SNS JU May 2025 Newsflash

SNS Journal 2025

The SNS Journal 2025 prepared by the SNS OPS project will be released during EuCNC & 6G Summit 2025 which will take place from 3 to 6 June 2025 in Poznań, Poland. The aim of this second issue is to give an overview of the 79 projects funded by approximately €500 million in EU support.

The document will be available through this link, with QR code on the booth and flyers at the event where where physical copies of the journal will be present with some goodies.

As Europe advances in its digital transformation, secure and resilient connectivity has become a strategic priority for economic competitiveness, technological sovereignty, and societal progress.

The SNS JU, under the Horizon Europe framework, supports this transition through a broad portfolio of research, innovation, and large-scale trial projects. Its work aligns with European values such as security, privacy, resilience, and sustainability.

The SNS projects address key areas ranging from 5G deployment to the early development of 6G technologies, contributing to the objectives of the EU’s Digital Decade Policy Programme.

In 2024, the SNS JU launched its third project call, adding 16 initiatives focused on critical domains such as network infrastructure, AI-driven network intelligence, edge computing, and next-generation components. These efforts support the development of a competitive and integrated European supply chain.

The Journal also highlights the coordinated efforts of industry, SMEs, academia, and public institutions working within the SNS JU framework to strengthen Europe’s role in global technology leadership.

The SNS Journal 2025 presents the progress and contributions of the SNS community in shaping the future of smart networks and services in Europe.

SNS JU CALLS for Proposals 2025

Download the SNS JU R&I WP 2025 (containing the details of the 2025 calls for proposals)

The SNS JU has published its 2025 Calls for Proposals.

The Calls are open for submission until 18 September 2025, and all information is available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

• Call for proposals including Stream B and Stream C, opens on 22 May 2025: it focusses on advancing Europe’s leadership in Beyond 5G and 6G technologies. A total of €104 million in EU funding has been allocated to support these R&I activities as part of the SNS JU R&I Work Programme 2025.

All relevant information is available on the EU Funding & Tenders  Portal

• Call for proposals including Stream D, will open on 18 June 2025: it focusses on supporting advanced 5G/6G Trials and Pilots in Key Vertical Sectors. With a dedicated budget of €24 million, this call for proposals is expected to explore and demonstrate technologies and advanced applications and services in key vertical domains.

All relevant information is available on the EU Funding & Tenders  Portal

SNS Projects Contributions @ EuCNC & 6G Summit 2025

The EuCNC & 6G Summit 2025 will take place from 3 to 6 June 2025 in Poznań, Poland. The event will spotlight numerous SNS JU projects showcasing their latest research, demos, and innovations in workshops, special sessions, exhibitions, tutorials, and paper presentations. This flagship event highlights the evolution beyond 5G into 6G networks, with a strong focus on sustainability, trust, intelligence, and network programmability.

With over 900 delegates expected, and many projects exhibiting both individually and on shared booths, the event remains a critical platform for European 6G leadership.

Project Participation and Exhibitions

• Sustainability for 6G (Booth 16): BeGREEN, 6G-TWIN, 6Green, 6G-SENSES, and EXIGENCE demonstrate AI-driven energy optimization, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and power-saving innovations.
• The EXIGENCE project will notably present its advanced 5G Standalone Non-Public Network (NPN) testbed, established at the INTERNET INSTITUTE in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Demonstrations at Booth 16 will highlight network and application energy monitoring and new cloud continuum testing tools.
• Trust and Security: PRIVATEER, iTrust6G, and ROBUST6G focus on decentralized security analytics and privacy-preserving AI at a joint booth.
• Network Digital Twins & AI Orchestration: 6G-NTN, PREDICT-6G, DESIRE6G, 6G-TWIN and 6G-SANDBOX explore proactive orchestration and AI-powered network management.
• 6G-SANDBOX at its Demo booth will notably showcase key outcomes from over 40 cutting-edge 6G experiments conducted across its four European testbeds. Demos will feature live 5GNR ORAN deployments, JCAS-based participant detection, immersive XR teleportation, and automated benchmarking, highlighting advancements in trial networks, RIS, and FR1 systems.
• Unified Architectures and Open RAN: UNITY-6G features a poster booth presenting unified architecture and participates in demos at the imec Corporate Booth.
• Photonics & Cloud-Native Demos: FLEX-SCALE leads photonics innovations ; 6G-CLOUD showcases four interactive cloud-native 6G demos.
• TrialsNet Booth: Hosting large-scale trial demos and dissemination activities.
• SAFE-6G Booth: Showcase its advancements in federated 6G experimentation facilities, offering attendees insights into its innovative testbeds and research outcomes.
• Other exhibiting projects include Hexa-X-II, SUSTAIN-6G, ORIGAMI, 6G-XCEL, ADROIT6G, SUPERIOT, ELASTIC, CONFIDENTIAL6G, 6GTandem, FIDAL, 6G-SHINE, ECO-eNET, IMAGINE-B5G, PROTEUS-6G, NANCY, Amazing6G, 6G-BRICKS, INSTINCT, MultiX and DETERMINISTIC6G.

