NextGEM partners held the 8th Project Meeting in Budapest (Hungary) on 15-16 October 2025. Representatives of all 22 institutions gathered for the last meeting of the project, which is coming to an end this academic year.

Most of the research lines have finished in the last months or are nearing the end. In this meeting, partners put together the results, most of which are to be used for the last part of the project, the Case Studios, which are:

1. Reproductive Health & Vulnerable Populations
2. EMF & Cancer Risks in Urban Settings
3. Blood Response to EMF in Daily Life

The NIKH portal has been released

Another milestone that was brought to the table was the release of the the NextGEM Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH). The NIKH is designed to provide comprehensive access to scientific knowledge on radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure and its potential impacts on health. It serves as a trusted environment for European regulatory authorities, the scientific community, industry stakeholders, and citizens, offering a standardized way to store, manage, and assess project outcomes, while ensuring compliance with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.

About NextGEM

NextGEM is a four-year EU-funded project aiming to generate relevant knowledge that identifies appropriate control measures for EMF exposure. The project is about to enter its last year and is producing evidence-based insights to inform regulatory decisions on the implementation of the 5G technology, all of which promote confidence in the safety standards governing EMF exposure.

NextGEM is part of the EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H), a network studying different approaches to the possible effects of EMF on health. This cluster involves four European Consortia (NextGEM, GOLIAT, SeaWave and ETAIN) with additional contributions from scientists outside the EU.

More news

• NextGEM holds its 7th Plenary Meeting in Larnaca
• Release of the NIKH
• NextGEM flyer: From Research to Impact

Check out the last NextGEM flyer, in a triptych format. In this leaflet, we provide an overview of the workflow the consortium follows to dive into the question whether EMF have any effect on human health.

Check it out here!

More communication material

• Brochures and flyers
• Newsletters and Press Releases
• Flyer: What is NextGEM?

The NextGEM project has received international recognition this summer, with two research teams winning prestigious awards at major scientific conferences for their innovative studies on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health.

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Honourable Mention Award at IEEE IWEM 2025

At the IEEE International Workshop on Electromagnetics Applications and Student Innovation Competition (IWEM 2025), held from 4–6 August in Hong Kong, a NextGEM research team received an Honourable Mention Award for their paper “Computational Human Skin Model for 5G Electromagnetic Field Exposure Studies.”

The NextGEM team of Ruben Otin, Eduardo Soudah (CIMNE), Gaetano Chirico, Fulvio Schettino (University of Cassino and Southern Lazio), and Noa Betzalel (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) received an Honourable Mention Award for their paper “Computational Human Skin Model for 5G Electromagnetic Field Exposure Studies.”

Abstract of the Awarded Work
This study examines human exposure to electromagnetic (EM) fields in the 5G Frequency Range 1 (FR1: 410 MHz – 7125 MHz) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2: 24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz). Due to the strong attenuation of EM fields within the body at FR2, the focus is on the skin, where most energy is absorbed. For comparison, FR1 is also analysed. A multi-layer skin model is exposed to EM fields at 700 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and 26 GHz to evaluate the electric field distribution and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) across the different skin layers. Simulations were performed using the finite element method in the frequency domain implemented in the open-source software ERMES 20.0 and cross-verified with a commercial software tool. The results of the analysis will be used in experiments inside the EU project NextGEM to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of 5G-related EM exposure and its potential implications for human health.

Alexandre Legros Award at BioEM 2025

Earlier in the summer, at the BioElectromagnetics Conference 2025 (BioEM 2025), held from 22–27 June in Rennes, France, another NextGEM team was awarded the Alexandre Legros Award for their study “Umbrella Review of RF-EMF Exposure from Far-Field Sources and Cancer in Humans.”

The team consisted of Joshua Ziegler, Daniel Wollschläger (IMBEI), Dan Baaken (BFS), Maarten Velghe, Kelly Rijs (RIVM), Nikolaos Petroulakis, Alexandros Kornilakis (FORTH), Roya Dolatkhah, and Isabelle Deltour (IARC).

Abstract of the Awarded Work
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF; 100 kHz–300 GHz) is widespread, and cancer remains a key concern identified by the World Health Organization. This umbrella review synthesises evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of human observational studies on far-field RF-EMF exposure and cancer published up to May 2024. Eight systematic reviews were identified: five reported limited evidence of cancer risk, two suggested increased risks, and one was inconclusive. However, all reviews demonstrated substantial risk of bias, methodological shortcomings, and incomplete reporting, which limited the reliability of their conclusions. The findings highlight the need for more rigorous methodologies, standardised protocols, and higher-quality data to strengthen the evidence base on the relationship between RF-EMF exposure and cancer.

