Advancing EU-Japan Digital Collaboration with the INPACE “EU-Japan Digital Week 2025”

 

Adam Kapovits
Eurescom

Alessandro Bassi
Eurescom

As the Indo-Pacific region and Europe deepen their technological integration, fostering strategic cooperation through trusted digital platforms becomes increasingly vital. To support building a momentum, the EU-Japan Digital Week 2025, held from 31 March to 7 April in Tokyo, brought together key stakeholders from both regions to advance shared priorities in areas such as 6G, Data Spaces, Smart Connectivity, and Trustworthy AI, reinforcing a joint commitment to collaborative digital transformation.

A Milestone for EU-Indo-Pacific Digital Engagement

Launched under Horizon Europe, INPACE (Indo-Pacific-European Hub for Digital Partnerships) is a Coordination and Support Action designed to implement and advance the EU’s Digital Partnerships with key Indo-Pacific nations—Japan, Republic of Korea, and Singapore—and with India through the Trade and Technology Council (TTC). With a robust consortium of European and Asian stakeholders, INPACE aims to establish a sustainable, expert-driven hub that supports research, innovation, and policy collaboration in strategic technology domains.

The first INPACE International Symposium, held in Seoul, South Korea on 21–22 October 2024, set the tone for these ambitions. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to address key challenges and explore cooperation opportunities in transformative digital technologies.

Spotlight on EU-Japan Digital Week 2025

The next major milestone was the EU-Japan Digital Week, which took place from 31 March to 7 April 2025 in Tokyo. Organised in the frame of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership and under the auspices of the European Delegation to Japan and the guidance of Peter Fatelnig, Minister Counsellor for Digital Economy Policy at the Delegation of the EU to Japan.

This high-level gathering convened stakeholders from across Europe, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific, highlighting collaborative work in areas such as:

  • 6G Development
  • Smart Connectivity and Edge Computing
  • Data Spaces and Trusted Data Exchange
  • Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

A key focus of the event was to align digital policy objectives, foster innovation ecosystems, and explore how disruptive trends like generative AI are reshaping strategic agendas.

Workshop Highlights

The event featured a series of deep-dive workshops designed to strengthen collaboration between the European Union and Japan in strategic digital areas.

Monday, 31 March – Smart Connectivity and Computing

Organised by Dr. Giacomo Inches (Martel Innovate, Switzerland, in collaboration with NexusForum.EU project) and supported by Prof. Kiyoshi Murata (Meiji University), this workshop bridged the gap between the EU and Japan in the fields of cloud-edge computing and smart connectivity. Industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers discussed collaboration opportunities in open-source technologies, industrial verticals, and cross-cutting digital innovation topics.

Tuesday, 1 April – 6G Horizons: Synergies for a Connected Future

Co-organised by Adam Kapovits (Eurescom) and Prof. Akihiro Nakao (ASPIRE, Japan), this full-day workshop at the University of Tokyo fostered collaboration and partnership between the EU, Japan, and other Indo-Pacific countries in the field of 6G development. The session explored whether current R&D directions aligned with societal and business needs, particularly in the context of rapidly evolving technologies like generative AI.

Wednesday, 2 April – Closed-Door Policy Workshop:
The EU–Japan Digital Partnership: Going Forward

Co-organised by Dr. Eva Pejsova (Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS)) and Dr. Kazuto Suzuki (Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG)), this exclusive session addressed high-level policy topics such as technological innovation, emerging technologies and security cooperation, domestic policy coordination, and approaches to global digital governance. Discussions aimed to align strategic objectives and identify opportunities for joint action considering critical digital connectivity infrastructures among others.


Adam Kapovits (Eurescom) presenting during the Closed-door
policy workshop: The EU-Japan Digital Partnership: Going Forward

Wednesday, 2 April – Trusted Data Exchanges in Cities:
From Standards to Pilots in a Changing World

Led by Dr. Franck Le Gall (EGM) in collaboration with Japanese and European experts, this workshop promoted the practical implementation of trusted data exchanges in urban environments. It focused on enabling technologies such as semantic interoperability, digital identities, and dataspaces to support smart, secure, and connected cities.

Thursday, 3 April & Friday, 4 April – Data Spaces:
How to Make Business from Data in a Legal Fashion

Organised by Dr. Antonis Ramfos (Athens Technology Center, Greece), this two-day workshop explored the role of data spaces in digital transformation. Topics included architectural models, legal frameworks, and interoperability challenges, along with presentations of successful business models and real-world case studies from both the EU and Japan.


Discussions ongoing during the interactive Data Spaces: How to Make Business from Data in a Legal Fashion

Monday, 7 April – Critical Applications of AI in Industry, ­Healthcare and Other Sectors

This workshop focused on the development of AI systems for critical applications where high reliability is essential. Organised by Prof. Sebastian Engell (TU Dortmund and ENRICH Global), with co-organisers Prof. Iiro Harjunkoski (Aalto University and Hitachi Energy Europe) and Nobuo Nukaga (Hitachi R&D, Japan), the event brought together experts to share good practices and tackle real-world challenges. Discussions centred on ensuring the robustness, safety, and trustworthiness of AI used in areas like healthcare, industrial automation, and transportation—where failure can have serious consequences. Japanese interpretation was not available.

Eurescom’s Role in the INPACE Project: Driving Strategy ­Collaboration to Strengthen EU-Japan Connections

Eurescom played an important role in the EU-Japan Digital Week 2025, underscoring its leadership within the INPACE project and its commitment to fostering cross-regional digital collaboration. Alessandro Bassi contributed to the “6G Horizons” workshop regarding the SNS JU SUSTAIN-6G , whilst Adam Kapovits co-organised the “6G Horizons” workshop and contributed to the closed-door policy discussion.