Tutorials

• Tutorial 1: “NTN (r)evolution: stepping into 6G” co-led by 6G-NTN and 5G-STARDUST on 3 June.

The above information highlights just a few key points, many more SNS contributions can be found in the full Conference Programme.

Special Sessions

• Special Session 2: This special session, “6G Architecture Blueprint and Key Innovations: A European Perspective”, will present the final SNS JU 6G Architecture white paper and explore key innovations including AI, trustworthiness, ubiquitous connectivity, and dependable communication through expert talks and a panel discussion shaping Europe’s vision for 6G.
• Special Session 6 on Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) with BeGREEN and partners.
• Special Session 9: The special session titled “Unlocking 5G-Advanced and 6G for Verticals Through Service Based Architecture, Network Exposure and Network APIs” hosted by Amazin6G.
• Special Session 15 on Software-based evolution towards the 6G era in telecommunications with contributions from 6G-SANDBOX, FIDAL and ENVELOPE.
• Special Session 16 on Trust & Security in 6G with PRIVATEER, NANCY and RIGOROUS.
• Special Session 19 chaired by UNITY-6G on AI-native, service-oriented 6G fabrics.
• Additional sessions organized or contributed to by ORIGAMI, INSTINCT, MultiX, SAFE-6G and DETERMINISTIC6G.

Convened Sessions

• Convened Session 1 – WiTaR: Women in Telecommunications and Research: Discussion about visibility, inclusivity, and gender balance in 6G R&I, with contributions from industry and academia and a focus on actions within the SNS JU programme.
• Convened Session 2: A collaborative approach to 6G – the role of European National Initiatives and SNS JU: Opening presentation by the SNS JU, followed by a presentation of results and trends observed by SNS-ICE. And finally, a panel discussion with NI representatives.
• Convened Session 4 – Networld Europe Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda: This session, chaired by members of the NetworldEurope Expert Group will present the 2024 SRIA whitepaper and its technical annex to inform and shape European research priorities for upcoming SNS calls.

Workshops

• Workshop 2: The 6G series workshop by Hexa-X-II.
• Workshop 3: Integration of Network Digital Twins into AI-native 6G systems, addressing challenges like interoperability, scalability, and security. It features contributions from 6G-TWIN, SEASON, PREDICT-6G, DESIRE6G, VERGE, DETERMINISTIC6G, 6G-SANDBOX, and ACROSS, showcasing complementary innovations across verticals such as Industry 4.0, Smart Cities, and Emergency Services.
• Workshop 4: Organized by TrialsNet, focusing on large-scale trials and experimentation with projects such as 6G-BRICKS, 6G-SANDBOX, FIDAL, Imagine-B5G, SUNRISE-6G and ENVELOPE.
• Workshop 6:6G Trustworthiness: Requirements, Challenges, and Considerations, proposed by ROBUST6G, NATWORK, PRIVATEER, SAFE-6G, iTrust6G, MARE, VERGE, CONFIDENTIAL6G, and RIGOROUS
• Workshop 7: Holistic 6G Radio Design co-organized by 6G-SHINE.
• Workshop 8: “Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks Unification Towards 6G” co-organized by 6G-NTN with 5G-STARDUST, ETHER, Hexa-X-II, NexaSphere, and ESA projects.
• Workshop 9: Hardware Components Evolution Towards 6G with X-TREME6G, TERRAMETA, PROTEUS-6G, TERA6G, Hexa-X-II, TIMES, INSTINCT, 6G-SENSES and BeGREEN.
• Workshop 10: Integrated Sensing and Communications initiative on the European research framework co-organised by MULTIX, Hexa-X-II, TIMES, 6G-SANDBOX, TERRAMETA, OPTI-6G, ECO-eNET, 6GTANDEM, iSEE-6G, 6G-SENSES, BeGREEN, 6G-PATH, 6GMUSICAL, INSTINCT and 6GINTENSE.
• Workshop 13: Optics and Photonics Innovations with ECO-eNET, 6G-EWOC, PROTEUS-6G, OPTI-6G, TERA6G, 6G-XCEL, 6G-MUSICAL, SUPERIOT, FLEX-SCALE and SEASON.
• Workshop 16: Focusing on integrated 6G services with contribution of 6G-SANDBOX, CONVERGE, 6G-XR, SUNRISE-6G, 6G-EWOC, ORIGAMI, EXIGENCE, TRIALSNET and FIDAL.

SNS T&Ps Brochure N°1 is now available

The SNS Trials & Pilots (T&Ps) Brochure N°1 is now available. It presents a detailed overview of the validation and testing activities related to 5G Advanced and emerging 6G technologies across a variety of vertical sectors, including automotive, manufacturing, media and entertainment, healthcare, public safety, energy, smart cities, and transport and logistics.

The brochure was initiated by the SNS CO-OP projects in January 2025 and continues the work of the 5G Infrastructure PPP, which previously published four T&Ps brochures and one summary edition. These earlier publications documented 322 5G Trials & Pilots conducted between 2015 and 2024.

