SNS JU September 2025 Newsflash

In this last newsflash of September 2025, find back

- a recap of events where SNS JU or the 5G and 6G communities have an impact,
- join the discussion followed by SNS JU projects news
- and do not miss any coming events in the Save-the-Dates !

5G and 6G Events catch-up:

SNS JU recent news

Digitalization & Connectivity: Techritory 2025 set for Riga

On 22-23 October 2025, the ATTA Centre in Riga, Latvia, will host Techritory 2025, one of Europe’s leading forums on digitalization and connectivity. The event will bring together over 600 speakers and guests, including industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and innovators.

Under the theme “Connected Futures through Digital Paths”, participants will explore the next frontiers of technology through collaborative dialogue and knowledge exchange. Key topics include quantum technologies, 6G research, the status of 5G, connectivity in defence, the real value of AI, open and private networks, sustainable data centres, digital identity, drone applications, non-terrestrial networks, data infrastructure security, and maritime autonomy.

Erzsébet Fitori, Executive Director of Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) will participate in the opening speech on 23 October.

This year’s programme also includes co-creation events organised with the SNS CO-OP project. WiTaR in Focus (22 October, 11:00–12:30) will address inclusion and pre-standardisation in emerging technologies (details), while Integrated Sensing and Communications in SNS Trials and Pilots (22 October, 14:00–17:00) will examine the monetisation potential of ISAC through real-world pilots (details). A European Cloud: Myth or Reality? (22 October, 11:00–12:30) will explore sovereignty, sustainability, and innovation for 6G, including initiatives such as 3C Networks (details).

In addition, 6G-IA experts will contribute to high-level stage sessions. The panel European Leadership in Key Digital Sectors: Driving FP10 to Success (23 October, 10:30–11:20) will debate Europe’s strengths, gaps and investment needs in 6G, AI, cloud, chips and satellite. The session In Defence of 5G (22 October, 17:00–17:50) will discuss 5G’s perceived underdelivery, monetisation challenges, and the outlook for 5G Advanced and private networks.

More details and registration are available here

Call for presentations, demos, and posters: shaping the future of open software for connectivity

The SNS JU has launched a call for presentations, demos, and posters for SNS4SNS 2026 (February 2026), focused on open software ecosystems for future connectivity. Projects such as OpenCAPIF, OpenSlice, OpenOP, TeraFlowSDN, and OpenSourceMANO will showcase advances in interoperability, automation, security, and sustainability. Submissions are due by 7 October 2025.

Call for Presentations: Submit a proposal for a 15-minutes conference presentation using this form.
For suggested topics and guidelines, please refer to the full Call for Presentations.
Call for Posters and Demos: Complete this form to apply.
More details are available in the Call for Posters & Demos.

Key Dates:

Submission Deadline: 7 October 2025
Notification: 29 October 2025
Programme Online: End October 2025

Advancing Europe’s 6G future: microelectronics at the core

The SNS JU released a position paper highlighting the importance of advanced microelectronics for 6G, focusing on efficient spectrum use, AI-driven waveforms, and integrated communication and sensing. The work supports Europe’s 6G Front-End Module (6G FEM) roadmap in collaboration with the Chips JU. A related workshop on 16 September 2025 convened experts to discuss priorities and challenges, promoting alignment between telecom and microelectronics stakeholders for European pilot-ready solutions.

The full SNS JU position paper and roadmap are publicly available here: 6G Microelectronics Research Priorities

6G-IA news

Publication of the 6G-IA Photonics Workshop (2025) Report

The report “Research Priorities in Photonics”, resulting from the 6G-IA Photonics Workshop (2025), has been published and is available here.

The document identifies research and innovation priorities at European level in the field of photonics for future 6G connectivity. It provides a set of recommendations that may serve as orientations for the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU).

The report is based on the face-to-face workshop held on 7 May 2025, organised by 6G-IA and gathering experts from industry, research centres, and academia across the telecom sector.

Building on the 2024 6G-IA position paper, this new publication is intended to stimulate discussion and reinforce support for photonics-related topics within Europe’s 6G research landscape.

