JOURNAL
2026
This 2026 SNS JU Journal edition provides a complete overview of 100 projects have been contracted to date (35 in Call 1, 28 in Call 2, 16 in Call 3, and 20 in Calls 4 & 5, and the FP-MORANE-2), generating strong momentum and a dynamic research ecosystem, with total funding amounting to €630 millions of EU public funds.
SNS JU projects are steadily making outstanding progress and a concrete impact, as regularly highlighted in the SNS JU / projects websites and news. They delivered more than 2,000 unique standards contributions to global standards. The SNS JU ecosystem comprises 5,415 researchers and mobilises Europe’s entire innovation chain, from industrial leaders to SMEs and startups.
Foreword from the European Commission
Europe’s strength in mobile communications has been built on decades of innovation, collaboration, and strategic vision. From the early days of GSM, our continent has consistently shaped connectivity technology as a driver of economic growth and social progress. As we stand on the brink of the 6G era, Europe must once again play a major role shaping the next generation of networks around core principles: excellence, sustainability, security, and inclusiveness. Thibaut Kleiner Vice-chair of SNS JU Governing Board Director for Future Networks, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) European Commission.
Thibaut Kleiner,
Vice-chair of the SNS JU Governing Board, Director for Future Networks, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) European Commission
Foreword from the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)
By 2030, 6G technology will transcend conventional connectivity to reshape Europe’s digital landscape. This next-generation infrastructure will form an intelligent, programmable backbone for Europe’s economy and society, seamlessly integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, space-based networks, and advanced sensing. Since its establishment in 2021, the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking’s objective is to turn research into innovation and ensure that Europe’s next generation of networks are secure, sustainable, and globally competitive by aligning public investment with industrial priorities. Supported by €900 million in EU public funds under Horizon Europe, this funding is designed to create a continuum, moving from exploratory research to technology building blocks, and from small-scale experiments to large-scale testbeds and vertical applications, for real-world pilots.
Erszébet Fitori,
Executive Director of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking
Introduction from the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G‑IA)
The Smart Networks & Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) reached a peak in terms of active R&I projects in 2025 with 79 projects simultaneously running. The momentum of SNS JU will only increase with the imminent onboarding of another 20 projects from Calls 4 and 5 in 2026. This new wave of projects, will bring the total number of funded projects to over 1001, and also signifies a shift for the SNS JU from early phase exploration, experimentation and innovation towards higher-TRL research and trails, bringing the development of true 6G technologies one step closer.
Colin Willcock,
Chairman of the Board of the 6G‑IA, Chairman of the SNS JU Governing Board, Vice-Chairman of the ETSI Board
Get to know the SNS JU projects per Calls
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SNS Call 1 Projects
35 projects for 4 streams
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SNS Call 2 Projects
28 projects for 3 streams
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SNS Call 3 Projects
16 projects for 3 streams
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SNS Call 4 & 5 Projects
20 projects for 3 streams
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FRMCS project
Future Railway Mobile Communication System project
SNS JU Call 1 Projects
The 35 SNS Call 1 projects started in January 2023 with four streams and two Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs).
Stream A – Smart Communication Components, Systems and Networks for 5G Mid-term Evolution includes 7 projects (5G-STARDUST, 6Green, ACROSS, BeGREEN, NANCY, SEASON and VERGE), focusing on the evolution of 5G towards 6G through energy efficiency, AI, Open RAN, security and intelligent network management.
Stream B – Research for Revolutionary Technology Advancement towards 6G brings together 19 projects (6G-NTN, 6G-SHINE, 6GTandem, ADROIT6G, CENTRIC, CONFIDENTIAL6G, DETERMINISTIC6G, DESIRE6G, ETHER, FLEX-SCALE, Hexa-X II, HORSE, PREDICT-6G, PRIVATEER, RIGOUROUS, SUPERIOT, TERA6G, TERRAMETA and TIMES), exploring breakthrough technologies, novel architectures, advanced communications and security solutions for future 6G networks.
Stream C – SNS Experimental Infrastructures comprises 3 projects (6G-BRICKS, 6G-SANDBOX and 6G-XR), developing open and reusable experimentation platforms to validate emerging 6G technologies.
Stream D – Large-Scale SNS Trials and Pilots includes 4 projects (FIDAL, IMAGINE-B5G, TARGET-X and TrialsNet), demonstrating advanced 5G/6G technologies and applications across key industrial and societal sectors.
Finally, the Coordination and Support Actions (SNS ICE and SNS OPS) support the SNS JU’s operational activities, international cooperation, dissemination of results and engagement with European and global initiatives.
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SNS JU Call 2 Projects
The 28 SNS Call 2 projects started in January 2024 or March 2024 in three streams or sub-streams and one CSA.