Compiled by the SNS and 6G-IA Core Team with input from over 15 expert evaluators, the brochure includes a collection of two-page summaries for each selected project. These summaries provide information on the trial or pilot, including network architecture, deployment characteristics, key outcomes, and technical attributes associated with 5G technologies. The content highlights how these trials demonstrate the capabilities of 5G in comparison to previous network generations, including service validation and technological innovation.

The brochure is intended as a reference for stakeholders involved in research, industry development, and policy related to digital connectivity.

Available on SNS Publications page

WiTaR Session @ EuCNC & 6G Summit 2025 & Recording of Lunch Salon #2

WiTaR Convened Session @ EuCNC & 6G Summit

A convened session organised by the 6G-IA WiTaR Working Group will take place on 4 June, from 11:00 to 12:30 in Room EH2, Level 2.

The session will address issues related to visibility, inclusivity, and gender balance in the context of 6G research and innovation. It will feature contributions from representatives of both industry and academia, with a focus on proposing actions and strategies to enhance gender inclusivity, particularly SNS JU programme.

Recording of WiTaR Lunch Salon #2

The recording of the WiTaR Lunch Salon #2, held on 21 May 2025, is now available.

This session, titled “A Practical Introduction to Data Protection Compliance”, featured Pooja Mohnani (Project Manager at Eurescom GmbH) and provided a structured overview of GDPR and its relevance to the 6G research and innovation landscape.

The webinar explored practical approaches to data protection, supporting compliance and promoting transparency in digital research environments.

The recording is available here.

MoU Signed by 6G-IA with XGMF

On the occasion of a joint 6G-IA and XGMF workshop held on 27 May 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, the 6G-IA and the XG Mobile Promotion Forum (XGMF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of 6G.

The MoU outlines a framework for collaboration between the two organizations, including:

• Identification of topics of mutual interest for possible collaboration.
• Cross-invitation of representatives of either organization to selected meetings and events.
• Notification of the respective other organization of newly released public information and material.
• Joint marketing and promotional activities as agreed and appropriate.
• The exchange of information and publications as agreed and appropriate.
• Periodic status updates on topics of mutual interest.The agreement was signed by Colin Willcock (Chairman of the Board, 6G-IA) and Akihiro Nakao (Co-Chair, XGMF).

SoftNet White Paper on Network & Service Management Advancements

The SoftNet Working Group recently published the White Paper “Network & Service Management Advancements – Key frameworks and Interfaces towards open, Intelligent and reliable 6G networks”.

This whitepaper presents recent advancements in network and service management towards 6G networks. The focus is on network and service management solutions implemented in Software. Thus, in the whitepaper it is highlighted the intensive work that is being conducted on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) definition and implementation, as well as on APIs usage for network exposure and programmability.

TMV Working Group 6G KVIS – SNS Projects Initial Survey Results 2025 White Paper

On 12 May 2025, the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) officially launched the white paper “6G KVIS – SNS Projects Initial Survey Results 2025”, prepared by the Test, Measurement, and Validation (TMV) Working Group. This publication presents the first consolidated outcomes from SNS JU projects on how Key Value Indicators (KVIs) can be used to monitor and evaluate the broader impact of 6G networks beyond technical performance.

The white paper draws on contributions from various projects and builds upon ongoing work by 6G-IA’s SNVC (Societal Needs and Value Creation) subgroup. It offers an initial classification of reported KVIs into twelve Key Value (KV) categories, such as Environmental Sustainability, Digital Inclusion, Privacy, Trust, and more. While not definitive, this framework serves as a reference point for aligning impact assessment methodologies across the research landscape.

Abstract: “…besides its strong focus on 6G networks’ technical performance, the TMV-WG, through the KVIs sub-working group, aims to set the scene for 6G networks’ impact monitoring and validation from the emerging dimension of Key Value Indicators (KVIs). Within this context, the TMV WG aims to record, report, and promote state-of-the-art and new innovative methodologies for the monitoring and evaluation of the foreseen impact of the 6G networks on Key Values, as identified by SNS-JU projects. …..”

This work marks a step forward in shaping a common approach to evaluating the societal, environmental, and economic value of future 6G systems.

6G IA Paper on FP10 and Beyond SNS & NetworldEurope – 6G-IA joint Workshop

The 6G IA has released a position paper containing their views on FP10 and Beyond SNS

Introduction:

This paper outlines a long-term perspective for Smart Networks and Services (SNS) in Europe, taking a time perspective spanning across the FP10 implementation time frame. The structure of the paper covers three interrelated aspects:

1. Why a long-term European extended R&D perspective is needed for SNS,
2. What activities should be covered within the FP10 time frame, &
3. How the proposed set of activities should be implemented to maximise impact.

These views provide a rationale for further expanding European support for the SNS technology domain in the FP10 time frame, building on the proven track record of success over the last 30 years,

This paper represents the views of the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA), who is the private side of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS-JU) launched in November 2021 under the current Horizon Europe programme.