6G-IA news

6GNet 2025 Call for Papers

The 4th International Conference on 6G Networking (6GNet 2025) will be held December 17–19, 2025, in Paris, France. Submissions are invited on all aspects of 6G networks, including architectures, AI-driven services, green networking, automation, security, IoT, and edge computing.

Important links:

Paper submission: https://edas.info/N33914
IEEE template: https://www.ieee.org/conferences/publishing/templates.html

Key dates:

Submission deadline: 15 October 2025
Acceptance notification: 14 November 2025
Camera-ready papers: 21 November 2025

Paper types: Full papers (≤9 pages), Short papers (≤5 pages). All submissions in English, PDF only. Best papers invited for extended publication in Annals of Telecommunications.

SNS projects’ joint-initiatives on ISAC/JCAS, THz innovation, AI, NTN, and integrated 6G architectures

6G-IA and 5G-ACIA joint webinar on ISAC/JCAS: highlights, lessons learned and next steps

The 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) and the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA) will hold a joint webinar on 10 October 2025, from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST. The recorded session will explore Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) / Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS), with speakers from SNS JU projects and 5G-ACIA addressing use cases, research progress, standardization, and future collaboration opportunities between research and industry.

Further details, including the agenda and the registration form are available here.

SNS projects address THz innovation and 6G sustainability @IEEE CSCN 2025

The IEEE CSCN 2025 conference (15–17 September, Bologna) gathered academia, industry, and standardization experts to discuss future mobile networks. SNS JU projects contributed notably: in a special session, TIMES, TERRAMETA, and 6G-SHINE explored terahertz (THz) communications for industrial use, stressing research-to-deployment transfer and standardization. EXIGENCE project led a panel on energy and carbon efficiency in 6G, addressing the balance between rising data demand and sustainability goals. Together, the sessions underscored two priorities for 6G: industrial THz adoption and greener network design.

Integrated 6G architectures take center stage at IEEE PIMRC 2025

The IEEE PIMRC 2025 (1–4 September, Istanbul) brought together global experts to discuss wireless evolution. A key workshop, co-organized by 6G-NTN, UNITY-6G, and 5G-STARDUST, focused on integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (satellites, drones, high-altitude platforms). Topics included spectrum coexistence, seamless handovers, multi-layer service continuity, and drone platform optimization, alongside sustainability considerations. Dorin Panaitopol (Thales) opened with a keynote on the transition of non-terrestrial networks toward 6G.

In parallel, the SNS JU 6G Architecture Working Group hosted a panel on “Architectural Landscape towards 6G: Standardization Trends, New Enablers, and New Challenges” highlighting Europe’s perspective on system design and the role of collaborative research in shaping a global 6G standard. The sessions emphasized the complexity of integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks and the need for coordinated efforts across projects, industry, and standards bodies for an interoperable, sustainable 6G ecosystem.

European 6G research in the spotlight at Thessaloniki International Fair 2025

The 89th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF 2025) showcased innovation, entrepreneurship, and European research in 6G and AI. At Pavilion 17 – Stand 6, the SMARTECH ATHENA/ISI group demonstrated immersive applications, from VR to real-time gaming, highlighting the real-world impact of advanced networks.

Key projects included ADROIT6G, presenting intelligent networking solutions; SUNRISE-6G, demonstrating early experimentation on the pan-European 6G platform; and 6G-BRICKS, integrating AI with the 6G-cloud continuum. Other initiatives such as 6G-INTENSE, 6G-DALI, and FLECON-6G also participated, underlining Europe’s commitment to a resilient, user-centric 6G ecosystem. Live demos and stakeholder interactions emphasized how research is shaping the future of secure and sustainable connectivity.

SNS projects bring 6G and NTN research to the forefront at space communications summer school

SNS JU projects 5G-STARDUST and 6G-NTN were represented by Alessandro G. (CNIT / University of Bologna), who highlighted the role of non-terrestrial networks in extending 6G connectivity, ensuring resilience, and supporting advanced services. The Summer School emphasized collaborative research and Europe’s efforts to bridge terrestrial and non-terrestrial infrastructures for ubiquitous, space-enabled networks.

