During spring 2026, from 25 March to 22 April, I had the opportunity to complete a secondment at University College Dublin (UCD) as part of the ENSURE-6G MSCA Staff Exchange programme. Coming from Cumucore, the experience gave me the chance to work closely with the UCD NetsLab team while contributing to ongoing activities related to secure and intelligent 5G networks.
One of the main focuses of the secondment was supporting the deployment and configuration of the Cumucore 5G Core on local server infrastructure. Alongside this, we worked on integrating AI-based tools for automated security log analysis, exploring how AI can help identify and respond to potential network issues more efficiently. It was particularly interesting to see how these ideas are being connected to the broader Zero-Trust security approach within ENSURE-6G.
I was also involved in setting up a complete mobile 5G testbed using EURANSIM simulator for emulating UE and gNB to be connected with Cumucore 5G core for demonstrations and testing activities. While the work itself was technical, what stood out most was the collaborative environment around it. Troubleshooting issues together, testing different configurations, and exchanging ideas in person made the process much more productive and enjoyable.
Part of the work contributed to ENSURE-6G Task 5.2, which focuses on setting up and configuring the testing infrastructure for the project’s use cases. Being involved in these activities provided a better understanding of how large collaborative research projects move from concepts and planning into practical experimentation and validation.
Beyond Technical Work: Collaboration and Learning
Beyond the technical side, this secondment was also an important professional learning experience for me. I gained practical exposure to technologies such as Kubernetes and cloud-native deployment environments, while also learning a great deal from the researchers and engineers at UCD. Working face-to-face allowed for more spontaneous discussions and faster problem solving than remote meetings alone.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of the secondment was the collaboration itself. Spending time with the UCD NetsLab team strengthened the connection between Cumucore and UCD and showed once again how important international cooperation is in research projects like ENSURE-6G. Sharing knowledge, different perspectives, and practical experience helped create an environment where everyone could learn from each other.
I would like to thank the UCD team for the warm welcome and support throughout the secondment, and ENSURE-6G for making these exchanges possible.