NetworldEurope – 6G-IA Joint Workshop: “Advanced Connectivity: The Essential Pillar for European Competitiveness and Sovereignty”

Held in Brussels on 13 May 2025, this joint workshop by NetworldEurope and 6G-IA gathered policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss how advanced connectivity can drive Europe’s competitiveness, sovereignty, and digital leadership. Framed by recent reports and the upcoming EU Framework Programme 10, the event explored strategic R&D&I priorities, uptake challenges, and policy alignment. The 6G-IA also released its new paper on the long-term vision for smart networks and services in Europe, reinforcing the role of connectivity as a foundation for Europe’s future technological edge.

Governance Update @ the SNS JU Governing Board

Two new members were appointed to the SNS JU Governing Board representing the European Commission. Thibaut Kleiner, Director for Future Networks at the European Commission, assumed the role of Chair of the SNS JU Governing Board. Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho, Head of Unit “Future Connectivity Systems,” joined as a new board member.

Their strategic guidance is expected to support the SNS JU’s mission to advance Europe’s leadership in 5G, 6G, and smart networks technologies and services.

Acknowledgment was given to outgoing board members Pearse O’Donohue, for his leadership, and Agustín Díaz-Pinés, for his commitment. Colin Willcock was also recognized for facilitating a smooth transition in the Governing Board Chairmanship. Appreciation was extended to the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association Governing Board members for their ongoing support.

6G-IA 5G-ACIA Trials & Pilots Joint Webinar

The webinar “5G and 6G Industry/Manufacturing Trials and Pilots (T&Ps) – Highlights, Lessons Learnt, ‘5G/6G Empowerment’ and ‘Pain Points’” was held on 19 May from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST. Organised by the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) and the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA), and supported by the SNS CO-OP project, the event brought together stakeholders from both communities to share key insights and foster collaboration.

The programme featured presentations on major achievements in 5G and 6G Industry/Manufacturing T&Ps, including the 6G-IA’s Brochures, Vertical Engagement Tracker (VET), and Trials Working Group, as well as 5G-ACIA’s Testbed Brochure and Industrial 5G User Guide. A dedicated session highlighted two SNS and two 5G-ACIA T&Ps, followed by a panel discussion addressing the specific benefits of 5G Advanced and 6G  “5G/6G Empowerment” and the remaining challenges or “Pain Points” faced in industrial and manufacturing contexts.

The event attracted strong interest, with over 60 participants and excellent presentations throughout. The slides will be made available soon on the SNS JU website.

SNS JU Steering Board Meeting

The SNS JU Steering Board meeting took place on 14 May 2025 in Athens. During the meeting, Pavlos Fournogerakis, Deputy Head of SNS JU Projects, highlighted the impressive outcomes achieved by the 79 ongoing projects and announced the launch of new upcoming Calls for proposals. Javier Garcia from Telefónica presented a SNS and 6G-IA Work Groups (WGs) status review.

“The Italian National Initiative on 6G: the achievements in the RESTART program” Webinar

As part of the SNS CO-OP project and 6G-IA webinar series showcasing national 6G initiatives, the third webinar was held on 22 May 2025 from 10:30 to 12:00 CEST. The session focused on presenting the key achievements of the Italian national research and innovation programme on 6G, RESTART, including detailed insights into the experimental platforms and ongoing developments.

The webinar provided an overview of Italy’s strategic approach to 6G technologies, highlighting progress made within the RESTART programme and its contributions to the broader European 6G landscape.

Further information, including the agenda and registration details, was made available through the event page.

SNS Projects @ ICT 2025

The 31st International Conference on Telecommunications (ICT 2025) was held on 28 and 29 April 2025, in Budva, Montenegro. This longstanding conference, established in 1991, continued its tradition as a key platform for researchers, engineers, and industry stakeholders to discuss advancements and innovations in telecommunications. The event covered a broad range of topics, including fundamental areas such as physical layer technologies, MAC and networking protocols, as well as applications of ICT in sectors like smart cities, agriculture, and e-health. Emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, and advanced signal processing were also highlighted, along with developments in 5G, visions for 6G, Internet of Things, and future internet systems.

Several SNS JU projects were represented at ICT 2025. The PREDICT-6G project was notably active, with Valerio Frascolla from Intel Corporation contributing through the presentation of a paper on dynamic spectrum management for 6G, organizing a panel on determinism and predictability in multi-domain networks alongside MultiX-6G and 6G-SENSES projects, and delivering a keynote on mixed criticality networks in the Industrial Internet of Things. Additionally, the VERGE project presented a paper titled “Digital Twin as a Service for 6G Radio Access Networks: Functional Model and Key Challenges,” which was made available for download and accompanied by a recorded presentation on their YouTube channel.

