngels Chacón, the Catalan minister of Business and Knowledge. The Neutroon solution of i2CAT was one of the 15 finalists chosen among dozens of applicants by The Collider’s scientific committee were announced.
NEUTROON is a standardized and a softwarized solution that allow an infrastructure operator to manage networking and computing infrastructure in an integrated way, in order to provision services for its tenants and bill them accordingly.
The system is composed by different blocks involving different architectural developments such as Data Center resources manager, System Orchestrator, Slice Manager and Ran Controller. NEUTROON can deploy wireless access services over WiFi, LTE or 5GNR Small Cells.
For Mobile Network Operators, NEUTROON enables them to expand their in-venue coverage while saving money and accelerating the rate with which they can cover additional key locations. By working with Neutral Host operators on some venues, they can focus their own resources on other locations, and extend their coverage at a faster rate to more buildings.
As a uniquely self-organizing network, NEUTROON requires fewer radios and less deployment time compared to classical wireless network deployment. This leads to a significant overall CapEx savings. In terms of OpEx, reductions in power, RF planning and optimization result as well in positive savings.
How is Collider structured
The programme is divided into 2 main phases. The first one is called Opportunity Validation and it sees all teams trying to prove the market’s true interest in their technological solution. The second phase is called Venture Building and it hosts successful teams from the previous phase, which go through startup incorporation and development of their industry pilots.
The Investment Committee takes place at the end of the first phase (on the 3rd April 2019) and is formed of external and internal sectorial specialists. They will hear all project pitches and decide which ones move on to the second phase and, therefore, become a startup with The Collider’s support.
All teams endorsed by the Investment Committee will receive a seed-investment of up to 50.000€, to face incorporation and execute their industry pilots. This funding will be provided in different installments based on each team’s performance.
All startups that fulfill the whole programme, become part of The Collider’s portfolio, enjoying a wide range of benefits including office space and access to the Mobile World Capital’s network of corporations, investors and experts.
Evaluation criteria
It will be taken into account that the presented works are still in the research phase. The evaluation (information will be requested for those registering in the award) will consider aspects such as:
