The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) selected its first portfolio of 35 research, innovation, and trial projects to enable the evolution of 5G ecosystems and promote 6G research in Europe. The aim is to build a first-class European supply chain for advanced 5G systems and build Europe’s 6G technology capacities.
A total of 35 Research and Innovation (R&I) projects have been selected following the evaluation of proposals submitted under the first call of the EU’s Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). The launch followed the formal decision of the SNS Governing Board in July and today’s presentation of the portfolio at the SNS States Representative Group (SRG).
The SNS JU aims at reinforcing European leadership in developing and deploying next generation network technologies, as well as connected devices and services through an ambitious R&I roadmap and a solid deployment agenda. In addition, it contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards sustainable, resilient, and climate-neutral network infrastructures and services.
The R&I projects will develop smart communication components, systems, and networks for 6G following both, an evolutionary path through further enhancements of 5G advanced technology, as well as a more revolutionary path by investigating the benefits of promising technological enablers. Technology validation initiatives will develop SNS experimental infrastructures and carry out large-scale SNS trials and pilots in several business and industrial sectors such as media, industrial IoT, energy, construction, automotive, eHealth, culture, agriculture and education.
The combined EU funding for this new portfolio under the Horizon Europe programme is around EUR 250 million.
The first SNS call for proposals under Horizon Europe was published on 18 January 2022 and closed on 26 April 2022. The opening of the second SNS call for proposals is planned for January 2023.
