ENT at SoftCOM 2026: artificial intelligence, innovation and developing the next generation of experts

At the 34th International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM 2026), held in Split from 17 to 19 September, Ericsson Nikola Tesla experts actively contributed through expert lectures, scientific papers, research demonstrations and activities focused on developing future ICT professionals. Once again, the conference brought together representatives of academia, industry, the public sector and local communities with the aim of exchanging knowledge and experiences on the latest technology trends.

Siniša Krajnović, PhD, President of the Management Board of ENT, served as Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee, participating in the opening plenary session and moderating a presentation by Željka Lemaster, Head of AI Innovation and Incubation at Ericsson, dedicated to the application of artificial intelligence in telecommunications networks. The presentation showcased the potential of artificial intelligence and multi-agent AI systems in the development of autonomous telecommunications networks and their ability to accelerate innovation and create new value for communications service providers.

A workshop marking the 25th anniversary of the Ericsson Nikola Tesla Summer Camp program, one of the longest-running and most successful examples of industry-academia collaboration in Croatia, was also held. The first part of the workshop featured the panel discussion 25 Years of ENT Summer Camp: Building Talent Through Industry-Academia Collaboration, moderated by Andrej Grgurić, PhD, Director of Ericsson Nikola Tesla’s Research and Innovation Unit. The panel included Prof. Darko Huljenić, PhD, long-time Research Director at Ericsson Nikola Tesla, Prof. Maja Matijašević, PhD, from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, and Prof. Dinko Begušić, PhD, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee, from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split. During the discussion, the panelists shared their experiences of the program’s development over the past 25 years and highlighted its role in strengthening collaboration between industry and academia.

The second part of the workshop gave Summer Camp students an opportunity to present the technologies, tools and experience they had acquired while working on real-world research and development projects under the mentorship of ENT experts.

Ericsson Nikola Tesla specialists also contributed to the conference’s technical program through several scientific papers covering artificial intelligence, data management and cybersecurity. The conference further showcased the results of joint research projects conducted with academic partners, including the DIGIPHY project, focused on the development of advanced XR and digital twin technologies, as well as new research activities continuing through the INRAF project.

As part of the Economic Forum, participants also discussed the role of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in driving digital transformation and accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence. As a partner in the EDIH ADRIA project, Ericsson Nikola Tesla actively contributes to strengthening the innovation ecosystem and advancing the digital capabilities of businesses and public institutions.

Through its participation in SoftCOM 2026, ENT once again reaffirmed its leading role in connecting research, innovation and the business application of technology. Through the development of artificial intelligence, collaboration with academia, research and development projects and initiatives such as the Summer Camp program, the company continues to actively contribute to the development of Croatia’s and Europe’s digital society.