Eurescom brought its deep expertise in network and service innovation to the forefront of discussions on future digital infrastructures and trustworthy AI. As the lead of INPACE’s Cluster 5 on Digital Technologies – Future Networks, Eurescom has been instrumental in facilitating expert engagement between European and Japanese stakeholders.

With a strong legacy in collaborative R&D and prior engagement in initiatives such as the ESA-NICT partnership, Eurescom serves as a vital bridge for Japan-EU technological cooperation. Through INPACE, Eurescom contributes to shaping the strategic agenda on future connectivity, digital trust, and innovation ecosystems by coordinating expert dialogues, supporting policy alignment, and promoting practical pilot initiatives that accelerate the digital transformation across Europe and Asia.

Looking Forward

The outcomes of the EU-Japan Digital Week 2025 will feed into ongoing policy dialogues and future cooperation initiatives under the EU’s Digital Partnerships with Indo-Pacific countries. Building on this high-impact event, INPACE will continue to serve as a strategic enabler for advancing joint research, innovation, and policy action in trusted and transformative digital technologies.

Further information

Eurescom supports Accelerating 5G/6G NTN Innovation

 

Adam Kapovits
Eurescom

Eurescom contributes to ESA workshop regarding the convergence of 5G communication and Earth Observation

The 5th ESA Workshop on Advanced Flexible Telecom Payloads was held at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in the UK, between the 18 and 20 March 2025. Over 100 experts from across Europe participated at the workshop. Adam Kapovits from Eurescom has contributed to the workshop session on Flexible Payloads for 5G/6G NTNs with the results from the ESA project 5GEOSiS – 5G Earth Observation Server in Space, a 5G repurposable payload as a service, and received very positive feedbacks from the audience.

ESA NICT workshop held in Tokyo at the NICT Innovation Center on 31st March 2025

The European Space Agency and the National Institute of Information And Communications Technology Japan first signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in 2018 regarding joint efforts and cooperation in the field of 5G satellite communications.

Subsequently, the two sides supported their own industries launching investigations as technology path finders for global satellite communication networks convergence, integration into 5G and to validate use cases of common interest, such as natural disaster prevention and mitigation, global maritime transportation, and Internet of Things (IoT) to cover oceans and airspaces.

These activities were performed on the European side as part of the ESA SATis5 project (funded within ESA’s Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity portfolio) under the leadership of Eurescom GmbH and with the assistance of Fraunhofer FOKUS as technical manager, and together with the Japanese industrial team under the leadership of Japan Radio Co., Ltd, and with SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and the University of Tokyo as partners.

On 31stMarch 2025 a half a day workshop was held between the European and Japanese teams when the experts from the two sides and from the funding agencies (ESA and NICT, respectively) met to discuss the key results of the trials that resulted from the collaboration, the lessons learnt and technical areas of interest for continuing the collaboration.

The collaboration was organised in phases. In the first phase industry partners worked on the interconnection of local 5G systems via satellite, as well as the management of long-distance networks between Europe and Japan.The teams achieved a network quality evaluation of satellite and 5G connection, working to understand the feasibility of satellite 5G networks via international long-distance communications, as well as the successful transmission of 4K Video and IoT Data.

In a second phase multi-orbit (geostationary (GEO) / low Earth orbit (LEO)) 5G transport solutions were investigated and validated, and the multi-5G-Core enhancements that are necessary and typical in international communications. These topics were introduced and are now being discussed in 3GPP Rel 19/20.

In this phase, the European team concentrated on links performance monitoring; dynamic path selection between GEO-LEO-Terrestrial networks; and data path management. Meanwhile, the Japanese team concentrated on network slicing, Quality of Service, active bandwidth control and application detection in switching GEO-LEO-Terrestrial link scenarios.

Technical achievements from European partners included experimenting and validating services in Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) fire-fighting scenarios with 5G temporary local networks interconnected via satellite, including User Equipped UAVs for video monitoring. Experimentation taking place in Berlin, Brandenburg area in Germany.

Additionally, the Japanese team showcased their experimentation and validation of PPDR use cases utilizing Non-Public 5G networks over satellite, such as 4K video footage viewed through Virtual Reality lenses, remote control of field-deployed robot via video transmission, and various applications for remote areas.

Overall, the European and Japanese Phase 2 trials confirmed the feasibility of real-time switching of multi-orbit satellite links, and the associated network components and applications sessions. Additionally, the Over the Air validation trials demonstrated the feasibility of seamless path switching.

Looking forward, both the European and Japanese side investigates how the collaboration could be continued and extended towards Beyond 5G and 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

Further information


ESA NICT workshop participants form the European and Japanese partners at the NICT Innovation Center in Tokyo, on 31st March

From left to right:  Yuma Abe, NICT, Natsuko Ouchi, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Nobuyuki Setoguchi, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Sachie Tsubokura, Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Atsumu Mishima, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Marius Iulian Corici, Fraunhofer FOKUS, Shinichi Mizuno, Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Bjoern Riemer, Fraunhofer FOKUS, Adam Kapovits, Eurescom GmBH, Maria Guta, ESA, Prof Akihiro Nakao, The University of Tokyo, Kenji Kanai, The University of Tokyo, Amane Miura, NICT, Katsuyoshi Ishida, Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Kiyomi Yoshida, Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Keita Kaida, The University of Tokyo, Mayuko Tsuji, Japan Radio Co., Ltd, Yoji Oshima, The University of Tokyo.

12th FUSECO Forum 2024

Anastasius Gavras
Eurescom GmbH

The FUSECO Forum is a highlight industry event around telecommunications and its applications, taking place every November in Berlin. This year the event took place for the 12th time and was under the overarching theme of “Forward to 6G”, despite the fact that the industry is still in the process of deploying 5G capabilities beyond plain enhanced mobile broadband service. Activities, in which Eurescom GmbH is actively involved and partly leading have supported the event.

Introduction

As we delve into the evolution of 5G, driven by advancements in Open Campus Networks, 6G RAN, Core Network Evolution, Non-terrestrial Networks, and Data-/AI-based Networking, the FUSECO Forum provided an excellent opportunity for listening to expert opinions and network with interested parties from the industry. The event reflected the lessons learned from global 5G network deployments and research. It also highlighted the growing interest in private industrial campus networks as industries gear up for the 6G era as well as the very fast emerging role of Non-Terrestrial Networks.


Anastasius Gavras, Eurescom GmbH, presenting INPACE project sustainability goals

Sustainability

In his presentation, Anastasius Gavras from Eurescom GmbH discussed directions towards developing a sustainability framework for 6G technology, addressing environmental, societal, and economic aspects, including its applicability to key vertical sectors. The intersections between sustainability needs, challenges faced by 6G and verticals, as well as the actions required to address these challenges were discussed. Since the relevant sustainability aspects (environmental, societal, economic) cannot be fully addressed in isolation, innovative concepts and solutions are required, which consolidate a holistic view on gaps and trade-offs in technology, processes, and methodologies. Ultimately the industry needs guidelines, best practices, and roadmaps, which are validated through prototypes and proof-of-concepts. In this context.

INPACE workshop

Adam Kapovits from Eurescom GmbH, organised and chaired the workshop on the Digital Partnerships between the EU and the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Singapore, which was part of the INPACE Support Action[i] activities. Mr. Kapovits gave an overview of the INPACE activities in this context, which were followed by examples of collaboration between stakeholders from the aforementioned regions. Among others the collaboration between EU and Japan actors in the context of the SATis5 project funded by the European Space Agency was discussed. Dr. Kentaro Ishizu from NICT, Japan gave an overview of ­Beyond 5G/6G R&D activities at NICT especially focusing on a vision of Society 5.0 and cyber physical system (CPS). Prof. François Baccelli from INRIA Télécom / ENS (Département d’Informatique), Paris, presented the joint work with South Korean colleagues on Stochastic Geometry as a means to master complexity that results from the high number of new radio access technologies and used frequencies.


Adam Kapovits, Eurescom GmbH, at the INPACE workshop

3rd Euro NTN Workshop

The workshop was co-organised by Adam Kapovits, together with Markus Breitbach from DT and Marius Corici from Fraunhofer FOKUS, and chaired by Adam Kapovits and Anastasius Gavras, and covered a wide variety of topics related to the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN and NTN).

The unified 3D mobile network architecture aims to seamlessly integrate terrestrial, aerial, and satellite layers, focusing on IoT, handheld access, and safety-critical operations. Emphasizing the need for native NTN support in 6G, the talks reviewed 3GPP standardization efforts to eliminate mobile network coverage gaps. Ongoing and shortly upcoming experiments with 5G NTN gNodeB in space were presented and discussed, highlighting the seamless integration of terrestrial and space networks. The evolution of NTN within 5G and the need for a jointly optimized infrastructure in 6G for continuous connectivity were also highlighted.

Additionally, the challenges and optimization methods for TN-NTN spectrum sharing to avoid interference and maintain coverage were discussed. The presentation of a 6G satellite lab for real-time testing of technical challenges and new features, including satellite base stations and advanced 6G waveforms, showcased the innovative strides being made. The vision for integrating TN and NTN for 5G-Advanced, focusing on network disaggregation, multi-connectivity, and space edge computing, was also presented. Resource management challenges in integrated 5G/6G networks to maximize capacity and meet user needs, creating a dynamic 3D access network, were discussed. Lastly, approaches to modelling NTN using stochastic geometry, focusing on Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations and spectral efficiency, were presented.

6G-SANDBOX

At the exhibition space, project 6G-SANDBOX presented and demonstrated the latest project results. Michael Dieudonne, R&D manager at Keysight Technologies Belgium and the project manager of 6G-SANDBOX staffed the booth and gave valuable insights to the visitors.

The project supports technology and research validation processes essential for the development of 6G. It introduces the concept of Trial Networks, which are fully configurable, manageable, and controlled end-to-end networks composed of both digital and physical nodes. The project focuses on defining and releasing its architecture and processes for an experimentation facility, integrating 6G technologies into a physical connectivity infrastructure, and developing a resource management framework to efficiently deploy trial networks. The goal is to create a platform for 6G technology validation and KPI measurements. Eurescom GmbH is a partner in the 6G SANDBOX project.


Michael Dieudonne, Keysight Technologies, presenting 6G-SANDBOX latest project results

Conclusion

The FUSECO Forum event held in Berlin on November 7-8, 2024, was a comprehensive and forward-looking gathering that delved into the evolution of 5G and the future of 6G. This event brought together experts from around the world to discuss the latest innovations and lessons learned from global public and private 5G network deployments, as well as 5G evolution research and standardization. Overall, the FUSECO Forum provided valuable insights into the future of telecommunications, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in shaping the next generation of connectivity.

Further information

Eurescom’s Presence at the EuCNC & 6G Summit 2024


Audrey Bienvenu
Eurescom GmbH

Showcasing Innovation through Collaboration in Telecommunications

From 3rd -6th June 2024, the 33rd edition of EuCNC & 6G Summit took place in Antwerp, Belgium. The conference addressed various aspects of Beyond 5G/6G communications systems and networks. Bringing together the State-of-the art research and global industries and businesses, attracting more than 1000 delegates from 40 countries, an exhibition with more than 50 exhibitors, were selected Eurescom projects for demonstrating the technology developed in EU R&I programmes.

SNS JU Stand via SNS OPS Project

Eurescom co-hosted the Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) stand at EuCNC 2024, through the SNS OPS project. This project serves as a collaborative platform for European and global stakeholders involved in preparing 6G smart networks and services.

At the booth, SNS OPS was joined by its sister project SNS ICE and presented SNS JU’s recent achievements and promoted its strategic objectives in 6G development.

By fostering connections with international regions and standardization bodies, SNS ICE aims to ensure Europe’s active participation in global 6G standardization and trend-setting. As part of the project’s outreach, dedicated workshops and presentations at major events like EuCNC and Techritory will continue to shape the international discourse on 6G and inform SNS JU’s community on global developments, keeping Europe’s R&I at the forefront of innovation.


Eurescom GmbH Director David Kennedy (right)
presenting SNS JU at the SNS OPS stand


SNS JU booth at EuCNC 2024


Team SNS ICE at EuCNC 2024

Non-Terrestrial Networks and Terrestrial Networks unification – from Vision to reality Workshop

The workshop “Non-Terrestrial Networks and Terrestrial Networks Unification – from Vision to Reality” held on June 3, 2024, aimed to advance integration between space-based and terrestrial communication networks, focusing on 5G and 6G technologies. Organized by Adam Kapovits (Eurescom) and Maria Guta (ESA) as part of the EuCNC & 6G Summit, the event explored the potential of recently available space assets for in-orbit experimentation, enabling Proof of Concept (PoC) validations, demonstrations, and standardization efforts.

Key sessions included insights into European research projects and initiatives, such as ESA’s 6G precursor mission and Germany’s SERANIS mission. Presenters discussed technical architectures, use cases, and enabling technologies for NTN-6G, with contributions from leading SNS JU projects like 5G-STARDUST and 6G-SANDBOX. Additionally, industry leaders and researchers highlighted projects on 3D networks, optical space backbone networks (HydRON), and combined airspace networks, underlining Europe’s strong engagement in the NTN/6G domain.


Maria Guta, ESA Senior 5G/6G Satcom Solutions
Architect in NTN, presenting the ESA 6G precursor mission


NTN Workshop attendees

Innovative demo for the CENTRIC Project Stand

Eurescom’s CENTRIC project, led by project manager Halid Hrasnica, and demonstration set by NVIDIA and Keysight partners stood out as a prime example of innovation in receiver technology. At the CENTRIC demo, the project demonstrated NVIDIA and and Keysight’s advanced Neural Receiver concept, designed to optimize receiver structures for specific deployment sites. This technology represents a step forward for multi-user MIMO receivers by utilizing neural networks that can be fine-tuned on-site for enhanced performance.

The CENTRIC demo illustrated how the neural receiver, initially trained on standard stochastic channel models, offers significant improvements over traditional MIMO receivers. When fine-tuned with data from the base station’s specific deployment site, its performance outpaces that of a generically trained receiver. The hardware-based validation setup provided attendees with a tangible glimpse into the potential of neural network-based receivers within a real 5G ORAN network.


CENTRIC team at their booth


CENTRIC team with their demonstration

SNS ICE Support to the SNS JU Introduction Workshop

SNS ICE was pleased to back the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Steering Board (SB), Technology Board (TB), and Working Groups (WGs) Workshop held during the first day of the EuCNC & 6G Summit 2024. This event spotlighted the collaborative efforts shaping the future of smart networks and services.

Pavlos Fournogerakis, SNS-JU’s deputy head of Programme, emphasized the vital role of project collaborative bodies in advancing SNS JU’s vision. SB Chairman Mikael Fallgren (Ericsson) and TB Chairman Konstantinos Trichias (6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association) gave an update on active SNS JU projects, current technologies, and upcoming objectives for the SB and TB.

The Working Group chairs—Ömer Bulakci (Architecture WG), Michael Dieudonne (TMV WG), David Artuñedo (Software WG), and Ioannis Tomkos (Hardware WG)—shared insights into their focus areas and anticipated outcomes for the coming period, contributing to Europe’s leadership in 6G innovation. The session was moderated by Eurescom Programme manager Uwe Herzog from the SNS OPS CSA project, fostering in-depth discussions on progress and goals.


Uwe Herzog, SNS OPS CSA project manager, opening the SNS JU workshop


Panel discussion on the Impact of 6G Technology

Participation in the WiTaR Working Group Session

Eurescom project manager Pooja Mohnani took part in the “Women in Telecommunications and Research” (WiTaR) convened session on June 4, 2024. Representing both Eurescom and the SNS ICE project, she engaged with other leaders in a session dedicated to promoting gender equality, inclusion, and empowerment within the 6G Research & Innovation community. WiTaR, an EU-level initiative, is committed to closing gender gaps and empowering more women in R&I fields, reflecting Eurescom’s own values of inclusivity and equity in tech.


Pooja Mohnani presenting: WiTaR collaboration opportunities with SNS JU projects and working groups


WiTaR workshop attendees

CHARITY Project Stand

The CHARITY project, a Horizon 2020 project initiative lead by Eurescom and now successfully finished, showcased last advancements in immersive communication through intelligent use of network resources. Running since January 2021 and concluded in June 2024, CHARITY focused on orchestrating cloud, edge, and network resources to support emerging applications requiring both low and high latency environments. The project’s open-source framework for intelligent resource orchestration captured significant interest, with visitors recognizing the project’s potential to transform network resource management for immersive and interactive communication.


CHARITY team at EuCNC 2024

Joint forces at the CELTIC-NEXT & Xecs booth

The goal of the joint booth was to promote the cooperation between the CELTIC’s ICT community and the Xecs’ microelectronics and systems community. At the booth the EUREKA Clusters CELTIC-NEXT and Xecs presented alternative R&D&I funding schemes to the ICT community focused on 6G technology design and development. The Eureka cluster advocates Xavier Priem, CELTIC-NEXT’s Director, and, Patrice Cogez, Xecs’ Technical Director, provided insights on the EUREKA Clusters and information about the upcoming calls for proposals of the two clusters and the processes involved.


Xavier Priem, CELTIC-NEXT’s Director, and, Patrice Cogez, Xecs’ Technical Director

Conclusion

Eurescom’s presence at EuCNC & 6G Summit 2024 underscored its commitment to driving technological innovation, inclusivity, and global collaboration in telecommunications. By showcasing projects like CENTRIC and CHARITY, supporting gender diversity initiatives through WiTaR, and contributing to the strategic efforts of the SNS JU through SNS OPS, Eurescom remains a key player in advancing Europe’s leadership in the next generation of network technology.