SNS Projects @ IoT Solutions World Congress 2025

The IoT Solutions World Congress 2025 (IOTSWC), the leading global event focused on the impact of IoT, AI, and digital transformation, took place from 13 to 15 May 2025, at the Gran Via Venue in Barcelona, Spain. The event gathered over 11,000 visitors from more than 100 countries, providing a platform for industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to share knowledge, network, and explore cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of business and society.

During the congress, several projects supported by the SNS JU were actively involved. The 6G-INTENSE project showcased its work on intent-based, AI-driven automation for future 6G networks, presenting architectural innovations and pilot use cases. The 6G-BRICKS project demonstrated its modular experimentation framework, advanced testbeds, and Open Call programme aimed at building foundational 6G technologies. Additionally, the FLECON-6G and 6G-DALI projects participated, highlighting their contributions to IoT, AI, and digital innovation. The SNS JU projects were present at the event’s Hall 8, Booth C4, engaging with attendees and sharing insights on advancing next-generation connectivity.

6G-SHINE & TIMES 6G Joint Webinar

The joint webinar organized by the 6G-SHINE project and TIMES 6G took place on 19 May 2025, at 15:00 CEST. The session featured a presentation by Prof. Davide Dardari, who discussed the concept of “over-the-air” electromagnetic signal processing (ESP) as a transformative approach for 6G wireless networks. The webinar addressed how wave-based, over-the-air processing can reduce energy consumption, complexity, and latency, thereby enabling more efficient and faster wireless communication systems.

The presentation highlighted the convergence of electromagnetics, signal processing, and communication and information theory, exploring the potential of these disciplines to advance 6G technology. The event brought together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals interested in the latest developments in 6G wireless communications.

SNS Projects @ 5G Forum

The 5G Forum took place from May 12 to May 16, 2025, in Seville, Spain. This event is one of the country’s leading platforms dedicated to next-generation mobile technologies, attracting over 300 companies and institutions, with more than 40 expert speakers from industry, academia, and government. The forum focused on the latest advancements in 5G and beyond, facilitating discussions on future connectivity and innovation.

Several SNS JU projects were represented at the 5G Forum by the University of Málaga, a key partner in multiple initiatives. The 6G-SANDBOX project was showcased at the university’s booth, with Technical Manager Pedro Merino Gomez presenting on 13 May during a session titled “Los Proyectos Europeos que desarrollan y prueban 6G sobre Red Victoria,” which provided insights into how European projects develop and test 6G technologies. 5G-STARDUST participated through the presence of its partner Hispasat. The 6G-PATH project was also presented, highlighting its objectives and its role in advancing Europe’s leadership in 6G through the development of experimental platforms. Additionally, the 6G-VERSUS and FIDAL project participated, with contributions from Prof. Pedro Merino Gomez Merino Gómez during the same session. These participations underlined the ongoing efforts to contribute to next-generation communication networks within the ICT community.

Dutch National Initiative on 6G Webinar

The SNS National Initiatives webinar focusing on the Dutch National Initiative on 6G took place on 8 May 2025 from 11:00 to 12:30 CEST. Organized by 6G-IA as part of the SNS CSA CO-OP project, the online event featured experts from Dutch government, industry, and research who presented key achievements and developments related to the Dutch Future Network Services (FNS) program.

The webinar included an introduction by Colin Willcock, Chairman of 6G IA, followed by presentations covering various aspects of the Dutch 6G research and innovation program. Topics addressed included the program’s scope and priorities, research on intelligent components and radio access networks by Prof. Bart Smolders (TU Eindhoven), intelligence in core networks by Prof. Fernando Kuipers (TU Delft), leading 6G applications and verticals by Jos Berière (FNS program leader), and experimentation facilities within FNS presented by Floris Drijver (work package lead). The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment engaging the audience.

This event highlighted the contributions of the Dutch 6G program to the wider SNS JU community, emphasizing opportunities for collaboration and alignment with Europe’s 6G strategic vision through shared priorities and experimentation platforms.

SECURENET 2025

The SECURENET 2025 event took place on 27 May 2025 as a hybrid meeting hosted both in-person at Mason Hayes Curran, Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin, and online. The event was co-organized by the ROBUST-6G project and the Network Softwarization and Security Labs (NetsLab).

The one-day summit focused on addressing security and privacy challenges related to 6G and next-generation network ecosystems. The program featured eight technical presentations covering topics such as identity-based access control, zero-touch security automation, intrusion detection systems, trust management across networks, physical-layer authentication, and AI-native security requirements for 6G networks.

Speakers included researchers and industry experts from organizations such as Telefónica Innovación Digital, Nextworks S.r.l., EURECOM, Ericsson, University of Murcia, University of Padova, Ecole nationale supérieure de l’Électronique et de ses Applications, and Thales.

SECURENET 2025 aimed to advance discussions on building trustworthy and resilient mobile networks by combining academic research with practical security solutions, reflecting the evolving requirements of ultra-low latency, massive device density, and AI integration inherent in 6G technologies.

