Smart Country
The 5G Smart Country real-world laboratory aims to promote intelligent and sustainable action in business, nature and climate protection, education, mobility and health. The Smart Country encompasses more than just isolated digital applications; it is characterised by the synergistic interaction of various digital applications and infrastructures. Innovation centres are being established in rural areas to offer added value to local businesses, the local population, the region and the environment.
The goal is to improve living conditions and engage the economy and society in the digital transformation. The Smart Country dispels the supposed paradox of digitalisation and rural areas, creating a new digital way of life in rural areas. As a digital component of regional development, the Smart Country provides new impetus and offers solutions for rural structural change.
In collaboration with Vodafone and with the support of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ostfalia University, the districts of Wolfenbüttel and Helmstedt are working together to advance the expansion of 5G technology through a coordinated pilot project. The two districts are focusing on the smart country concept in the forestry and agriculture sectors. The initiative is particularly aimed at furthering the technological development of rural areas. The practical benefits to agriculture and forestry are at the heart of the joint 'Smart Country' project. The potential of 5G mobile communications in rural areas will be demonstrated. Science-based applications from these sectors are to be trialled under real-life conditions. The aim is to create a digital pioneer region in the Wolfenbüttel/Helmstedt area.
The "Smart Tree" serves as a demonstrator: here for recording tree vitality data. (external link, opens in a new window)
Professors involved
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Ligocki
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Prof. Dr. Ina Schiering
Faculty of Computer Science/IT
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Diederich Wermser
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Further information such as background and press reports can be found here (external link, opens in a new window).