SNS projects showcasing 5G/6G innovation for smart cities at AIOTI Days 2025

The AIOTI Days 2025, held 22–23 September in Madrid, brought together European projects to explore 5G/6G, AI, IoT, and edge technologies. SNS-funded projects including Natwork, 6G-VERSUS, EXIGENCE, and SUNRISE-6G presented research, demos, and insights on next-generation digital infrastructures. Highlights included ultra-fast, low-latency networks for immersive applications, Edge-Cloud continuum implementations, AI-driven urban solutions, and discussions on standardisation and interoperability. The event emphasized SNS projects’ contributions to Europe’s digital transformation and promoted collaboration among research, industry, and policy stakeholders.

SMEs in the Spotlight – Voices from the NetworldEurope SME WG

EuCNC & 6G Summit 2025 offered the occasion for members to come together and share their stories on camera. In this new video, NWE SME WG members talk about both their project highlights and what they gain from being part of the community:

Gigasys Solutions (Mir Ghoraishi) on advancing cybersecurity and 6G orchestration, and happy about the collaborations within the SME WG
Ubiwhere (Ana Pereira) on building smarter cities and leading EU projects, and proud to be an SME WG member while actively working on SNS calls and projects
IMST GmbH (Christos Oikonomopoulos-Zachos) on innovating antennas for integrated sensing & communication, and valuing the insight into other companies’ work and the chance to identify mutual goals & collaborations
RunEL (Israel Koffman) on achieving centimeter-level positioning breakthroughs, and thankful for the chance to join EuCNC.

Their voices show how the NetworldEurope SME WG provides a platform for networking, joint opportunities, and stronger impact across Europe.

You can watch the video on the NetworldEurope SME WG YouTube channel

NTN, resilience, sustainability and inclusion: the new focus of SNS projects

European resilience in focus: SNS projects at Thinknet 6G event on NTN, security and resilience

On 19 September 2025, the Thinknet 6G Event “NTN, Security & Resilience” was held in Weßling, Germany, hosted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), focusing on the European IRIS² programme for secure and resilient satellite-based infrastructures. SNS JU projects including 5G-STARDUST, 6G-NTN, NexaSphere, and UNITY-6G presented research on integrating non-terrestrial networks (satellites, high-altitude platforms) with terrestrial systems to enhance connectivity, resilience, and security. The event emphasized terrestrial–non-terrestrial integration and Europe’s digital sovereignty, reinforcing SNS projects’ role in shaping a secure, sustainable 6G roadmap.

SNS JU White Paper explores sustainability and architecture in 6G networks

The SNS JU published a white paper, “Sustainability in SNS JU Projects,” highlighting how 27 European projects are integrating sustainability into next-generation 6G technologies. Focusing on environmental, economic, and societal impacts, the paper shows measurable progress even at this early stage. It also provides an architectural overview of 6G networks, covering usage scenarios such as immersive, massive, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications, AI-driven systems, and integrated sensing, while embedding security, privacy, and sustainability from the outset. The paper concludes with key research directions shaping Europe’s future mobile infrastructure.

The full paper is available here: SNS JU White Paper on 6G Sustainability

6G4Society explores ethics, inclusion, and the future of 6G

September 2025 featured a series of 6G4Society events, part of the SNS JU, exploring the social, ethical, and technological dimensions of next-generation networks. Highlights included a virtual discussion with the Dutch FNS 6G Ethics Board (25 Sept), an in-person workshop on societal impacts of 6G (27 Sept), and a virtual session on building successful 6G ecosystems (29 Sept). The initiative engaged researchers, industry, and policymakers to ensure 6G development is inclusive, sustainable, and socially responsible.

