Connecting the World from the Skies

Competition on Non-Terrestrial
Networks for B5G and 6G

It is a global competition that solicits innovative ideas and aspects of the NTN for Beyond fifth-generation (B5G) and 6G networks by submitting a “magazine-style” paper. Organized by the IEEE Future Networks Initiative and sponsored by CST, the competition seeks students and junior scientists to submit unique ideas to ‘connect the unconnected’ via NTN systems and networks.

Ten invited/selected applicants will be hosted to present their ideas during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” Forum to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between (8-10) November. Furthermore, grand prizes will be awarded to the top three ideas.

A 90-min poster session for 10 invited/selected students and junior scientists will be organized during the “Connecting The World from the Skies Forum”

Submitted Paper Requirements

Papers should be submitted via EDAS by Sept 8, 2022 at 5 PM Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Time.
The first author of each submitted paper should be a full-time graduate student at the time of submission or should have received his/her PhD in 2020, 2021, or 2022.
The required paper length is up to 6 pages double column (including references, figures, and tables) (Times New Roman, 12-pt font size, and 20-pica column width). The submitted manuscript should not exceed 5000 words in total (inclusive of title, authors’ names/info, abstract, body (introduction to conclusion), figures, tables, captions, footnotes acknowledgements, and references)
Published papers by Sept 8, 2022 cannot be considered but papers under review or in preparation for submission can be considered for this competition.

Selection Process

The first authors of the top 10 papers will be invited for a poster session to be held during the “Connecting the World from the Skies” forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Nov 8-Nov 10, 2022). The selection process will be done through a rigorous review process organized by the IEEE future networks initiative.
The 10 pre-selected papers will undergo a final evaluation for three winners during the poster session. The first authors of the 10 selected papers will have at the beginning the poster session three minutes to present a compelling oration on their paper and its significance and will then move to their poster stand to present it interactively to the delegates/attendees. A jury (selected from the high profile speakers attending the event) will score the first authors based on their 3 minute presentation and posters.
Among the ten finalists, the top-three finalists will be selected based on the jury scores. The winner will be awarded with a Grand prize of 5000 USD. The two runners-up will each receive a runner-up award of 2500 USD.

1^st

Multi-Mode High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) for Future Wireless Networks

Safwan Alfattani (King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia & University of Ottawa, Canada); Wael Jaafar (École de Technologie Supérieure, Canada); Halim Yanikomeroglu (Carleton University, Canada); Abbas Yongacoglu (University of Ottawa, Canada)

Summary of Awards

One 2022 CST Grand Prize (first winner – USD 10,000)
Two 2022 CST Runner-Up Awards (Second and Third winners – USD 5000 each)
Seven 2022 CST Young Scholar Recognitions (4th to 10th selected candidates). No money prize but invited to attend the “Connecting the World from the Skies” forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Nov 8-Nov 10, 2022)