Dr Mohammad Heggo
RAN Expert, Wireless Labs Europe, Interdigital
Translating research concepts into industrially deployable wireless technologies has been a defining focus of my career. My early work in embedded communication systems, followed by doctoral research at University of Liverpool, enabled me to develop rigorous measurement frameworks and propose hybrid powerline–wireless communication architectures for indoor environments.
These foundations shaped a research trajectory centred on understanding real-world propagation conditions and designing communication systems capable of reliable performance beyond controlled laboratory settings.
Subsequent academic appointments at University of Manchester, University of Sheffield, and Imperial College London allowed these ideas to mature into operational prototypes. This work ranged from UAV-based inspection platforms for offshore energy infrastructure to CogniSense, a non-intrusive RF sensing technology validated through direct industrial deployment.
Currently, at InterDigital an industry-leading research and innovation organisation advancing wireless, video, and AI technologies I focus on 6G candidate technologies, including integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) and future network architectures designed to support emerging application demands. My role includes contributing to pre-standards bodies such as ETSI and engaging in major EU and UK flagship research programmes that help shape technological directions ahead of formal standardisation.
A persistent challenge in this space is reconciling the exploratory, idea-driven nature of academic research with the stringent requirements of industrial standards, which demand interoperability, scalability, spectrum efficiency, and long-term viability. Addressing this challenge requires embedding system-level considerations early in the research lifecycle, while preserving the creativity, intellectual freedom, and experimental spirit that universities uniquely foster.
Alongside this work, my supervision of doctoral researchers helps strengthen alignment between academic innovation and industry trajectories, ensuring that emerging technologies evolve with relevance, rigour, and real-world impact.
Ultimately, my aspiration is simple: to help transform ideas sketched on whiteboards today into robust wireless infrastructures that redefine how the world connects tomorrow.
