The 6G Research Roadmap is a priority technology-driven project in the strategic research field of security and defence research of the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD). It aims to research and develop secure and resilient next-generation communication technologies. The market launch is expected internationally at the end of this decade.

Federal Minister Dorothee Bär explains: "Today's research lays the foundation for tomorrow's value creation and technological sovereignty. We want to be among the technology leaders in 6G. The new 6G mobile communications standard has the potential to redefine our technological ecosystem, with enormous leaps in performance, security and sustainability. It is now important to set the strategic course, because 6G is an important driver of innovation for Germany. The 6G research roadmap is our strategic roadmap for the upcoming 6G mobile communications standard. It brings together German players from science, industry and politics for 6G."

The 6G research roadmap is a central measure of Germany's High-Tech Agenda in the strategic research field of ‘Security and Defence Research’. It builds on the successful 6G research initiative (2021-2025) of the BMFTR and has been developed in consultation with the relevant federal ministries and experts from science and industry. The key objectives, fields of action and measures of the 6G research roadmap build on previous results and develop them further with a view to creating a sustainable innovation and transfer ecosystem for 6G in Germany and Europe. The 6G research roadmap also focuses on the value-oriented strengthening of national and European development, specification and standardisation efforts, as well as the expansion of international cooperation with value partners.

The first milestone of the 6G research roadmap will be the launch of four 6G transfer hubs in early 2026. The associated extensive research, testing and validation infrastructures for science and industry will be set up and provided with the support of the participating federal states. The 6G transfer hubs are backed by funding (including monetary benefits) of up to €200 million from the BMFTR, the Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality and the participating federal states.