SNS JU Info Day and Brokerage Online Event

The SNS JU Info Day and Brokerage Online Event took place on 23 May 2025 from 10:00 to 17:30 CET. The event provided detailed information on the SNS JU Research and Innovation Work Programme 2025, including the objectives and focus of the 2025 Calls for proposals. Participants received guidance on the evaluation and award process and had the opportunity to engage with experts during a live question-and-answer session.

The brokerage session enabled organisations to present their project ideas in brief pitches and connect with potential partners to foster future collaborations. The event supported the preparation of applications for the upcoming SNS JU calls by facilitating networking and information exchange.

A dedicated SNS JU Brokerage Platform is available to allow organisations to post their expertise or project ideas and to browse contributions from other stakeholders, enhancing collaboration opportunities within the European 6G research community.

The SNS JU 2025 Calls are being launched in two phases:

• The call for proposals including Streams B and C opened on 22 May 2025, with a total of €104 million in EU funding allocated to support research and innovation in Beyond 5G and 6G technologies.
• The call for proposals including Stream D will open on 18 June 2025, with a dedicated €24 million budget to support advanced 5G/6G trials and pilots in key vertical sectors.

The submission deadline for all Streams is 18 September 2025. All relevant information is available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, and full details can be found in the SNS JU Research & Innovation Work Programme 2025.

The event underscored the collaborative nature of SNS JU projects, requiring participation in programme-level activities and alignment with broader European strategic objectives.

6G Programmable Deterministic Webinar Series #3

The third webinar of the 6G Programmable Deterministic Webinar Series took place on 20 May 2025 at 10:00 CET. This series is a joint initiative of the PREDICT-6G, DESIRE6G, and DETERMINISTIC6G projects, focused on exploring advanced topics related to deterministic and programmable mobile networks in 6G technology.

The webinar titled “Next challenges for 6G in deterministic and programmable mobile networks” featured presentations by Marc Mollà (Ericsson), James Gross (KTH University), and Gergely Pongracz (Ericsson Hungary). The agenda included discussions on determinism in multi-domain networks, lessons learned from DETERMINISTIC6G, and the evolution from AI and cloud-native approaches towards goal-native 6G architectures.

The event provided insights into current challenges and future directions for 6G development, targeting researchers and practitioners in the wireless communications field.

SNS Projects @ IOWN Global Forum 2025

The 2025 Annual Meeting of the IOWN Global Forum took place on 25 April in Stockholm, Sweden. The forum gathers leaders from industry and academia, including major organizations such as NTT, Intel Corporation, and Sony, to discuss advancements in fixed and wireless network technologies.

At the event, Professor Ioannis Tomkos, project coordinator from the ECE Department at the University of Patras, delivered a keynote presentation titled “Federated x-Haul and Wireless Access in 6G Era.” The talk highlighted findings from the SNS projects FLEX-SCALE and PROTEUS-6G.

The participation of SNS JU projects at the forum contributed to the ongoing global dialogue on the development of intelligent optical and wireless networks, supporting progress in next-generation telecommunications.

Telco AI Forum 2025

The Telco AI Forum 2025, organized by RCR Wireless News, will take place virtually on 10 June 2025. This event focuses on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the telecommunications sector, highlighting the transition from experimental stages to practical deployments. The forum features expert panels, case studies, and discussions with industry leaders, providing a platform to understand AI-ready infrastructure, business models centered around Generative AI, and optimization of AI workloads through GPUs and CPUs.

Key topics include:

• Refining AI and GenAI business cases
• Scaling AI across networks and operations
• The role of agentic AI in telecoms
• Edge AI and network architecture considerations
• The shift to autonomous, self-healing networks

Alexandros Kaloxylos, Executive Director of 6G-IA will be one of the speakers in the panel  “Will AI be pivotal in 6G developments?”, sharing his insights on the future of AI integration within next-generation networks.

This event offers an opportunity to learn from communication service providers and technology innovators about real-world AI implementations and the path toward AI-native, self-optimizing telecom networks.

SNS Projects @ IEEE International Conference on Communications

On 11 June 2025, an Industrial Panel titled “Data Platforms for Advanced AI-native Networks: Fostering International Collaboration” will take place from 16:00 to 17:30 Montreal time as part of the IEEE Communications Society’s ICC conference program in Montreal, Canada. The ICC conference is a major event expected to attract over 3,000 participants globally.

The panel will feature representatives from three SNS projects: 6G-DALI, SUNRISE-6G, and 6G-BRICKS. Giacomo Bernini, Takai Eddine K. Adlen Ksentini, and Rahul Kumar are scheduled to provide insights on 6G data platforms.

These projects will contribute to the panel’s discussions on advancing data platforms for AI-native 6G networks and fostering international collaboration in this field.

SNS CO-OP Questionnaire Webinar – SNS Call 1 & 2 projects results and Call 3 projects ambitions

On 16 June, the SNS JU will hold a webinar to present the results of a recent survey conducted among the 79 ongoing SNS JU projects—comprising 35 from Call 1 (started in 2023), 28 from Call 2 (started in 2024), and 16 from Call 3 (started in January 2025).