EuCNC & 6G Summit 2024 offered a vibrant stage for Eurescom to demonstrate its contributions to the evolution of telecommunications and to strengthen connections within the global R&I community, and will continue by taking leading roles in beginning 2025 in two new 6G innovative SNS JU Horizon Europe SUSTAIN-6G and SNS CO-OP (see next article).

Further information

MWC Barcelona 2025


Audrey Bienvenu
Eurescom GmbH

Projects at a glance

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, the future of wireless technology and connectivity took center stage. Several pioneering projects under the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) made a significant impact, showcasing how Europe is shaping the next era of communication through innovation, collaboration, and groundbreaking research.

OPTI-6G Presence at MWC 2025 Through Consortium Partner RunEL


RunEL Co-founder Israel Koffman provided a dynamic platform for presenting OPTI-6G

From March 3–6, 2025, the OPTI-6G Project made a strong debut at MWC Barcelona, represented by its consortium partner, RunEL. Co-founder Israel Koffman led the project’s presence at Hall 8.0, Stand 8.0B31.7A, where industry leaders, researchers, and innovators gathered to explore the future of 6G networks.

Key Highlights:

  • 6G Innovation Showcase: Presentation of cutting-edge advancements in next-generation wireless networks.
  • Industry Engagement: Building bridges with global leaders to shape future smart connectivity.
  • Collaborative Research Insights: Sharing innovative approaches fueling 6G development.
  • SNS JU Synergy: Engaging with over 80 projects defining the 6G landscape through SNS JU collaboration.

As part of a broader effort, OPTI-6G’s participation strengthened Europe’s leadership in future network technologies and highlighted the project’s role in advancing the smart connectivity ecosystem.

CENTRIC at MWC 2025: Showcasing the Future of AI-Enabled Wireless Sensing

The CENTRIC project also made headlines at MWC 2025, where partners InterDigital and Keysight Technologies unveiled revolutionary AI-powered wireless sensing technologies.

Live Demonstrations at Hall 5C51 included:

  • AR/VR Immersive Experiences: Enhanced by AI-driven sensing accuracy.
  • Intruder Detection: For smart home and security system integration.
  • eHealth Monitoring: Non-intrusive, real-time health tracking using RF signals.
  • Autonomous Vehicle Integration: Smarter, safer transportation networks.

Using a radio frequency digital twin, the demo illustrated how AI can interpret channel state information (CSI) to detect human movement in complex environments — a major leap forward for wireless sensing.

This innovation stems from research within both CENTRIC and 6G-SANDBOX, two SNS JU-supported initiatives at the forefront of merging AI with next-generation networks. The CENTRIC showcase captured how AI-enhanced sensing will be pivotal for future 6G applications, offering a glimpse into the smarter, more adaptive networks of tomorrow.


“AI is set to transform the wireless industry, and our partnership through CENTRIC and 6G-SANDBOX enables us to explore groundbreaking applications and smarter connectivity solutions.” — Michael Dieudonné, R&D Manager at Keysight


Left to right: Carles Navarro Manchón (Keysight Technologies), Phillip Leithead (InterDigital, Inc), Philip Pietraski (InterDigital, Inc), Michael Dieudonne (Keysight Technologies) & Douglas Castor (InterDigital, Inc).

SNS ICE Booth – Fostering Global 6G Collaboration

The SNS ICE (Smart Networks and Services International and European Cooperation Ecosystem) initiative had a strong presence at Booth No. 4 at MWC 2025.

                           
Carles Anton-Haro (CTTC) at the SNS ICE booth at the MWC 2025

The SNS ICE project is dedicated to:

  • Fostering European and international synergies in the evolving 6G ecosystem.
  • Promoting SNS JU activities and achievements on a global stage.
  • Establishing strategic dialogues with national initiatives, Horizon Europe partnerships, and global R&D clusters.
  • Engaging vertical industries to accelerate adoption of tailored 6G applications.

Throughout its mission, SNS ICE has actively monitored global standardization efforts, organized influential workshops, and participated in key events like Techritory and EuCNC, ensuring that European research remains at the forefront of global 6G discussions.

At MWC 2025, visitors could meet the SNS ICE team, learn about Europe’s growing leadership in next-generation networks, and engage in conversations shaping the future of global connectivity.

MWC Barcelona 2025 marked an important chapter for the European 6G research community. Projects like OPTI-6G, CENTRIC and SNS ICE exemplify Europe’s commitment to driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and building a smarter, more connected future.

Further information

Recent Highlights from Eurescom’s Participation in 2024 Key Events


Audrey Bienvenu
Eurescom GmbH

Eurescom has recently participated in several high-impact events, underscoring its commitment to advancing next-generation communication technologies, particularly 6G. Through collaborative workshops, panels, and strategic projects, Eurescom has been contributing to the future of telecom, addressing sustainability and system architecture challenges within the industry.

“Open 6G for All” International Panel at Berlin 6G Conference 2024

At the 2024 Berlin 6G Conference, Eurescom took part in an international panel titled “Open 6G for All – Towards Open 6G Research Infrastructures and Toolkits (Open6GRIT).” This panel assembled prominent experts in telecommunications and research to discuss strategies for developing open, universally accessible 6G infrastructures that foster global collaboration and innovation. Representatives included leading voices from academia, industry, and key institutions, each contributing unique insights into the journey toward open 6G research and development.