More information on the award can be found on the BioEM 2025 website.

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Recognition for NextGEM’s Scientific Excellence

These two prizes underscore the scientific impact and innovation of the NextGEM consortium in advancing the state of knowledge on EMF exposure and health. By combining rigorous epidemiological evidence with advanced computational modeling, NextGEM continues to strengthen the evidence base supporting safe and trustworthy 5G and future networks. wins prizes for sers

The 4th NextGEM newsletter is here. Since late 2024, a new NextGEM partner joined the consortium, some project partners have attended the BioEM 2025, and others participated in the Clue-H Workshop on 5G ethics, among others. Also, 6 new papers have been published.

Now, you can see the most important news of the NextGEM Project during this last semester in our latest newsletter.

Click on the image to read it!

Strong presence of NextGEM in the BioEM 2025

NextGEM partners played an important role in the new edition of the BioEM Conference. Worldwide EMF experts attended the 2025 edition in Rennes, France, from June 22^nd to 27^th. The conference is set up annually by the BioEM society, “an independent organisation of biological and physical scientists, physicians and engineers interested in the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems.”

BioEM is the world’s largest and most prestigious bioelectromagnetics conference. The Society’s annual conference attracts academic and industrial participants from all over the world at all career stages. Attendees have an excellent opportunity to engage with other professionals in this field and share the latest updates in this topic’s research. This was a great opportunity for many NextGEM partners, as this project intrinsically relates to the conference’s main objectives.

The consortium’s partners showcased 7 posters, presented 3 oral presentations, hosted 2 oral sessions, and participated in 2 workshops. See all participations here!

Posters:

• Olga Zeni – Radiofrequency, LTE signal exposure does not alter cancer-related endpoints in human neuroblastoma cell model either alone, or in combination with WiFi signal or menadione
• Stefania Romeo (CNR) – A multi-physics analysis of electroporation phenomenon in A375 human melanoma cells: an in vitro and computational study
• Maryse Ledent (SC) – Electromagnetic field sensitivity, symptoms and perceived health: a mediation and moderation analysis
• Fulvio Schettino (UCAS) – A novel RF exposure system for live cell imaging in real time under confocal microscopy: a preliminary design
• Seppe Segers (SC) – A whole-transcriptome approach to determine the effects of 5G-modulated RF-EMF exposure in keratinocytes
• Maryse Ledent (SC) – Moderating effect of sensory processing sensitivity on the relationship of electrohypersensitivity on anxiety and depressive disorders
• Marco Spirito (TUD) – Reduction of body effect RF EMF sensor with back reflector

Oral sessions:

• Joshua Ziegler (IMBEI, with the collaboration of IARC, BFS, FORTH, and RIVM): Umbrella review of RF-EMF exposure from far-field sources and cancer in humans
  • Thanks to this abstract, Joshua Ziegler obtained the Alexandre Legros award.
• Olga Zeni (CNR): Biological effects of 5G radiofrequency exposure at 26.5 GHz in a human keratinocyte cell model
• Derek Land (THUAS): Low Cost SDRs for RF EMF Exposure Measurements
  • With Erdal Korkmaz, Sam Aerts, & John Bolte as co-authors
• Additionally, two partners acted as Oral Session hosts:
  • Olga Zeni hosted the 8^th Oral Session: Advances in Electromagnetic Stimulation for Neural and Clinical Research
  • Stefania Romeo co-hosted the 15^th Oral Session: Computational and Theoretical Insights into EMF Interaction Mechanisms

Workshops:

• Sam Aerts (THUAS): EMF exposure in telecom networks: past, present, and future, during the 3^rd Tutorial session (5G Exposure assessment)
• Additionally, alongside Rosa Orlacchio, Dr. Aerts was the proposer of the 5^th Workshop: Innovative Applications of Electromagnetics: BioEM Young Scientists Leading the Way

📸 The 4th edition of the BioEM started last Sunday and will continue all this workweek.

1- NextGEM partners gathered during the reception.
2- Olga Zeni during an Oral Session. pic.twitter.com/I8L25GokE2

— NextGEM project (@NextGEM_eu) June 24, 2025

BioEM held the CLUE-H 4th Annual Meeting

Like last year’s edition, the 4th Annual Meeting of the European Research Cluster on EMF and Health (CLUE-H) was held during the BioEM conference. CLUE-H is a cluster that congregates NextGEM and three more EU-funded projects (SeaWave, GOLIAT, and ETAIN) and that “expects to fill the knowledge gaps that exist regarding the impact of wireless technologies on health and the environment.” NextGEM partners participated in the meeting as part of the cluster.