This webinar will provide an overview of the progress made by the projects from Calls 1 and 2, as well as highlight the technical directions, vision, and ambitions of the newly launched Call 3 projects. The survey was conducted by the SNS-OPS and SNS CO-OP Coordination and Support Action projects, aiming to collect insights into the projects’ technical approaches, objectives, and emerging results.

Agenda

• 14:00 Welcome and introduction (Uwe Herzog, Eurescom, SNS CO-OP Coordinator)
• 14:05 Message from the SNS Office (Pavlos Fournogerakis, SNS Office, Deputy Head of Programmes)
• 14:10 SNS Call 3 Projects – Technical Insights (Kostas Trichias, 6G-IA, SNS CO-OP WP1 Leader)
• 14:30 SNS Call 3 Projects – Vision (Per H. Lehne, Telenor, SNS CO-OP T1.1 Leader)
• 14:45 SNS Call 3 Projects – Market insights (Jessica Carneiro, Australo, SNS CO-OP T2.4 Leader)
• 15:05 Call 1+2 Achievements (Arda Güreller, Ericsson, SNS CO-OP T1.3 Leader, and Pierre-Yves Danet, 6G-IA)
• 15:20 Q&A and way forward (Uwe Herzog, Eurescom, SNS CO-OP Coordinator)
• 15:30 End of webinar

Key Details:

• Date: 16 June
• Time: 14:00-15:30 CEST
• Location: Online Webinar

Webinar: Uncovering Horizon opportunities with the UK

On 17 June 2025, from 12:00 to 13:00 BST (13:00–14:00 CET), the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) will host a virtual webinar titled “Uncovering Horizon Opportunities with the UK.” The session will highlight current collaborative opportunities between UK and EU stakeholders within the Horizon Europe programme, with a specific focus on advanced communications.

This webinar will present recent UK capabilities and offerings relevant to Horizon projects, including platforms and tools such as:

• JOINER: A national experimentation platform supporting collaborative R&D in telecommunications.
• Federated Telecoms Hubs: Enabling access to a network of testbeds and facilities across the UK.
• UKTIN AI Discovery Tool: A resource designed to support innovation discovery and matchmaking within the telecoms sector.

Attendees will also hear pitches from UK-based organisations interested in participating in Horizon projects, providing insight into their capabilities and potential roles in future consortia.

The event is aimed at facilitating cross-border collaboration and providing practical information for those interested in responding to recent and upcoming Horizon open calls.

DETERMINISTIC6G’s Dependable 6G Summer School

The DETERMINISTIC6G project is hosting a summer school on “Dependable 6G”, offering a dedicated platform to share insights, research outcomes, and engage with the academic and industrial community on the critical topic of dependable communication in 6G networks. The event will take place over three days 8-10 September at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology campus in Stockholm, Sweden.

This initiative is grounded in the core achievements of the DETERMINISTIC6G project, which developed architectures and algorithms enabling scalable and converged network infrastructures. The project’s focus has been on enabling dependable end-to-end (E2E) time-critical communication across both wired and 6G wireless domains. Key contributions span deterministic services for 6G use cases, AI/ML-based latency characterization, time synchronization improvements, and security frameworks for deterministic communication.

Key Topics and Lectures

Participants can expect lectures, keynote sessions, and practical exercises on topics such as:

• Differentiated Connectivity and Dependable Communication – Joachim Sachs (Ericsson)
• Machine Learning Architectures for KPI Predictions – James Gross (KTH)
• Towards Real Time in Wireless 6G Communications – Petar Popovski (Aalborg University)
• 6G Emulation for Exoskeleton Control – Emilio Trigili (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna)
• Time-Sensitive Networking and Traffic Engineering – Frank Dürr, Simon Egger, Lucas Haug (University of Stuttgart)
• Time Synchronization – Mahin Ahmed (Silicon Austria Labs)

The sessions will blend theoretical content with hands-on learning, promoting interaction and collaboration among participants.

Audience and Format

The summer school is intended for:

• Master’s and PhD students
• Academic researchers
• Industry professionals with a background in mobile communications and networking (although all material will be self-contained)

Fifty participants will be selected for this on-site event. The summer school will also be followed by a one-day summit at Ericsson in Kista, Sweden, featuring expert talks, keynotes, and poster sessions on DETERMINISTIC6G networks.

The summer school aims to:

• Communicate the main findings of the DETERMINISTIC6G project.
• Facilitate discussion around the concept and requirements of dependability in 6G.
• Provide opportunities to interact with leading researchers from both academia and industry.

AIOTI Days 2025 Conference & GIECS

AIOTI Days 2025 will take place on 22–23 September at the Colegio de Aparejadores in Madrid. Building on previous editions, the event will feature Thematic and Project Sessions as well as the second edition of the GIECS Scientific Conference, offering a comprehensive programme focused on the digital transformation of urban environments.

