one6G WG3 Chair participates in WiTaR panel on women in standardization
On October 22, 2025, one6G Working Group 3 (WG3) Chair, Dr. Albena Mihovska, took part as a panelist in the “WiTaR in Focus: Advancing Research and Pre-Standardisation Synergies in Emerging Technologies” session. The event was jointly organised by the 6G-IA Women in Telecommunications and Research (WiTaR) and Pre-Standardisation Working Groups, in close collaboration with the SNS CO-OP project, and took place during the Techritory Forum 2025.
The session brought together leading experts from research, industry, and policy to explore how Europe can build a more inclusive and effective pipeline from research and innovation (R&I) to standardisation in the rapidly evolving 6G ecosystem.
The event opened with a welcome address by Pooja Mohnani (Eurescom), followed by a video message from Erzsebet Fitori, Executive Director of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). The presentations highlighted the importance of aligning European pre-standardisation activities with emerging research priorities to strengthen Europe’s leadership in next-generation connectivity.
A key part of the agenda was the panel discussion “Women in Standardisation – Challenges & Opportunities”, moderated by Uwe Herzog (Eurescom). Dr. Mihovska joined an esteemed panel including Didier Bourse (Nokia), Prachi Sachdeva (TNO), and Hakima Chaouchi (IMT/NGMN).
The discussion focused on the synergies between research and standard-setting, barriers to inclusive collaboration, and strategies to empower women and underrepresented groups in shaping global technology standards. Drawing from her experience within one6G and broader standardisation efforts, Dr. Mihovska emphasized the importance of inclusive participation, cross-sector dialogue, and stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and standardisation bodies to ensure that 6G development reflects the needs and values of a diverse society.
The event concluded with a synthesis of key takeaways and next steps, highlighting a shared commitment across the 6G community to promote diversity, foster cooperation, and advance Europe’s leadership in pre-standardisation and research excellence.