The panel featured the following distinguished experts:

  • Aki (Akihiro) Nakao from Tokyo University, Japan
  • Kostas Chalkiotis from Deutsche Telekom, Germany
  • Maria Guta from the European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands
  • Serge Fdida from Sorbonne Université, France
  • Anastasius Gavras from Eurescom GmbH, Germany
  • Sparsh Singhal from the NGMN Alliance, Germany
  • Abhimanyu Gosain from Northeastern University, USA
  • Thomas Magedanz from Fraunhofer FOKUS and Technische Universität Berlin, Germany


Panelists from the Berlin 6G Conference 2024

Each panelist provided insights into the technical and infrastructural requirements essential to realizing an open, adaptable 6G environment. In his remarks, Anastasius Gavras of Eurescom emphasized the importance of global cooperation and accessible research platforms to propel 6G innovation forward. He highlighted Eurescom’s commitment to creating open toolkits and infrastructures that democratize 6G development, enabling wider participation and faster progress across industries.

This session underscored the critical role of international partnerships in 6G’s success. The panel advocated for creating collaborative research ecosystems and accessible resources to help overcome current challenges in the field. The discussions reinforced the vision of an inclusive, forward-thinking 6G ecosystem that not only advances technology but also supports sustainable, equitable growth across the telecom industry.

Further information

Contribution to the GUIDE 5G Corridors Workshop on 5G coverage along transport corridors in Brussels

On October 16, 2024, Eurescom’s Director David Kennedy participated in the third session of the GUIDE Workshop, alongside Pierre-Yves Danet, Senior Consultant at Smart Connectivity. The session focused on best practices and lessons learned from the 5G Corridors projects under Call 1 and Call 2. David Kennedy shared valuable insights into the ongoing work and developments in the 5G Corridors initiative, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted coverage and seamless end-to-end connectivity.

Key takeaways from the session included the need for robust and stable consortia to effectively navigate the complexities of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) deployment and the CEFDigital processes. The discussion also highlighted the readiness of most projects to share both passive and active network infrastructure, a crucial step in accelerating 5G corridor deployments.

The workshop, organized with the support of HaDEA, DG CNECT, and the 5GMEC4EU project, served as a platform to engage stakeholders in strategic discussions on the 5G Corridor deployment roadmap. It aimed to stimulate public-private partnerships and foster a community around 5G-CAM implementation, ensuring continued progress in the deployment of 5G corridors.


David Kennedy, Director, Eurescom GmbH opening the GUIDE Workshop in Brussels

Further information

Sustainability and future viability of European telecommunications infrastructures Workshop at the Digital Gipfel 2024 in Frankfurt

On October 22, 2024, David Kennedy, Director at Eurescom and Chair of the Eureka Cluster CELTIC Next, participated in the Digital Gipfel 2024 workshop in Frankfurt on “Sustainability and Future Viability of European Telecommunications Infrastructures.” The session brought together experts to discuss Europe’s strategy for building sustainable, inclusive telecom networks that leverage satellite technology, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and advanced 5G/6G standards to meet Europe’s connectivity and ecological goals.

The 45-minutes session began with a brief introduction, leading into a fishbowl-style discussion among panelists, including David Kennedy, Dr. Christoph Bach from Ericsson, Prof. Tim Bruysten of Charta digitale Vernetzung, and others. They explored the role of NTNs and satellite systems in complementing traditional networks, aiming to provide continuous, high-quality coverage throughout Europe and close connectivity gaps in remote regions. Panelists emphasized that integrated satellite and terrestrial communications are crucial to achieving “digital connectivity for everyone, always and everywhere.”

The session included an open-chair discussion, allowing the audience to engage with the panelists and discuss the sustainability and regulatory needs of this vision. The discussion concluded with a call for actionable steps to support Europe’s digital future, highlighting Kennedy’s and Eurescom’s commitment to collaborate for a resilient, eco-conscious telecom infrastructure across Europe.


Digital-Gipfel outdoor entrance

Further information

NEM Summit 2024: Pillar and Pioneer in the Future of Media and Virtual Worlds

The 15th edition of the NEM Summit “Emerging virtual worlds for a new digital society”, held on October 23-24, 2024, in Brussels, brought together leading experts from across Europe to explore the latest trends and challenges in the media and creative industries. Hosted at the VRT Headquarters, this year’s summit focused on the rapidly evolving realms of extended reality (XR) and the metaverse, with discussions highlighting innovations, ethical challenges, and the integration of AI technologies.


NEM Summit 2024 opening in Brussels

Featured keynote presentations set the day one on topics such as interactive technologies, the future role of 6G in XR, and the ethical implications of virtual environments. Sessions examined the use of AI in creating immersive experiences, the role of digital twins, and the future of virtual productions. Discussions highlighted the increasing importance of accessibility and inclusivity in these digital landscapes.

On Day 2, the focus shifted to the immersive web and making virtual worlds more inclusive and accessible. Panels emphasized strategies for enhancing accessibility, creating democratic virtual spaces, and developing adaptive web experiences for XR. The summit concluded with an open dialogue on establishing a European Virtual Worlds Initiative, outlining steps to unify efforts in technology, community building, and strategic planning.

The NEM Summit has grown since its inception in 2008 into a premier event for collaboration and innovation in media and technology. With this year’s recordings available online, the discussions promise to inspire future advancements in Europe’s virtual worlds ecosystem.

Further information

Eurescom Joins WiTaR, Riga TechGirls and SNS ICE at 5G Techritory to Lead “Shifting the Balance” Discussion in Riga, Latvia

On October 30, 2024, WiTaR, in collaboration with SNS ICE and Riga TechGirls, led an impactful discussion on gender diversity and sustainability in the telecom industry at the 5G Techritory event. The session, titled “Shifting the balance: Advancing diversity in Telecoms R&D,” brought together industry and academic leaders to explore how gender balance can shape the future of 6G and drive innovation.

The event began with opening remarks on creating inclusive tech spaces, where representatives from WiTaR and Riga TechGirls stressed the importance of welcoming environments for women and under-represented groups in telecom. A key part of the event was an interactive Bar Camp, where attendees shared insights and challenges related to strengthening gender diversity in telecom R&D.

