Keynote & Panel Discussion

Shaping the future with 6G: Potential for smart cities, healthcare, and industry

On 19 November 2025, around 60 representatives from academia, industry and public authorities came together in Prague to discuss the potential of the next generation of mobile communications: 6G.

The event was organized by the 5G Corridor Munich-Prague in partnership with the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria in the Czech Republic, the BCO Network Czech Republic and the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce. 

Recap of the event

Martin Kastler, Head of the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria in the Czech Republic, opened the event by welcoming the guests. He emphasized that the expansion of mobile communications and the cooperation with Czechia are key priorities for Bavaria. 

In his introductory keynote “The Role of 6G Research Initiatives for the Development of Future Communication Systems”, Prof. Wolfgang Kellerer (Full Professor for Communication Networks at the Technical University of Munich) outlined the differences between 5G and 6G, highlighted the promising potential of the new mobile communications technology for medical applications, and presented several 6G initiatives currently underway in Bavaria.

In the subsequent panel discussion, moderated by Michal Manhart (Project Lead at BCO Network Czech Republic), Prof. Wolfgang Kellerer was joined by Dr. Eva Russwurm (Head of Outreach at the Institute for Smart Electronics and Systems at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), Prof. Zdeněk Bečvář (Full Professor at the Department of Telecommunication Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague) and Marie Zezůlková (Living Lab Manager at the BVV Trade Fairs Brno). Together, they explored various aspects of the future 6G rollout, including technological challenges, societal impact and the role that each actor, whether from research, industry, or the public, has to take. 

During the following Q&A session, the audience engaged actively in discussions on the benefits of the new mobile communications standard, its potential applications across key social and economic areas, and the challenges associated with its deployment.

More impressions can be found here.

Keynote: Wolfgang Kellerer, Full Professor for Communication Networks, Technical University of Munich (TUM) (Abstract)

Panel discussion:
Zdeněk Bečvář, Professor and Head of 6G Mobile Research Lab, Czech Technical University in Prague 
Eva Russwurm, Head of Outreach, 6G Valley, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Marie Zezůlková, BVV Living Lab Manager, Brno Exhibition Center

Moderator: Michal Manhart, Project Lead, Broadband Competence Office Czech Republic

Learn more about the speakers:

Prof. Wolfgang Kellerer, Technical University of Munich

Wolfgang Kellerer is a Full Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), heading the Chair of Communication Networks in the Department of Computer Engineering of the School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT). Since 2021, he is one of the two coordinators of the German 6G Research Hub 6G-life, coordinator of the 6G Future Lab Bavaria and Scientific Director of the TUM Venture Labs Robotics, AI & Communications. Prior to joining TUM, Wolfgang Kellerer pursued an industrial career being for over ten years with NTT DOCOMO's European Research Laboratories. He was the director of the infrastructure research department, where he led various projects for wireless communication and mobile networking contributing to research and standardization of LTE-A and 5G technologies. In 2015, he has been awarded with an ERC Consolidator Grant from the European Commission for his research on flexibility in communication networks. He is an IEEE Fellow.
An abstract of his keynote speech can be viewed here.

Prof. Zdeněk Bečvář, Czech Technical University in Prague 

Zdeněk Bečvář is a Full Professor at the Department of Telecommunication Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague. His research focuses on future mobile networks, especially radio resource management, mobility, device-to-device and vehicular communications, non-terrestrial networks, MEC, C-RAN, and applications of AI/ML in wireless systems. He worked at Sitronics R&D (2006–2007) on VoIP speech quality, contributed to Vodafone R&D (2009), and held internships at Budapest Politechnic (2007), CEA-Leti (2013), and EURECOM (2016, 2019, 2023). He received his M.Sc. (2005) and Ph.D. (2010) from CTU. From 2013–2017, he represented CTU in ETSI and 3GPP. He has authored over 100 papers, holds four US patents, and received several awards, including Best Paper at European Wireless 2017 and IEEE WCL Best Editor 2024.

Dr. Eva Russwurm, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Eva Russwurm is Head of Outreach at the Institute for Smart Electronics and Systems at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and a leading member of the 6G Valley innovation cluster. With a background in mechanical engineering and a Ph.D. in simulation-based planning of automated production systems, she now focuses on fostering collaboration between researchers, industry, and public stakeholders to advance 6G technologies and their applications in Industry 4.0, smart cities and public services.

Marie Zezůlková, Brno Exhibition Centre’s BVV Living Lab

Marie Zezůlková is the Living Lab Manager at the BVV Trade Fairs Brno, where she leads innovation projects in smart city infrastructure, mobility, and sustainable technologies. She graduated from University of Technology and earned her Ph.D. jointly from the Brno University of Technology and the Institut Français d’Urbanisme in Paris. Her career includes over 20 years with the City of Brno, where she directed city marketing, co- founded the Department of Strategic Development, and served as Head of the City Strategy Office, playing a key role in Brno’s transformation into a leading Czech technology and innovation hub. She has extensive experience in urban strategy, cohesion policy, and international cooperation, describing herself as both an innovator and a strategist. She is an active member in multiple expert groups including academia, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Masaryk University.

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