Imagining Tomorrow: Highlights from the 6G Summit Young Scholar Competition
About
The 6G Summit Young Scholar Competition, sponsored by npj Wireless Technology, invited graduate researchers from around the world to envision the next generation of wireless communication systems and their role in shaping society. Participants were challenged to imagine what communication networks may look like in the next two decades and to present futuristic applications that could transform communities, industry, and the environment.
This year, three winning videos were selected for their creativity, clarity, and forward-looking contributions to wireless innovation.
First Place: Yuxiang Liu, “Sun-Fi: Illuminating the Future of 6G with Sunlight Communication”
Yuxiang Liu (PhD Student, KAUST, Saudi Arabia) vision spotlights Sun-Fi, a light-based wireless communication technology that offers a transformative solution by converting sunlight into a high-speed, nearly zero-cost data carrier using dual-cell liquid crystal shutters integrated into building windows. The technology delivers near-zero transmission energy by harnessing daylight, provides intrinsic physical-layer security since light cannot penetrate walls, and it operates on the free, unlicensed optical spectrum, ensuring long-term scalability. Sun-Fi envisions cities that are not just smarter but fundamentally more sustainable and secure, positioning this innovation as a communication network ready for 6G and beyond.
Watch his winning video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYygd_y46s
Second Place: Salah Abdeljabar, “When the Body Speaks”
Salah Abdeljabar (PhD Student, KAUST, Saudi Arabia) presented a transformative vision of healthcare, where 6G enables an "Internet of the Body." His concept involves a network of microscopic, self-powered sensors and nanorobots that communicate inside the human body using molecular signals and integrated sensing. This internal network would continuously monitor health, predict diseases before symptoms appear, and even initiate preemptive treatments. This vision marks a shift from reactive medicine to truly predictive and personalized healthcare.
Watch his winning video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfIhQ2uT9Wc
Third Place: Muhammad Asad Ullah, “Direct-to-satellite Connectivity to Combat Digital Divide”
Muhammad Asad Ullah (Senior Scientist, VTT, Finland) addressed the challenge of unequal access to digital infrastructure. The project envisions direct-to-satellite communication links that provide robust and reliable connectivity to remote and underserved regions. By enabling global coverage without dependency on terrestrial infrastructure, this approach has the potential to significantly reduce the digital divide and expand educational and economic opportunities.
Watch his winning video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcl_mWOlRrQ
Closing Remarks
Congratulations to the winners. These visions illustrate how emerging researchers are shaping the future of wireless technologies. Their visions reflect a shared goal: to design networks that are intelligent, inclusive, and deeply integrated into improving daily life.
The competition demonstrates how creativity, engineering, and social impact can come together to imagine communication systems that serve humanity in meaningful and sustainable ways.