Focus areas included the need for continuous digital skills development to equip a diverse workforce for 6G, the role of sustainability in 6G networks, and the importance of diverse perspectives in cybersecurity. The discussion also covered how diversity enhances the accessibility of 6G use cases, underlining the necessity for ongoing improvements in gender equality in telecom.


Pooja Mohnani, Project Manager, Eurescom GmbH presenting WiTaR at the 5G Techritory 2024

On October 30, 2024, WiTaR, in collaboration with SNS ICE and Riga TechGirls, led an impactful discussion on gender diversity and sustainability in the telecom industry at the 5G Techritory event. The session, titled “Shifting the balance: Advancing diversity in Telecoms R&D,” brought together industry and academic leaders to explore how gender balance can shape the future of 6G and drive innovation.

The event began with opening remarks on creating inclusive tech spaces, where representatives from WiTaR and Riga TechGirls stressed the importance of welcoming environments for women and under-represented groups in telecom. A key part of the event was an interactive Bar Camp, where attendees shared insights and challenges related to strengthening gender diversity in telecom R&D.

Focus areas included the need for continuous digital skills development to equip a diverse workforce for 6G, the role of sustainability in 6G networks, and the importance of diverse perspectives in cybersecurity. The discussion also covered how diversity enhances the accessibility of 6G use cases, underlining the necessity for ongoing improvements in gender equality in telecom.

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Agnese Bļodniece, Riga Techgirls

The event was a great success, thanks to the contributions of speakers and attendees, including Pooja Mohnani (Eurescom), Prachi Sachdeva (TNO), Rolands Bīrons (Tet.lv), Maria Giuffrida (Trust-IT Services), Anna Olovna (Tet.lv), and others, who are collectively working to build a more diverse and sustainable telecom future.

Further information

Conclusion

These events demonstrate Eurescom’s proactive role in shaping the future of telecommunications, especially through collaborative international engagements. The focus on open research infrastructures, sustainability, and cutting-edge system architecture reflects Eurescom’s strategic vision to drive advancements in 6G technology while fostering global partnerships and supporting sustainable innovation across the telecom ecosystem.

MWC Barcelona 2024

Several Eurescom projects participated in the world’s most influential connectivity event

From the 27th of February to the 2nd of March 2024, the global mobile ecosystem organisation GSMA hosted the 14th edition of the Mobile World Congress. This year, the event witnessed a total of 101,000 unique in-person attendees from 205 countries. Among them, 59% were professionals from the sector of core mobile ecosystem. Amidst, of the 2,700 exhibitors, sponsors and partners in the conference programme, were selected Eurescom projects.

Joint demonstration booth of the SNS JU projects, 6G-SANDBOX and CENTRIC

Keysight Technologies in collaboration with the partners NVIDIA and InterDigital participated to promote two demonstrations from the SNS JU project 6G-SANDBOX and CENTRIC from 27th to 29th Feb 2024.

Both projects are running under the Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (SNS JU). They showcased their latest wireless innovations, including Nemo Wireless Network Solutions, such as 6G using AI Neural Receiver Design and AI/ML and sensing in 6G solutions.


Michael Dieudonne, project coordinator of 6G-SANDBOX Project (Keysight Technologies), Sebastian Cammerer (NVIDIA), Alejandro Villena Rodríguez (Keysight Technologies) and Germán Corrales Madueño (Keysight Technologies).

OPTI-6G at the MWC 2024

One of Eurescom’s newly started project, OPTI-6G, participated at the MWC 2024 through one of its consortium partners, RunEL, between the 27th and 29th of February 2024. Amid, among the other innovative start-ups, RunEL presented its technology and experience, and the OPTI-6G project challenge to design low cost, light weight, low electronic footprint Optical Wireless Communications Remote Units (O-RUs) that can be elegantly integrated into near IR access points.

6G-SANDBOX presentation at the Spanish Pavilion

On the 27th of February, Alfonso Carrillo Aspiazu, Senior Architect in Edge and Telco Solutions at OpenNebula Systems, presented at the Spanish Pavilion on “Accelerating 5G deployment on the Telco Edge with Open Nebula”. He presentation included innovations from 6G-SANDBOX project and the announcement of their Second Open Call.

During the full day, he and his colleague, Bruno Rodriguez, also hosted a booth to present the company and the latest results of 6G-SANDBOX project.


Alfonso Carrillo Aspiazu presenting at the Spanish Pavilion.


MCW Barcelona 2024 in numbers, event report image.

Conclusion

Mobile World Congress 2024 provided a platform where technology, community and commerce converge and hence an opportunity for Eurescom projects to disseminate their results in person and to expand their network and representation in the technical world.

Further information

MWC Barcelona 2022

5G-PPP participation at the world’s largest telecoms event

From 28 February to 3 March, MWC Barcelona, still commonly referred to as Mobile World Congress, attracted a large crowd of 10,700 industry experts to attend in person. After two years of Covid-19 restrictions this figure was still below pre-Covid levels. Yet, the event clearly indicated a return of the industry to something closer to normality, despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which started four days before MWC opened its doors. Among the booths in the exhibition and the presentations in the conference programme were also a number of 5G PPP projects, which presented their latest results.

5G-TOURS results at the ATOS stand

One of the partners of the 5G-TOURS project is ATOS, who are leading the work package on use cases and requirements. As an active contributor to the network automation work within 5G-TOURS, ATOS has contributed both to the project use cases as well as external standards and open-source activities. At its own stand ATOS presented and demonstrated various research activities, including the 5G-TOURS activities around network automation based on AI.

Joint stand of 5G-TOURS, 5G-Heart and 5G-Solutions

5G-TOURS joined forces with two other 5G-PPP projects 5G-Heart and 5G-Solutions in order to have a stand in Hall 7. The experts at the stand answered the questions of numerous visitors and showed videos about the projects’ use cases, including 5G-TOURS from the three nodes in Turin (Italy), Rennes (France), and Athens (Greece).


