NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS DRESDEN GMBH

Their core work

National Instruments Dresden is the German arm of NI (now part of Emerson), specializing in advanced test and measurement solutions for RF, semiconductor, and wireless communication technologies. Within H2020, they provide instrumentation expertise and software-defined testing platforms for 5G and beyond-5G research, particularly in areas like RF silicon-on-insulator (RFSOI) characterization and mobile edge computing validation. Their contribution centers on enabling other consortium partners to measure, validate, and optimize next-generation wireless and semiconductor technologies through industry-grade test infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) centered on 5G network orchestration and virtual presence applications — relatively high-level system topics like reconfiguration control (ORCA) and mobile virtual reality (PriMO-5G). By 2020, their focus shifted decisively toward the hardware and physical layer: RFSOI semiconductor supply chains, mmWave connectivity, and the automation of network management through software-defined approaches. This trajectory shows a move from 5G application-level work toward the foundational RF hardware and automated infrastructure that will underpin 6G.

NI Dresden is positioning toward RF hardware validation and automated network testing — critical capabilities as Europe builds sovereign 6G and mmWave supply chains.

How they like to work

NI Dresden operates exclusively as a participant, never coordinating — consistent with their role as an instrumentation and testing partner that supports other organizations' research goals. With 57 unique partners across just 4 projects (averaging 14+ partners per consortium), they work in large, multi-partner consortia typical of ambitious EU ICT calls. This pattern suggests they are a trusted infrastructure contributor that multiple consortia seek out for measurement and validation capabilities.

Across 4 projects, NI Dresden has collaborated with 57 distinct partners in 17 countries, indicating a wide and well-distributed European network concentrated in the 5G and semiconductor research ecosystem.

What sets them apart

NI Dresden brings industrial-grade test and measurement capability into research consortia — a role few academic or SME partners can fill. Their parent company's global platform for software-defined instrumentation means they can bridge the gap between laboratory prototypes and production-ready validation. For consortium builders, they offer a credible path from research results to industrially reproducible measurements, which strengthens exploitation and TRL advancement claims in proposals.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ORCA
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 575K) and their first H2020 project, establishing NI Dresden's role in 5G orchestration research.
• BEYOND5
  Focuses on building a fully European RFSOI supply chain — a strategically significant sovereignty initiative for RF and mmWave technologies.
• SEMANTIC
  Marie Skłodowska-Curie training network (MSCA-ITN), indicating NI Dresden's commitment to training the next generation of 5G/6G researchers.