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Meetings with teachers and students of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (UNSTPB) are always full of energy, dynamism, visionary and creative, even if we are in an eminently technical and calculated place. We were all the more curious to visit a laboratory dedicated to monitoring the radio spectrum and localization of radio signal sources, since the radio component is the most difficult in the field of telecommunications.
The main motivation of the recent visit to the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies of UNSTPB is the launch of the most advanced laboratory in the radio area, a project initiated and implemented by the Romanian company STARC4SYSfounded and led by George Cristian GHIMFUS.
The meeting was hosted by Prof. dr. dr. eng. Mihnea UDREA, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies (ETTI), Conf. dr. eng. Șerban OBREJA , Director of the Telecommunications Department – ETTI and Prof. dr. eng. Alexandru MARȚIAN, with whom we were also welcomed by students from first year to master’s degree, eager to discover “the new kid in town”, each trying to find their way to a career in telecom, either in the software or hardware area.
Our challenge to the students is to design, in their turn, the future Romanian laboratory at POLITEHNICA Bucharest, all the more as they will be the first beneficiaries of the scientific research in the radio laboratory supported by STARC4SYS.
The STARC4SYS Laboratory was realized in 2024 within the ETTI faculty, Telecommunications Department, the Romanian company STARC4SYS S.R.L. renovating an existing space, which was later refurbished and equipped with specialized technology, with the support of the American company TCI International, Inc. part of the SPX Technologies group, international partner of the Romanian company.
The laboratory is one of the results of the collaboration protocol signed by STARC4SYS S.R.L. with UNSTPB in 2023. The protocol laid the foundations for a strategic partnership between academia and the telecommunications industry represented by STARC4SYS, providing opportunities for the development of joint projects, access to cutting-edge telecommunications technologies and the involvement of students in applied activities relevant to the new requirements of the labor market. The aim of this partnership is to support the development of the academic infrastructure and to improve the practical preparation of telecommunication students.
UNSTPB thus strengthens its position as a leader in technology education in Romania by opening the STARC4SYS Laboratory, a research and practical training center for students interested in radio spectrum monitoring and management, advanced communications and cybersecurity. This laboratory is the result of a partnership between the university and a 100% Romanian-owned company specialized in telecommunications, communication protection and cybersecurity technologies and is intended to be a reference point for education and applied research in these key areas.
In an era in which spectrum resources are increasingly exploited and as such are becoming more and more valuable both economically and strategically as a physical medium for hybrid threats, including cyber-attacks, equipping students with a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of how to monitor, manage and protect these resources becomes essential in the overall effort to ensure the security of national and international telecommunication infrastructures.
The StarC4Sys lab meets these needs through a combination of state-of-the-art equipment and a curriculum tailored to market requirements.
Technological facilities and research opportunities
The laboratory’s hardware and software solutions are used for radio spectrum management and monitoring, as well as radio signal source localization. The laboratory has specialized equipment for the reception and analysis of radio signals, providing advanced solutions for automatic classification and interpretation of spectrum data. The laboratory’s IT infrastructure provides the necessary support to run high-performance applications in the field.
The STARC4SYS laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art solutions for radio spectrum monitoring and analysis. The equipment available includes:
– advanced radio communications monitoring systems capable of detecting and analyzing signals in real time.
– devices for the analysis of radio frequencies and modulation techniques, essential for the development and optimization of communications infrastructures.
– hardware and software for signal processing, used in the research and development of new telecommunications technologies.
With these facilities, the laboratory provides the necessary conditions for students to learn how critical communication infrastructures work, to understand their vulnerabilities and to develop strategies for the protection of radio communication channels, including cyber defense. This practical approach complements the theoretical knowledge taught in university courses and gives students a significant advantage in the job market.
A beneficial collaboration between academia and industry
The partnership between the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest and the Romanian company STARC4SYS, which supports the laboratory, is a concrete example of effective collaboration between academia and industry. Such a partnership ensures access to cutting-edge technologies, but also aligns university education with the real requirements of the labor market.
“The aim of this project is to increase the level of competence of the graduates, who will enter the labor market already familiar with the technologies used in the industry“, Romanian company STARC4SYS officials say.
This collaboration is mutually beneficial for both sides:
– for students, offering access to state-of-the-art equipment and an applied learning environment that prepares them for the challenges of industry.
– for the university, it brings additional resources for education and research, contributing to the development of a modern curriculum adapted to market realities.
– for companies, it offers the opportunity to recruit well-prepared graduates, shortening the adaptation period in the workplace.
In this way, the lab operates in a win-win model, where students, teachers and industry benefit from a high-performing educational ecosystem.
“This laboratory represents an important step for our faculty, providing access to advanced spectrum monitoring and localization technologies, which will allow the development of research projects with real impact“, says Prof. dr. eng. Prof. Dr. Mihnea UDREA, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies. According to him, the STARC4SYS laboratory offers students, first and foremost, access to cutting-edge technology, with specific hardware and software resources, which are not found in any other laboratory of the Faculty of Telecommunications and Information Technologies.
Curriculum integration and impact on education
One of the main objectives of the lab is to integrate it into the curricula, so that students can better combine theoretical knowledge from lectures with applied practice in high-tech industry.
Third and fourth year students, especially those studying telecommunications and cybersecurity, will be able to use the lab to:
– practical experiments – testing theory under real-life conditions, with equipment also used in industry.
– research projects – developing innovative solutions to current radiocommunications problems.
– diploma and dissertation – use of laboratory technologies for in-depth studies and scientific contributions.
Also, several students working in the lab are already employed in industry and others are recruited by companies before graduation.
“The interest is that the graduates will be better prepared for the job market, whether they will work in private companies or in government cyber defense structures,” explained one teacher.
Future perspectives and laboratory expansion
Although the lab is still in its infancy, there are already plans for its expansion and development. Future goals include:
– increasing the number of equipment to allow more students access.
– attracting new industry partners to expand the range of technologies available in the lab.
– transform the laboratory into a leading research center contributing to innovations in cyber security and telecommunications.
A successful model in technology education
The STARC4SYS Laboratory at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest is an example of best practice in the collaboration between academia and industry. Through its modern equipment and integration into the university curriculum, this laboratory offers students a comprehensive training that helps them become top specialists in areas essential for the security and digital infrastructure of the future.
This project not only raises educational standards, but also contributes to the training of a generation of engineers prepared to face current and future challenges in cyber defense and telecommunications. By continuously developing the laboratory and expanding its collaborations with industry, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest is consolidating its role as a leader in technology education in Romania.
Moreover, the usefulness of this laboratory for the current generation of engineers is also demonstrated by the fact that the same company, with entirely Romanian capital, has also set up a similar laboratory at the Training School for Communications, Information Technology and Cyber Defense, following the signing of a cooperation protocol approved by the Minister of National Defense.
