Overview of CONNECT’s 10‑Year Journey
The Trinity College Dublin (TCD) CONNECT research center officially marked a decade of pioneering work on future networks and communications on Friday, 7 November 2025. The event, titled CONNECT at Ten, brought together academics, industry partners, alumni and students at the Convention Centre Dublin for a day of presentations, panel discussions and networking. The focus was clear: to showcase how a national vision has evolved into Ireland’s leading hub for next‑generation connectivity.
From National Vision to Global Hub
When Professor Dan Kilper, Director of CONNECT, opened the ceremony, he reminded the audience that the center’s origin was a bold national strategy aimed at establishing Ireland as a world‑class player in telecommunications research. Since that first step, CONNECT has worked with more than 50 industry partners and a worldwide consortium of universities, technology firms and policy bodies. The result is a vibrant ecosystem that moves from fundamental science to market‑ready solutions at an impressive pace.
Key milestones include the launch of the Open Ireland Testbed, the Smart Docklands research initiative and several cross‑border collaborations—most notably with Japan’s NTT and the European Network of Innovation (JOINER). These projects illustrate how the center translates research into practical, high‑impact outcomes that benefit the wider society.
Impact Through Collaboration
One of CONNECT’s signature strengths is its collaborative model. The centre thrives by partnering directly with companies and entrepreneurs, creating a clear conduit from laboratory discovery to commercial product. During the celebration, a panel called Spinouts and Alumni Success highlighted several companies that grew out of CONNECT research, offering visitors a tangible sense of the potential that a partnership can unlock.
Spinouts and Alumni Success
A standout example is Nexalus, whose liquid‑cooling technology now powers eight of the ten Formula 1 engines in the world. The technology originated from a joint project between Trinity and Munster Technological University, and its rapid transition to the market earned Nexalus the prestigious CONNECT Impact Award. The company’s recent feature in Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2025 underscores the breadth of impact possible when academia and industry collaborate closely.
Community‑Engagement Initiatives
Beyond commercial success, CONNECT also focuses on public outreach. The Connective Detective student‑run workshops bring network science to school audiences, making complex concepts tangible and engaging. Additionally, the partnership with Dublin City Council under the Academy of the Near Future invites students to design the smart cities of tomorrow, giving them a platform to apply theoretical knowledge to real‑world challenges.
Driving Sustainable Connectivity
Energy efficiency and resilience are central themes in the upcoming decade of telecommunications. During the event, Professor Kilper chaired a panel on Sustainability in Future Networks, where researchers from TCD, Tyndall, and other European partners discussed strategies for reducing carbon footprints while enhancing security and reliability. The session covered novel materials for low‑power signal transmission, algorithmic optimizations for data routing, and the role of quantum encryption in protecting user privacy.
Green Networking Solutions
As demand for bandwidth grows, the research community is turning to terahertz and optical communication as the next frontier. By employing wavelengths beyond the conventional microwave band, these technologies can transmit massive data loads with minimal physical hardware, lowering energy consumption per bit delivered. The panel also highlighted the importance of policy support—investment in infrastructure and clear regulatory frameworks—to accelerate the deployment of these green solutions.
Pioneering the Future – 6G and Beyond
The final part of CONNECT at Ten focused on 6G and the next generation of networks. The discussion, featuring faculty from Trinity, Dublin City University, Maynooth University and University College Cork, explored how optical, terahertz, and quantum technologies will shape the next decade of connectivity. The key message: while 5G roll‑out continues, research on 6G is already defining how we will handle the unprecedented data requirements of immersive augmented realities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation.
Research Focus Areas
- Optical & Terahertz Links: High‑capacity, low‑latency channels for both urban and rural deployments.
- Quantum Networking: Secure, low‑delay communication routes capable of supporting large sensor networks.
- Integrated AI Edge Systems: Edge devices that process data locally, reducing back‑haul traffic and latency.
These research strands are already generating prototypes that can be translated into commercial services, further reinforcing the close partnership between academia and industry.
Take Action – How You Can Join the Movement
Whether you are a researcher seeking collaboration, a startup looking for research‑to‑market pathways, or a policy maker interested in shaping the future of connectivity, CONNECT offers multiple avenues for engagement. The centre’s open call for new partnership proposals, detailed on its website, welcomes proposals that align with its sustainability, innovation, and societal impact goals.
Take the next step by exploring the research programs, visiting potential partners, and scheduling a consultation with the CONNECT team to discuss how your project can benefit from the center’s expertise and network.
For additional information, join the upcoming webinars on 6G technologies and sustainable network design. You can also sign up for the CONNECT newsletter to stay updated on the latest research outcomes and partnership opportunities.
To get started, submit a brief proposal through the CONNECT portal or contact the research office directly. Your participation could be the key to unlocking transformative innovations in tomorrow’s connected world.
[Explore CONNECT’s research portfolio][https://www.tcd.ie/connecting/]
[Schedule a consultation with the CONNECT team][https://www.tcd.ie/connecting/consult/]
[Subscribe to the CONNECT newsletter][https://www.tcd.ie/connecting/newsletter/]