About BioEM

BioEM “was established in 2021 [and] is an independent organisation of biological and physical scientists, physicians and engineers interested in the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems. It is an international society with members from approximately 40 different countries and regions around the world”, says its website. They organise annually “the largest and most significant international conference worldwide in the area of bioelectromagnetics”. NextGEM partners have participated in its conferences since its first edition in 2022.

Related news:

On 26 May, NextGEM partners Maryse Ledent (Sciensano) and Maarten Velghe (RIVM) showcased NextGEM’s insights on the societal implications of 5G. They did so during the Clue-H-organised workshop “Societal and ethical impacts of 5G and RF-EMF technology”. The EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H) is a group of four European EMF-related projects including NextGEM. The other three projects are: GOLIAT (organisors of this activity), ETAIN, and SeaWave.

Related news

The Italian telcom infrastructure company FiberCop became the 22nd project partner of NextGEM. They joined an initiative generating knowledge on possible human-health effects of the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation, with special regards to the 5G implementation. FiberCop is an Italian company stemming from TIM, another NextGEM partner, and manages a nationwide fibre-optic and copper network.

FiberCop enters NextGEM by becoming the leaders of one of the case studies the project is to undertake. This case study focuses on improving urban planning and 5G network design to assess and communicate potential cancer-related risks from EMF. It includes real-world measurements using operational 5G base stations. The aim is to collect accurate, long-term data to build realistic statistical exposure models. These measurements will support simulations and in vitro experiments on cell exposure, contributing to risk assessment, public awareness, and the validation of data for the NIKH platform.

NextGEM partners met in Larnaca, Cyprus, on April 8-9, for the project’s 7^th Plenary Meeting. Over 30 partners joined an event that was held by the local partners Sphynx and eBOS.

The event served the double purpose of steering the upcoming months of the project, and putting together all the latest results and successes of the NextGEM’s research, as well as raising and sharing problems that might arise during the development of the research. During the two sessions of the meeting, the day-to-day was monitored, as well as the experiments and case studies to be undertaken on the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on humans.

The 7^th Plenary Meeting kicked off with an overview of the project’s overarching goals, accomplishments and main hot points foreseen in the following months, such as the important NextGEM partners’ participation in the upcoming BioEM 2025. All the research lines forming the scientific backbone of the project were also discussed during that first session, too: the model- and sensor-based technologies for EMF exposure, the experimental approaches for assessing EMF biological and health-related effects, and hazard and risk assessment. The partners also discussed the upcoming NextGEM Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH), a digital platform under development that will aggregate validated research findings related to EMF exposure.

The second date was the moment to discuss the stakeholder engagement and the impact maximisation of the project, as well as the three case studies that are currently being developed. Building on the knowledge developed in earlier stages, the consortium is now advancing three real-world research studies focused on:

1. Investigating how EMF exposure may affect vulnerable populations, with a focus on reproductive health.
2. Assessing EMF-related cancer risks in the context of urban outdoor environments.
3. Exploring the potential impact of EMF on red blood cells in both indoor and outdoor settings.

The next meeting will be in Budapest

Sciproof will host the next plenary meeting in Budapest, Hungary, next fall. The consortium organises a new meeting twice a year to monitor the project’s day-to-day, steer its future, and discuss any problems that might arise.

About NextGEM

NextGEM is a four-year EU-funded project aiming to generate relevant knowledge that identifies appropriate control measures for EMF exposure. The project is about to enter its last year and is producing evidence-based insights to inform regulatory decisions on the implementation of the 5G technology, all of which promote confidence in the safety standards governing EMF exposure.

NextGEM is part of the EMF and Health Cluster (Clue-H), a network studying different approaches to the possible effects of EMF on health. This cluster involves four European Consortia (NextGEM, GOLIAT, SeaWave and ETAIN) with additional contributions from scientists outside the EU.

More news

• NextGEM partners meet in Delft to celebrate the 6th Plenary Meeting
• Strong presence of NextGEM in the BioEM 2024
• Does EMF exposure pose a risk to human health? Exploring three NextGEM studies

The consortium has produced 8 publications and four public deliverables during the last six months

The 3rd NextGEM newsletter is out. During the last semester, NextGEM partners have attended (and hosted!) the BioEM 2024, published videos about our research, kept on with a fair amount of publications and added 4 public deliverables.

Now, you can see the most important news of the NextGEM Project during this last year on our latest newsletter.

Click on the image to read it!