Tangible Tomorrow is an acceleration and research program that unites academia, startups, and spin-offs to shape what’s next in telecommunications and human–machine interaction.
Our purpose is simple yet ambitious:
to explore inspiring new technologies that push the limits of connectivity, fuel Deutsche Telekom’s R&D pipeline, and turn academic breakthroughs into real-world solutions.
From early-stage ideas to proof-of-concept and pilot deployments, Tangible Tomorrow bridges the gap from research to realization — creating measurable impact for both the industry and society.
The program’s long-term goal is to move innovations from R&D to productization, bringing tangible outcomes such as market-ready solutions, customer impact, and technology rollouts.
By deepening partnerships between universities, startups, and Deutsche Telekom, Tangible Tomorrow acts as a catalyst for sustainable technology advancement — advancing how humanity connects, communicates, and cooperates.
Our research and acceleration activities focus on the technologies redefining telecommunications and human interaction:
- Next-Generation Connectivity — Exploring alternative means of data transmission such asFree-Space Optical Communication (FSO) and Li-Fi, opening new dimensions of speed, resilience, and sustainability.
- Human–Machine Interaction — Building intelligent systems that blend human intuition with machine precision through advanced sensors, materials, and applications in medicine, robotics, mobility, and entertainment.
- Telco Tech Inspiration — Demonstrating new network use cases that transform how we experience and engage with connectivity in everyday life.
These themes guide our participants and partners as we explore the future of telco together — from lab research to tangible outcomes.
Tangible Tomorrow connects three key innovation communities — each contributing unique value to the TelCo innovation journey:
- Research Institutes and Universities
We collaborate with academic institutions, think tanks, and research labs to transform ideas into implementable technologies. Participants gain access to Deutsche Telekom experts, visibility within the TelCo ecosystem, and opportunities to co-develop research into real-world use cases. - Startups
We engage with deep tech startups already advancing the telco space. These innovators receive mentorship, access to Deutsche Telekom’s network, and the opportunity to pitch to investors and explore pilot projects with our teams or partner universities. - Spin-offs
We support emerging spin-offs rooted in cutting-edge research and human-centered innovation. Participants gain exposure, industry mentorship, and the chance to co-create meaningful, socially impactful technologies alongside Deutsche Telekom.
Together, these communities form the backbone of Tangible Tomorrow — an ecosystem built to explore, experiment, and evolve.
The outcomes of Tangible Tomorrow go beyond innovation for its own sake.
We aim to deliver proof-of-concept demonstrations, research papers, and public showcases that strengthen the reputation and brand value of T-Labs, Deutsche Telekom, and our academic partners.
Each project is a step toward a connected future where technology is not only faster and smarter but more human, collaborative, and impactful.
Application phase is completed.
