The first main impact of ENLIGHT’EM project is the enhancement of the career perspectives and employability of researchers and contribution to their skills development. Besides, the different results of the project have impacted as you can see in the following points:
Scientific publications: Our research as part of ENLIGHT’EM benefits both theoretical understanding and practical implementation in the rapidly evolving landscape of networked VLC, also denoted as LiFi. In academia, our work contributes to the advancement of knowledge in communication technologies, specifically in harnessing visible light for data transfer, opening new avenues for research and exploration. For R&D institutions, our research findings provide a foundation for the development of innovative VLC applications, paving the way for practical solutions in diverse fields.
Patents: Obtaining a patent grants exclusive legal rights over an invention for a limited period, preventing others from using, manufacturing, selling, or importing it without the patent holder's permission.4 patents have been submitted and/or published.
Spin-off / Start-up: At the beneficiary IMDEA Networks, the research team with the participation of ESR Dayrene Frometa has won the first prize in the food category of the competitive European EIT Jumpstarter program for its business idea LiFi4Food. LiFi4Food has become a start-up that aims to positively impact food production indoors, with an eco-friendly monitoring control system with battery-free sensors for greenhouses. Dayrene Frometa is co-founder and board member of the startup.
PhD Theses: Obtaining a doctorate demonstrates a high level of competence, advanced research skills, and the ability to undertake complex projects. This will open professional opportunities, such as access to PostDoc positions to continue the researcher career, or in industry roles requiring specialized expertise in VLC and LiFi technologies. Most ESRs have already defended their PhD thesis at the time of ending the project in December 2023, and a few more will defend it in the first months of 2024.
All of the publishable results have been uploaded to
https://zenodo.org/(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) so this contributes to the development of open science.
We expect that this project will have a great impact on society, with ENLIGHT’EM contributing to satisfying the demand of IoT communication but putting emphasis on the low-energy systems, which is a priority in the research agenda as required for global sustainability.