Presentation by Diego Perino, Director of Telefónica I+D

MWC presence of the DAEMON project

The DAEMON project on Network Intelligence for Adaptive and Self-learning Mobile Networks was present at MWC through fliers and brochures available at the stands of several project partners like i2CAT and Software Radio Systems. This material provided a thorough description of the context, vision and objectives of the project and was freely available to all attendees visiting the partners’ booths. The project was also featured in a looped video displayed on a monitor at the i2CAT stand.

In addition, research results from the DAEMON project were presented on stage by Diego Perino, Director of Telefónica I+D. In his talk about the impact and benefits of integrating AI in future-generation mobile networks, he explicitly acknowledged the contribution by DAEMON.

Special session of Catalonia Tourism Cluster

5G-TOURS was invited to a special session of the Catalonia ICT Tourism Cluster. In addition to other projects and local contributors from Catalonia, 5G-TOURS technical manager Belkacem Mouhouche presented the tourism node of the project and explained how the 5G-TOURS use cases developed in Turin will help tourists and citizens enjoy museums and touristic places better, especially in the COVID era.

Conclusion

Mobile World Congress provided the opportunity for a few 5G-PPP projects to disseminate their results in person instead of online, as it had become usual in over two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this respect, the stands at MWC where very useful to make people aware of the 5G-PPP project activities. Presentations on stage and in special sessions added to the achieved impact.

Further information

5G-VINNI project on TelecomTV

Roundtables about uses cases and network slicing

Milon Gupta
Eurescom

In September and October, the 5G Verticals Innovation Infrastructure project of the 5G PPP, 5G-VINNI, which is funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, presented selected results in a series of online roundtables. Topics included 5G-VINNI’s use cases as well as orchestration and automation of network slicing. The roundtables were organised and produced in collaboration with TelecomTV.

Roundtable about 5G-enabled use cases

On 21st September, TelecomTV published the first of two roundtable videos about 5G innovation for industry verticals. The session sponsored by 5G-VINNI partner Nokia featured two speakers from the project: 5G-VINNI Coordinator Pål Grønsund from Telenor Research and David Kennedy, Director of Eurescom. They discussed, how 5G-VINNI has contributed to unlocking the value of 5G-enabled use cases. Pål Grønsund shared the achievements and lessons learned through the 5G-VINNI project, while David Kennedy presented Eurescom’s perspective on the drivers behind the 5G PPP programme as a European, multi-vendor 5G environment for vertical industry-driven 5G use case trials.

Roundtable about orchestration and automation of network slicing

On 28th September, TelecomTV published the second roundtable video. This roundtable focused on orchestration and automation of network slicing, in particular on how 5G-VINNI has proved how zero-touch digital orchestration can simplify network slicing and lay the foundation for reliable, profitable, industry-specific 5G services.

The session featured two speakers from the project: Deepa Ramachandran, Director Product Management – Digital Operations at Nokia, shared insights into Nokia’s experiences with orchestration and automated network slicing. Dr. Ilangko Balasingham, Professor of Medical Signal Processing and Communications at the Intervention Center of Oslo University Hospital, talked about some of the health-related use cases explored and what they have shown.

On 5th October, an online Q&A session took place, in which anyone interested had the chance to ask questions to the 5G-VINNI speakers from both sessions.

TelecomTV - 5G-VINNI Roundtable 1
Discussing 5G-VINNI results (from left): moderator Guy Daniels, 5G-VINNI Coordinator Pål Grønsund from Telenor Research and David Kennedy, Director of Eurescom

Further information:
5G-VINNI roundtables on the TelecomTV website – https://www.telecomtv.com/content/5g-vinni/

5G_footprint_in_broadcast_technology

IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting

Anastasius Gavras
Eurescom

The 16th edition of the IEEE International Symposium on Broadband Multimedia Systems and Broadcasting 2021 (BMSB 2021) was planned to be held in Chengdu, China on 4–6 August 2021. Like many other events, also BMSB 2021 was turned into a fully online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The symposium is the premier forum for the presentation and exchange of technical advances in the rapidly converging areas of multimedia broadcasting, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and net­-
working technologies.

Overall, the core program of the conference was held according to the published schedule, and the online format only affected the poster and best paper award sessions with a slightly adapted timing.

During the opening of the symposium, three keynote presentations addressed the audience outlining future trends and recent innovations and developments in the sector. Madeleine Noland, President of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), USA presented her view on innovations in the Next Generation TV. Qingjun Zeng, Deputy Director General of China Broadcasting Network (CBN), China presented the recent developments in 5G broadcast in China. Finally, Dr. Yue Zhang, Associate Professor, University of Leicester, UK and Technical Manager of the EU-funded 5G PPP project 6G BRAINS presented the project.

The main programme featured 10 sessions covering a wide variety of topics, including multimedia transmission systems, artificial intelligence in next generation systems, service quality and content, immersive image processing and applications, multimedia signal processing and last but not least multimedia networking.

Beyond 5G and 6G in broadband multimedia and broadcast systems

In his keynote Dr. Zhang presented the work of 6G BRAINS in view of the emergence of beyond 5G and 6G concepts and prototype solutions that will have a major impact on the broadband multimedia and broadcast industry. Dr. Zhang used a 6G BRAINS use case as a requirements-driving example. High-resolution, high frame-rate wireless video cameras can easily be deployed in a factory environment to unleash a long list of new features and services in an industry environment. Among others this technology contributes to anomaly detection, improved safety, process tracking and logging, remote control and predictive maintenance. State-of-the-art cameras already put a stress of up to 3 Gbps per unit on the wireless network, which along with the high reliability requirements in such a setting, illustrate the ambition.

Further information:
IEEE BMSB 2021 website – https://bmsb.scimeeting.cn/en/web/index/