More information is available on the 6G4Society event page

SCoDIHNet news

At its bi-monthly meeting on 9 September 2025, the Smart Connectivity DIH Network (SCoDIHNet) reviewed progress on several fronts:

The replicability catalogue has been updated and now contains 1,257 replicable use cases from IoT Large Scale Pilots, 5G PPP projects, NGI projects, and SNS JU Calls 1 and 2. These span most verticals, with a strong focus on Industry 4.0 and Agriculture.
Replicability indicators for SNS JU projects will be integrated into the SNS JU Vertical Engagement Tracker, enabling clearer visibility of use cases and their potential for reuse.
A new survey will soon gather updated feedback from members to align services with expectations under EDIH 2.0.

Cooperation with the Digital Transformation Accelerator Thematic Working Group on Smart Connectivity is intensifying, with SCoDIHNet presenting its activities on 10 September and engaging in further discussions to ensure synergies and avoid overlaps as EDIH Phase 2 advances.

At the same time, collaboration with the Smart Connectivity Thematic Working Group remains active. SCoDIHNet has been invited to present its replicability initiative on 10 September, with initial talks scheduled for October to consider whether the two groups should remain separate or merge.

SNS JU Project news:

Sustainability

The SUSTAIN-6G embeds green and responsible networks

On 17 October 2025, the SUSTAIN-6G webinar will present how 6G networks can integrate sustainability from design to deployment, reducing environmental impact while benefiting sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and energy.

Key topics:

Eco-design, life cycle assessment, and circular economy principles
AI trustworthiness and sustainability KPIs/KVIs
Use cases in telemedicine, smart grids, and agriculture

Organised by a 24-partner European consortium, the session will offer insights for academia, industry, and policymakers on building responsible, future-proof 6G networks.

Time: 15:00–16:30 CEST | Registration: SUSTAIN-6G Webinar

6G4Society drives sustainable and value-focused 6G innovation

6G4Society is shaping 6G networks with a focus on societal, environmental, and economic impact. Recent highlights include an Insight Report on embedding societal values into technology design and a presentation on sustainable business models at GoodIT 2025, emphasizing energy-efficient, socially responsible network development.

Through these initiatives, 6G4Society ensures 6G research aligns with people, the planet, and practical innovation goals.

The full report is available here.

ECO-eNET builds energy-efficient and adaptable 6G networks

ECO-eNET is advancing sustainable 6G networks by integrating optical and wireless technologies. In its first 18 months, the project has achieved key milestones:

Converged Edge Network Development – designing a confluent edge network that combines optical and radio transport, enhancing both efficiency and flexibility.
Month-18 Project Review – partners reflected on progress, shared updates, highlighted breakthroughs, and aligned next steps, reinforcing collaboration across academia and industry.
Webinar and Outreach – featured in the Sustainable Future Networks webinar series at Trinity College Dublin, ECO-eNET demonstrated how its optical-wireless integration supports energy-efficient, adaptable, and environmentally responsible 6G architectures.

EXIGENCE drives energy efficiency in 6G through AI and green incentives

EXIGENCE promotes sustainability in next-generation networks by reducing energy use and CO₂ emissions. For streaming, it leverages behavioral incentives, lower resolutions, gamification, social recognition, and rewards balanced with user acceptance models to encourage greener consumption.

For AI services, EXIGENCE optimizes training and inference using game-theoretic approaches, energy-aware coordination, and dynamic request routing based on data center carbon intensity.

By combining behavioral, economic, and environmental strategies, EXIGENCE achieves measurable energy and carbon reductions, advancing a greener 6G ecosystem. Researchers are invited to contribute to a Call for Papers on Green Technologies & Energy-Efficient Networks until 30 April 2026, covering 6G, AI/ML, wireless networks, and incentive mechanisms.

More information is available here.

TARGET-X transforms industry with 5G/6G-enabled smart manufacturing

TARGET-X has advanced next-generation connectivity for industrial sectors, integrating 5G, 6G, and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) to enable flexible, scalable, and adaptive production. Key achievements include:

Virtual PLCs in the factory cloud for rapid production adjustments
Over 30 large-scale experiments across manufacturing, energy, mobility, and construction
Advanced capabilities such as localisation, digital twins, sensor-data fusion, and real-time cloud computing

Dissemination included webinars and the final event on 2 October 2025 at RWTH Aachen University, featuring live demos and Open Call insights. TARGET-X highlights how next-gen networks accelerate digital transformation and Europe’s industrial leadership.

