-- On March 3, a series of events themed “SparkLink: Infrastructure to Empower Intelligence, Driving Change,” hosted by the International SparkLink Alliance (iSLA), was successfully held at the W Barcelona Hotel. More than 100 industry leaders, technical experts and ecosystem partners from sectors including global communications, smart automotive and smart home across China, Europe and other regions gathered to discuss SparkLink’s technological advantages, industrial applications, standards coordination and global collaboration.
The events laid an important foundation for SparkLink’s expansion in Europe and outlined a new blueprint for collaborative innovation and ecosystem development for the short-range wireless communication industry in the AI era.
Spark Forum: Exploring Next-Generation Connectivity Infrastructure
The forum featured keynote speeches, industry insights, the launch of a European partnership program and a roundtable discussion, offering a comprehensive overview of SparkLink’s technological progress and global development prospects.
As global intelligent transformation accelerates, short-range wireless communication has evolved from a convenience tool into a critical enabler of intelligent systems. With advantages such as low latency, high reliability, precise positioning and high concurrency, SparkLink is emerging as a key technology supporting the next generation of intelligent connectivity.
In his opening remarks, Wen Ku, Chairman of the Board of the China Communications Standards Association, noted that AI entities must interact with each other and the physical world on a large scale, in real time and with high reliability. Massive volumes of data generated by these interactions are increasingly processed locally, creating strong demand for efficient local data exchange. According to Wen, SparkLink is not merely a connectivity solution but a new infrastructure for AI interconnection, capable of forming the fundamental “neural network” that enables collaboration between AI devices, coordination among AI agents and millisecond-level perception and execution for embodied intelligence.
Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO – ITS Europe, highlighted three major industry trends. First, the automotive industry is shifting from “hardware-driven” to “software-defined,” turning vehicles into mobile sensor hubs and data centers, where reliable short-range communication is essential for autonomous driving safety. Second, the European connectivity landscape faces fragmentation, making unified standards and stronger regulatory frameworks increasingly important. Third, global cooperation must transcend geographical boundaries. Vantomme noted that SparkLink’s technical advantages align well with European market needs and expressed willingness to promote integration between SparkLink and Europe’s intelligent transportation systems.
Zhang Wenjun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced SparkLink’s three core standard systems: SLB (high data rate), SLE (low power consumption) and SLP (positioning). He emphasized future development directions including deterministic latency, deeper integration of communication, sensing, computing and intelligence, and industry-specific standards. As intelligence continues shifting toward the network edge, SparkLink could become an important edge hub for local intelligent decision-making.
Luis Jorge Romero, Chief Strategy Officer of Comentropy, also noted that artificial intelligence and short-range communication technologies are mutually reinforcing. AI development requires connectivity technologies with predictable latency, high-precision synchronization, high concurrency and high data rates. These requirements are increasingly visible in smart devices, smart homes, intelligent vehicles and industrial manufacturing. According to Romero, SparkLink meets these demands and can play a key role in building digital infrastructure for the intelligent world.
Expanding Applications Across Multiple Industries
Speakers also highlighted real-world applications of SparkLink across several industries.
Shi Chao, Deputy General Manager of the Home IoT Product Department at China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd., explained that traditional short-range communication in smart homes faces challenges such as device interference, limited protocol compatibility and insufficient upstream bandwidth. To address these issues, China Mobile introduced a USB/Type-C SparkLink dongle to lower access barriers for existing devices. The technology has already been piloted with five million users in voice remote-control products, enabling low-latency connectivity and simplified device pairing.
Steven Shan, Co-founder and CEO of INGEEK, shared SparkLink’s implementation progress in smart vehicles, smartphones and robotics. The technology has already been deployed by automakers such as GAC Toyota, Chery and GAC AION, supporting more than five million vehicles currently in operation. Shan also revealed that future Lexus models scheduled for release in 2027 are expected to feature SparkLink digital keys. He emphasized that real-world scenarios play a key role in driving global adoption of emerging technologies.
Jordi Borras, CEO of Automotive Safety SL, presented a software interface integration demonstration using NXP microcontrollers and SparkLink chips, showing that the technology can seamlessly integrate with existing development platforms used by European automakers. He noted that improving standard compatibility will help reduce industry adoption costs and support SparkLink’s future development as a global automotive communication standard.
Thomas Jäger, Senior Vice President of DEKRA, emphasized the importance of testing and certification in building digital trust for new technologies. Global deployment requires compliance with regional regulations, industry standards and independent third-party verification. DEKRA will provide compliance testing and certification services for SparkLink products, helping establish user confidence and market recognition.
Liu Yang, Vice President of HopeRun, introduced the company’s SparkLink-based intelligent solutions covering terminals, edge systems and cloud platforms. In industrial scenarios such as coal mines and power distribution rooms, SparkLink wireless connections can replace traditional wired lines, improving operational efficiency and reliability. In consumer applications, the technology has also been deployed in educational devices and hospital digital badges
Launch of the SparkLink Europe Partner Program
During the forum, representatives from leading organizations—including the Chinese Academy of Engineering, DEKRA, ERTICO – ITS Europe, Huawei, ZTE and other industry partners—jointly launched the SparkLink Europe Partner Program.
The initiative marks an important milestone in SparkLink’s global strategy and symbolizes the technology’s formal establishment in Europe. With Europe as a central hub, the program aims to integrate global industry resources, explore new application scenarios, promote unified standards and create shared development opportunities. It also represents a new step forward in collaborative innovation within the global short-range wireless communication industry and strengthens industrial cooperation between China and Europe.
Following the launch ceremony, a roundtable discussion hosted by DEKRA’s Thomas Jäger brought together industry experts to discuss two key questions: why connectivity technology is fundamental infrastructure for AI and smart devices, and how SparkLink can support the development of intelligent world infrastructure.
Participants examined the future integration of AIoT technologies across industries and explored potential applications of SparkLink in emerging areas such as the metaverse and embodied intelligence
SparkLink Exhibition Demonstrates Ecosystem Strength
Held alongside the forum, the SparkLink Technology Achievement Exhibition offered an immersive demonstration of the technology’s capabilities and ecosystem maturity.
The exhibition focused on four key sectors: intelligent mobility, smart home, industrial interconnection and smart terminals. Dozens of innovative products and solutions were showcased, including chips, modules, digital car keys, consumer electronics and electronic display devices.
These demonstrations provided a comprehensive view of SparkLink’s industrial ecosystem—from core components and terminal devices to integrated solutions—while highlighting its technical advantages such as low latency, high reliability, precise synchronization and high-density connectivity.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, the International SparkLink Alliance will continue to promote openness, collaboration and mutual benefit, bringing together global partners to improve technical standards, expand application scenarios and strengthen ecosystem cooperation.
Through these efforts, SparkLink aims to become one of the key connectivity backbones of the intelligent world and work with global partners to shape a new era of intelligent interconnection.
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Organization: International SparkLink Alliance
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