The University of Bradford (UBRAD) participated in the “Yorkshire Telecoms Showcase: Connecting and Powering Regional Growth” forum organised by techUK in Leeds on 16 June 2026. The event brought together stakeholders from industry, local government, academia, and the investment community to explore how digital connectivity can strengthen regional economic growth, innovation, and resilience.
As UBRAD is actively involved in assessing the sustainability impact of three Horizon Europe projects—6G-VERSUS, 6G-PATH, and COP-PILOT—the University’s presentation highlighted the importance of ensuring that next-generation technology delivers value beyond technical advancements, creating broader societal, environmental, and economic benefits. Representing UBRAD, Prof. Vishanth Weerakkody and Dr. Kamran Mahroof presented the sustainability assessment methodologies developed and applied within the 6G-VERSUS project. They were joined at the event by Dr. Jing Li and Shanaka Perera, who also represented the University of Bradford team.
During the presentation, the team emphasised that measuring technological progress solely through traditional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is no longer sufficient. As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in society, sustainability considerations must be integrated into their design, deployment, and evaluation. Drawing on experiences from the 6G-VERSUS project, the UBRAD team showcased its sustainability impact assessment framework, which systematically evaluates the environmental, social, and economic impacts of next-generation connectivity solutions. The framework begins with the identification of Key Values (KVs) and corresponding Key Value Indicators (KVIs) across the three sustainability dimensions and extends to the assessment of real-world impacts through pilot trials conducted across Europe. The presentation demonstrated how a value-driven approach can help ensure that future 6G technologies not only achieve technical excellence but also contribute meaningfully to sustainable development, societal well-being, and long-term economic prosperity.
By participating in the Yorkshire Telecoms Showcase, the 6G-VERSUS project gained a valuable dissemination opportunity, increasing awareness of its objectives and outcomes among a diverse audience of industry leaders, policymakers, investors, local government representatives, and academics. The event provided a platform for the UBRAD team to showcase the project’s sustainability impact assessment approach, demonstrating how 6G-VERSUS goes beyond evaluating technical performance to assess the broader environmental, social, and economic value generated by next-generation connectivity solutions. This approach supports responsible innovation by ensuring that project outcomes are interpreted in terms of real-world impact and stakeholder relevance, thereby enhancing understanding of how 6G-VERSUS contributes to sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based digital transformation.