6G-VERSUS pilots sustainable 6G applications in Greece and Spain

6G-VERSUS showcases sustainable 6G applications through pilots addressing environmental and societal challenges.

Greek Pilot – Collaborative Robotics for Wildfire Detection
UAVs, robotic dogs, and AI detect wildfires early and support search and rescue. Multi-access Edge Computing ensures ultra-reliable, low-latency, and energy-efficient operations, while minimizing ecological impact and protecting responders and communities.

Spanish Pilot – Teleoperation for Smart Agriculture
Sensor-equipped vehicles allow remote field management via immersive telepresence. Low-latency communication enables safe, efficient operations, optimizing renewable energy use and accessibility for global researchers.

AI

6G-CLOUD demonstrates AI-native, cloud-optimized 6G architectures

6G-CLOUD has released a video presenting its vision for AI-native and cloud-friendly 6G networks. The project explores how distributed resources across multiple stakeholders can be integrated to deliver flexible, dynamic, and sustainable network functions, enabling intelligent and scalable connectivity for future communication systems.

The video is available here: 6G-CLOUD Project Video

NANCY develops AI-powered, quantum-resilient B5G infrastructures

NANCY is advancing secure, intelligent, and energy-efficient B5G networks. Key achievements include AI-powered management for anomaly detection and orchestration, quantum-resilient security with post-quantum cryptography, and an integrated AI architecture combining blockchain, edge virtualization, and orchestration.

Recent plenary meetings focused on testbeds and integration, reinforcing Europe’s path toward resilient and high-performance next-generation networks.

CONFIDENTIAL6G research wins best paper at IEEE CNS 2025

At IEEE CNS 2025 in Avignon, University College Dublin and partners received the Best Paper Award for “Securing xApps in Open RAN: A Hierarchical Approach to Authentication and Authorisation.” The work introduces a layered security model for Open RAN, ensuring only legitimate applications access network resources.

This achievement highlights CONFIDENTIAL6G’s focus on privacy-preserving 6G technologies, including confidential computing, post-quantum cryptography, and federated AI. Pilots in aviation, telecom cloud security, and connected vehicles demonstrate how these solutions strengthen trust, resilience, and security in next-generation networks.

FLECON-6G introduces AI-driven personal safety into 6G standards

At the 3GPP TSG-SA WG1 Meeting #111 (25–29 August 2025, Gothenburg), FLECON-6G secured approval for Lenovo’s new use case on AI agents for personal safety in the 6G study TR 22.870.

The concept envisions network-hosted AI agents that detect risks from location, wearable, and environmental data, and autonomously alert emergency services when needed. Three new 6G system requirements were proposed to support this capability.

6G-XCEL demonstrates scalable time-series management and AI edge intelligence at VLDB 2025

At VLDB 2025 in London, 6G-XCEL showcased ModelarDB, a time series management system compressing and transferring sensor data efficiently from edge to cloud, achieving up to 10× better transfer efficiency. The project also presented the DMMAI framework for AI-driven edge network decision-making, demonstrating scalable, intelligent solutions for 6G connectivity and renewable energy management

ADROIT6G hosts PhD training and knowledge-sharing workshop on 6G and AI

On 24 September 2025, ADROIT6G held a hybrid PhD Training and Dissemination Workshop at the Faculty of Engineering, San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome. The event promoted knowledge exchange on 6G, AI, and advanced networks, encouraged cross-project collaboration, and offered certificates of attendance for potential ECTS recognition. Organized with CNIT and guided by Sergio Barbarossa, Carla Fabiana Chiasserini, and Antonella Molinaro, the workshop welcomed researchers and PhD students from across the 6G ecosystem.

