Accelerating a new era of research innovation at Nokia Bell Labs
As the renowned research organization of Nokia, Bell Labs has always explored the fundamental science and produced the disruptive innovations that created the foundation of information and communications technologies. In the process, it has pioneered some of the key communications technologies of modern times, including for the 5G era, that has helped secure Nokia’s long-term technology leadership. At the same time, a key part of Bell Labs’ charter is to explore concepts and solutions that generate growth opportunities for Nokia in adjacent and emerging markets.
In order to successfully address this dual mission in a dynamically changing industry, Bell Labs streamlined its structure earlier this year, forming two sister organizations under the Bell Labs umbrella: Bell Labs Core Research and Bell Labs Solutions Research. That means for the first time in its nearly one hundred years history, Bell Labs has joint leadership with two co-Presidents.
It is my honor to appoint two veterans of Bell Labs to these roles – Peter Vetter, as President of Bell Labs Core Research, and Thierry Klein as President of Bell Labs Solutions Research.
Bell Labs Core Research performs research at the cutting edges of science. The mission of Core Research is to create game-changing innovations that define the future of networks. Under Peter’s leadership, it will explore and innovate the key technologies that will prepare Nokia’s business for the 6G era on a 10-year horizon. This includes foundational research on network architecture, programmable-network systems and security, optical systems and components, mobile radio systems, and platforms and ASICs.
Bell Labs Solutions Research conducts fundamental and applied research focused on new Nokia value chains, business opportunities and ecosystems. Solutions Research pursues research and innovation into advanced technologies, architectures, systems and applications beyond Nokia’s current product and solutions portfolio. Under Thierry’s leadership, the team will research advanced sensing technologies, AI-based knowledge systems and fundamental algorithms, autonomous software and data systems, and integrated solutions and experiences.
This two-pronged approach to research allows us to preserve what has always made Bell Labs so special – its commitment to exploring the fundamentals of science – while focusing that work on the principles guiding Nokia’s business. Bell Labs’ ongoing focus on the future of networks and future of industrial systems gives us a unique capability to explore technologies at their intersection. It is an exhilarating time for Nokia Bell Labs, and I am excited about the new innovations it will continue to produce.
By combining the scientific focus of Nokia Bell Labs with the strategic and market focus of its Strategy and Technology organization, Nokia is ideally positioned to create value in the new era that will be defined by the confluence of connectivity, edge compute and software.
