At SIPBB, innovators will have access to a large-scale deployment environment offering private 5G connectivity. The infrastructure includes Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) private wireless networks, MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), and future-proof applications such as Nokia MX Workmate, the industry’s first OT-compatible Gen AI solution for connected workers. These technologies, along with Intel Xeon Scalable processors and cutting-edge AI capabilities such as visual positioning and object detection, provide a real-world testing ground open to non-profit research and startup collaboration without the usual costs and implementation challenges.
The new testing center enables several industrial use cases, including predictive maintenance based on real-time analytics to minimize downtime and material waste, video and push-to-talk communication tools to keep teams connected without requiring them to travel to the job site, and AI-enhanced safety monitoring to improve situational awareness and worker safety. Energy-efficient automation ensures consistent productivity with a reduced environmental impact. Furthermore, the site features natural human-machine interaction through digital assistants powered by Gen AI, allowing workers to communicate with machines using intuitive, conversational language.
“SIPBB is a hub where pioneering researchers, engineers, and investors meet with industrial partners in startup ecosystems to exchange ideas, test, and validate new technologies. It provides a large-scale deployment environment for testing new technologies and conducting research projects. Our goal is for the hub to attract global investment and support Switzerland’s economic growth and digital leadership,” said Michael Wendling, co-director of Swiss Smart Factory at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB).
“The success of industrial digital transformation depends on how companies capture data, transport it securely, and bring AI closer to the data for analytics and decision-making. Our collaboration with Nokia, SIPBB, and Datwyler showcases use cases that leverage Intel Xeon servers to drive both connectivity and AI inference at the enterprise edge. CPU-based AI inference not only reduces TCO (total cost of ownership) but also enables flexible, scalable, and sustainable solutions at the enterprise edge,” said Bhupesh Agrawal, general manager of Intel’s private 5G and enterprise AI.
“Thanks to our many years of experience in edge architectures and data centers, we enable the secure, high-performance, and scalable deployment of industrial 5G and AI applications. Together with SIPBB, Nokia, and Intel, we are creating an infrastructure platform that startups and research teams can use without barriers to entry,” said Pascal Walther, IT/OT Director at Dätwyler IT Infra.
“At Nokia, we believe technology should empower industries to increase efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Through our partnership with Intel, Datwyler, and SIPBB, we support digital equity by enabling innovators to test future-proof solutions without upfront infrastructure costs to accelerate development, validate use cases, and scale digital transformation in the real world,” said Michael Aspinall, Sales Director for Enterprise Campus Edge in Europe at Nokia.