Stream B – Research for Revolutionary Technology Advancements towards 6G includes 24 projects (6G-CLOUD, 6G-INTENSE, 6G-TWIN, EXIGENCE, ORIGAMI, 6G-DISAC, 6G-GOALS, 6G-MUSICAL, 6G-SENSES, INSTINCT, iSEE-6G, 6G-EWOC, ECO-eNET, OPTI-6G, PROTEUS-6G, ELASTIC, iTrust6G, NATWORK, ROBUST-6G, SAFE-6G, 6G-REFERENCE, FirstTo6G, TeraGreen and 6G-XCEL), focusing on innovative 6G system architectures, wireless communication technologies, integrated sensing, optical networks, AI-native solutions, microelectronics, security and EU-US research cooperation.
Stream C – Complementary SNS Experimental Pan-European Federated Infrastructure comprises 1 project (SUNRISE-6G), dedicated to developing and federating European experimental infrastructures to support 6G research, testing and validation.
Stream D – SNS Large-Scale Trials and Pilots with Verticals includes 2 projects (6G-PATH and ENVELOPE), demonstrating advanced 5G/6G technologies and applications in real-world environments, particularly in connected mobility, automotive, healthcare, smart cities, farming and education.
Finally, the Coordination and Support Action – SNS Societal Challenges (6G4Society) addresses the societal, environmental and sustainability dimensions of 6G, promoting the development of technologies aligned with European values and societal needs.
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SNS JU Call 3 Projects
The SNS JU Call 3 received an enthusiastic response, with requested grants totalling €863 million, more than 7 times the available funding. The 16 selected projects in Call 3 support 301 beneficiaries from 25 countries in developing and deploying next-generation network infrastructure, platforms, and services.
Stream B – Wireless Communication Technologies includes 12 projects (FLECON-6G, UNITY-6G, 6G-LEADER, MultiX, AMBIENT-6G, NexaSphere, MARE, XTRUST-6G, 6G-MIRAI, 6GARROW, SUSTAIN-6G and 6G-DALI), focusing on innovative 6G system architectures, advanced wireless communications, AI-native networks, integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, security, sustainability and international cooperation with Japan and South Korea. This stream also includes dedicated initiatives on sustainability and reliable AI for 6G systems and services.
Stream C – SNS Microelectronics Lighthouse comprises 1 project (X-TREME 6G), dedicated to developing a foundational European microelectronics platform and validating key 6G candidate technologies, particularly advanced transceivers and radio-frequency components.
Stream D – SNS Large-Scale Trials and Pilots with Verticals includes 2 projects (6G-VERSUS and AMAZING-6G), exploring and demonstrating advanced 6G technologies through large-scale trials and pilots, with a particular emphasis on sustainability across different vertical sectors.
Finally, the Coordination and Support Action – SNS Operations and Output Optimisation (SNS CO-OP) supports the coordination, collaboration, dissemination and exploitation of results across the SNS JU initiative, strengthening synergies between projects and maximising their collective impact.
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SNS JU Call 4 & 5 Projects
The SNS JU Calls 4 and 5 (2025) portfolio comprises 20 projects, organised into three research and innovation streams.
Stream B – Research for Revolutionary and Evolutionary Technology Advancements in Preparation for 6G includes 15 projects (6G-OPTICON, Agentic6G, SIXG, MAGIC-6G, PROSPERO, OPTIMUS-6G, IoT-ZERO, PIONEERS-6G, SHARC, MULTIPLY-6G, Quest-6G, 6G-NTN2 Nexus, 6G-CATS, PAISES-6G and SHIELD-6G), focusing on advanced 6G architectures, AI-native networks, innovative IoT and device technologies, wireless communications and signal processing, terrestrial and non-terrestrial network integration, high-speed optical networks, smart security and reliable services.
Stream C – SNS Enablers and Proof of Concepts comprises 1 project (SOVEREIGN-6G), dedicated to developing and validating open-source 6G Telco Cloud and service platforms, supporting the evolution towards integrated, federated Telco-Edge-Cloud infrastructures and future 3C Networks.
Stream D – Trials and Pilots with Verticals includes 4 projects (6G Care, 6G-Holonet, PRIME-6G and GENIUS), exploring and demonstrating innovative 6G technologies, advanced applications and services through trials and pilots in vertical sectors, building on results and experimental infrastructures developed under previous SNS JU calls and other European and national research initiatives.
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HORIZON‑ER‑JU‑2024‑01 - FP2-MORANE-2
Testing and Validating the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS)
The FP2-MORANE-2 project is focused on testing and validating the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) specifications through tests and demonstrations in laboratories and real railway operational environments (field testbeds).
HORIZON‑ER‑JU‑2024‑01
Start date: 1 January 2025 – End date: 30 September 2027