DESIRE6G delivers AI-native, trust-enabled solutions for 6G networks

DESIRE6G has advanced next-generation network research, focusing on orchestration, control, and programmable data planes for 6G. Key achievements include:

AI-native multi-layer optimization for intelligent RAN and core management
Cloud-native, hardware-accelerated network functions enabling flexible, high-performance deployments
Blockchain-based federation and trust mechanisms ensuring secure, interoperable infrastructures

Dissemination at ACM SIGCOMM 2025 featured demonstrations and posters:

Final reports D3.3 and D4.3 summarize DESIRE6G’s orchestration and programmable data plane work. The project highlights how AI, cloud-native architectures, and trust frameworks converge to enable scalable, secure 6G networks, download here.

ISAC/JCAS

6G-MUSICAL promotes sustainable 6G through integrated sensing and communication

6G-MUSICAL showcased advances in Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) and sustainable 6G technologies at major events including EUSIPCO 2025, KTH–Aachen Wireless Networking Workshop, and University of Oulu’s Sustainable Development Week.

Key highlights:

ISAC tutorial at EUSIPCO covering signal design, network-level concepts, physical layer security, and alignment with UN SDGs
Keynote on coordinated, learning-based ISAC EUSIPCO Satellite Workshop to enhance performance, scalability, and trustworthiness in autonomous systems
Contributions to KTH–Aachen Wireless Networking Workshop on smart handover strategies in distributed MIMO architectures
Demonstrations of joint communication and sensing (JCAS) at Sustainable Development Week, University of Oulu enabling smarter, sustainable network solutions

Open RAN

6G-LEADER advances Open RAN and intelligent x/rApp applications

6G-LEADER is advancing Open RAN architectures and intelligent x/rApps for next-generation 6G networks. Recent highlights include:

Webinar on O-RAN and x/rApp development – showcased Accelleran’s dRAX RIC & SMO, live x/rApp demos for KPM/RAN control, data enrichment, inter-x/rApp communication, and event monitoring.
Integration and Control Framework – detailed x/rApp discovery, configuration, API usage, and real-time notifications to enhance 6G network management and automation.
Smart Antenna Research – presentation at WSA25 on near-field fed RIS illumination for centimeter-wave massive MIMO, advancing high-capacity antenna technologies.

NTN

X-TREME 6G strengthens Europe’s leadership in non-terrestrial networks

X-TREME 6G has delivered its first technical report, detailing platform architecture and use cases powered by new 6G chipsets. A central focus is Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), combining satellites, aerial platforms, and high-altitude systems to ensure ubiquitous coverage, reliability, and disaster resilience.

NTNs are set to become a cornerstone of Europe’s 6G strategy, enabling advanced applications that demand seamless connectivity.

UNITY-6G explores semantic communications for satellite-terrestrial 6G

UNITY-6G introduced SEM-NTN, a framework merging semantic communications, Open RAN, and Non-Terrestrial Networks to boost 6G efficiency. Using AI-driven compression and adaptive resource allocation, it cut transmission delays by up to 87.5% while keeping near-full inference accuracy.

The results show strong potential for low-latency, scalable 6G integration, while underlining challenges in protocol design, real-time adaptation, and AI-native standardization.

Full paper available here.

RIS

6G-SANDBOX expands with ESA partnership and RIS trials in 2026

6G-SANDBOX has announced two major developments in its mission to accelerate Europe’s 6G leadership.

ESA partnership for NTN trials
The project has joined forces with the European Space Agency (ESA) to pioneer large-scale non-terrestrial network (NTN) trials. ESA brings expertise and hardware from its Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity Programme under the ARTES framework, reinforcing the project’s large-scale testbed infrastructure. This collaboration will enable advanced 6G experimentation and foster cooperation between European industry, operators, and the global NTN ecosystem.
More information: ESA announcement | 6G-SANDBOX NTN experimentation

RIS trials in 2026
In addition, 6G-SANDBOX has announced the launch of large-scale Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) trials in 2026, extending its work on advanced technologies for future networks. The announcement was first made at WSA 2025 by Keysight Technologies. These trials will provide a platform for large-scale testing of RIS solutions to support next-generation connectivity.
More information: 6G-SANDBOX RIS trials | Press release