The UBC-Rogers 5G partnership, launched in 2018 and renewed in 2021, transforms UBC's campus into Canada's first 5G smart campus and a living laboratory for next-generation wireless technology. This collaboration has achieved several Canadian firsts, including the first 5G smart city solution pilot, the first autonomous drone flight over a 5G network, and strategic deployment of 5G mm Wave small cells for cutting-edge research. The partnership leverages Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) to enable low-latency, high-performance applications that address real-world challenges from healthcare to emergency response.
The partnership creates opportunities for researchers, students, and industry partners through an Innovation Discovery Partnerships model. Faculty benefit from facilitated thematic workshops that form interdisciplinary teams tackling problem-driven research, supported by Mitacs/NSERC funding and entrepreneurship resources. Students gain experiential learning in the latest communications technology while addressing pressing societal problems through case competitions and hands-on research projects. Current initiatives span diverse domains including remote tele-ultrasound for rural healthcare, earthquake early-warning systems, wildfire monitoring and prediction, intelligent transportation systems, smart building energy management, and autonomous drone delivery.
Small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, and healthcare organizations engage as key partners in translating research into real-world impact. Projects address critical challenges like Vancouver traffic congestion, forest fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and sustainable urban development. By combining 5G's capabilities with machine learning, sensors, and edge computing, the partnership is developing scalable solutions that will benefit communities across Canada while training the next generation of technology innovators.
Learn more about UBC Rogers Research & Innovation Partnership.