MARTEL GMBH

Their core work

Martel is a Swiss ICT consultancy and project management firm that specializes in orchestrating large-scale European research initiatives around internet infrastructure, 5G networks, and digital experimentation platforms. They design roadmaps, run coordination and support actions, and bridge research communities — particularly between the EU and international partners (China, Mexico). Their core value lies in connecting fragmented research ecosystems: federating testbeds, aligning 5G standardization efforts, and translating technical research into policy recommendations and industry adoption strategies. They also manage experimentation-as-a-service platforms that let researchers and SMEs test new network technologies at scale.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, Martel focused heavily on internet experimentation infrastructure (FIRE testbeds, FIWARE platforms) and early 5G research — building the plumbing for Europe's next-generation networks and running acceleration programs for innovation ecosystems. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward the human and societal dimensions of digital infrastructure: Next Generation Internet with emphasis on inclusion and ethics, digital learning, trust and security assurance, and even a foray into circular economy (REACT). The trajectory shows a clear move from "building and testing networks" to "making networks trustworthy, accessible, and socially beneficial."

Martel is moving from pure network R&D toward trust, ethics, and societal impact of digital infrastructure — positioning them well for Horizon Europe's human-centric AI and digital sovereignty calls.

How they like to work

Martel operates as both a consortium leader (12 coordinated projects, one-third of their portfolio) and a reliable partner, showing strong versatility. With 340 unique partners across 34 countries, they function as a network hub rather than a loyal-partner organization — they connect different communities rather than repeatedly working with the same groups. Their heavy involvement in CSA projects (14 out of 36) signals that they are often the glue in large initiatives: managing communication, building roadmaps, and aligning diverse research teams rather than delivering deep technical components alone.

An exceptionally well-connected SME with 340 unique consortium partners spanning 34 countries — one of the broadest networks you'll find in an organization this size. Their international cooperation projects (EU-China, EU-Mexico) extend their reach well beyond Europe.

What sets them apart

Martel is unusually effective at coordinating large EU initiatives for a company classified as an SME — 12 coordinated projects with 340 partners is remarkable reach. Their dual strength in technical experimentation platforms AND strategic coordination/support actions makes them a rare "full-stack" project partner: they can both build the testbed and run the community around it. For anyone assembling a consortium, Martel brings not just execution capacity but an established network across nearly every EU member state plus key international partners.

Highlights from their portfolio

• NGI4ALL
  Their largest grant (EUR 1M) as coordinator, leading the flagship effort to promote global visibility for Europe's human-centric internet vision.
• ASSURED
  Coordinated a security-focused RIA on runtime trust verification — a significant technical depth project, unusual for a coordination-heavy SME.
• EXCITING
  Coordinated EU-China cooperation on 5G and IoT, demonstrating their ability to bridge international research ecosystems at the policy level.