Main themes of the event include:

• Collaboration and Standardisation: Exploring cross-sector cooperation and the role of standardisation in supporting scalable and interoperable technological solutions.
• Green Enablement: Examining the role of energy-efficient ICT solutions in achieving environmental sustainability goals.
• Cities 5.0: Discussing strategies and technologies for the development of intelligent, inclusive, and resilient cities.
• AI, Virtual Twins and Verses: Analysing the impact of virtual replicas and immersive digital spaces on sectors such as urban planning, manufacturing, and digital collaboration.

Call for Papers Global IoT and Edge Computing Summit

Co-located with AIOTI Days 2025, the Global IoT and Edge Computing Summit (GIECS) will take place on 22 September in Madrid. Dedicated to scientific and technological advances in continuum computing, GIECS provides a platform for researchers and experts to present innovative work in cloud, edge, and IoT technologies, supporting the development of the future Internet.

The Call for Papers for GIECS 2025 is currently open, with a submission deadline of 1 June 2025. Contributions are welcome from across academia and industry, focusing on research that advances the state of the art in distributed computing infrastructures.

Those interested in contributing to the Technical Programme Committee may contact Mirko Presser at mirko.presser@btech.au.dk.

Call for Papers NFV-SDN & 2^nd ATHENA Workshop

The IEEE Conference on Network Functions Virtualization & Software Defined Networks (NFV-SDN) will take place in Athens, Greece, from 10 to 12 November 2025. The conference invites contributions presenting original research and developments in the fields of network softwarization, with a focus on the latest advances in NFV and SDN technologies.

Topics of interest for paper submissions include, but are not limited to:

• Architecture, Infrastructures and Elements of SDN and NFV
• NFV, CNF, and SDN Operations
• AI/ML in Cloud Native Networks
• Softwarised Radio Access Networks and O-RAN
• Performance Analysis and Optimisation
• Results and Evaluations in Application Scenarios

Submissions can be made via the following link: https://edas.info/newPaper.php?c=33580

In addition to the main conference, the programme will feature Workshops, Special Sessions, Demonstrations, Tutorials, and a Doctoral Symposium.

• Doctoral Symposium submission: https://edas.info/N33834
• Demo Session submission: https://edas.info/newPaper.php?c=33580&track=129797

Further details on submission guidelines, deadlines, and programme updates are available on the official conference website: https://nfvsdn2025.ieee-nfvsdn.org/

2^nd ATHENA Workshop

The second edition of the ATHENA workshop, “Empowering 6G Networks: Workshop on Advancements in Research Infrastructures, Adaptive Frameworks, and Global Architectural Evolution (ATHENA 2025)”, will be held within the IEEE SDN/NFV 2025 conference. Building on the success of its first edition at IEEE CAMAD 2024, ATHENA 2025 will serve as a key forum for discussing the critical enablers of 6G, including advanced research infrastructures, AI-native adaptive frameworks, and the architectural evolution of future networks. The workshop will explore challenges and solutions related to testbeds, intelligent resource management, and the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

ATHENA 2025 is co-organised with the support of several SNS projects, including SAFE-6G, 6G-SANDBOX, ENVELOPE, UNITY-6G, 6G-VERSUS, 6G-SUNRISE, and ECOeNET. By bringing together leading experts from academia, industry, and policy, the workshop will contribute to advancing Europe’s position at the forefront of 6G innovation.

A Call for Papers is open for original contributions addressing topics such as AI-driven network architectures, next-generation testbeds, adaptive frameworks, energy-efficient technologies, and integration of non-terrestrial networks. Submissions must follow the IEEE conference template and be submitted via the EDAS portal. Key deadlines include:

• Paper submission deadline: 14 July 2025
• Acceptance notification: 1 August 2025
• Camera-ready submission: 8 August 2025

SCoDIHNet news

1. SCoDIHNet Bi-Monthly Meeting

The latest SCoDIHNet bi-monthly meeting was held on 13 May. It featured a presentation of the TEF AgriFood initiative by Vanesa Fernández Díaz (Gradiant) and Rafaele Bini (DIH DataLife), providing Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) with an overview of available testing facilities. The meeting also included a presentation of the XGain project by August Betzler (I2Cat), which has developed a tool to help identify optimal connectivity solutions based on geographic context (rural versus urban).

2. Action Plan Updates

SCoDIHNet has updated its action plan with the following activities:

• Presentation of SCoDIHNet activities at the Smart Connectivity Thematic Working Group (SCTWG) meeting
• Participation in a round table during the SEADE Project Annual Event in Bilbao (18 June)
• Ongoing update of the Smart Connectivity Stakeholder Catalogue
• Integration of Call 1, Call 2, and Call 3 use cases into the Replicability Catalogue
• Finalisation of the platform catalogue update on DIHIWARE
• Completion of the white paper on Smart Connectivity Platforms
• Collaboration with the Techfinders.io project and RAMP.eu on replicability topics
• Continued engagement with other DIH sub-networks

3. Collaboration with Enterprise Europe Network Enterprise Europe Network is currently seeking a representative to support and strengthen cooperation with SCoDIHNet. Areas of collaboration under consideration include replicability and access to testing facilities.