ERICSSON GMBH

Their core work

Ericsson GmbH is the German subsidiary of the global telecommunications giant, focused on applying 5G connectivity to industrial and mobility use cases across Europe. They build and validate 5G infrastructure for smart manufacturing, connected vehicles, and energy grid management. Their H2020 work centers on deploying 5G in real-world scenarios — factory floors, cross-border vehicle communication corridors, and virtual power plants — bridging telecom technology with sector-specific operational needs.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Ericsson GmbH's early H2020 work (2016–2018) focused on energy grid stability and critical infrastructure protection (SUCCESS, RE-SERVE, SOGNO), combined with early automotive 5G research (5GCAR, 5GCroCo with V2X and CCAM). From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward 5G deployment and validation in industrial verticals — smart manufacturing trials, non-public networks, media production, and IoT platforms. The later projects also show growing interest in sustainable mobility and mining digitalization, signaling a move from pure telecom R&D toward applied 5G solutions for decarbonization.

Ericsson GmbH is moving from fundamental 5G research toward real-world 5G deployment in energy, manufacturing, and sustainable transport — making them a strong partner for projects needing industrial-grade connectivity validation.

How they like to work

Ericsson GmbH balances leadership and partnership roles almost equally — they coordinated 4 of 11 projects (mostly in energy/grid) while participating in 5 others (mostly in 5G/mobility). With 218 unique consortium partners across 26 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a repeat-partner organization. Their willingness to join as a third party in two large-scale demonstration projects (SHOW, NEXGEN-SIMS) suggests they are also open to contributing specific telecom expertise to projects outside their core domain.

Extensive European network spanning 218 unique partners across 26 countries, reflecting Ericsson's role as a telecom infrastructure provider that integrates into diverse consortia across energy, transport, and digital sectors.

What sets them apart

Unlike most telecom companies in H2020, Ericsson GmbH doesn't just contribute connectivity — they coordinate energy grid projects and validate 5G in cross-sector industrial settings from factory floors to cross-border vehicle corridors. Their dual strength in both energy systems and 5G networks makes them uniquely positioned for projects where digitalized infrastructure meets decarbonization. Few organizations can bring both telecom-grade network deployment expertise and hands-on experience managing virtual power plants and grid flexibility services.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RE-SERVE
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 1.08M) and coordinator role — Ericsson leading renewable energy grid integration, an unusual positioning for a telecom company.
• 5GCroCo
  Cross-border 5G corridor for connected vehicles with EUR 1.03M funding — demonstrated teleoperated driving and V2X at scale across national boundaries.
• EdgeFLEX
  Coordinated a project combining 5G edge cloud with virtual power plants, representing Ericsson's convergence of telecom and energy grid expertise.