Eurescom leads the Horizon Europe project SNS CO-OP, which is selected to support and enhance the Smart Networks and Services initiative by coordinating the strategic activities that capture and promote the European industry’s vision for 6G.
Through the lighthouse project SUSTAIN-6G, led by Nokia, Eurescom collaborates with a consortium of leading innovators and industrialists to develop a strategy for a sustainable future for ICT and the communications infrastructure at large. This includes developing technologies that prioritize environmental, economic, and societal sustainability for all future services.
Eurescom, a leading European provider of management and support services in the high-tech area, marks the launch of two pivotal collaborative research projects in January 2025. Under the umbrella of Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU), these projects aim to solidify and improve European leadership in 6G technology, fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven network ecosystem that supports the EU’s long-term ambitions for universal next-generation technologies.
SNS CO-OP: SNS COLLABORATIVE OPERATIONS AND OUTPUT OPTIMISATION
SNS CO-OP is dedicated to coordinating strategic activities and aligning industry efforts across the currently, 78 projects of the SNS JU. In order to advance European initiatives in smart communications networks and next-generation technology, SNS CO-OP will amplify the achievements of SNS projects, highlight Europe’s leadership in 6G, by building on the successes of the previous support activities in the SNS OPS and SNS ICE projects. SNS CO-OP will ensure that the impact of the SNS JU continues to evolve and expand by supporting future phases of 6G development across the EU and beyond.
The SNS CO-OP consortium, is composed of 22 key partners,and will be led Uwe Herzog, Programme Manager, Eurescom. This project will ensure a seamless transition of the SNS support activities for the next two years. The carefully structured work plan of SNS CO-OP is designed to support and assist delivering the global impact of the key 6G developments as envisioned in the SNS work programme. It will establish and maintain a dialogue in the wider European 6G SNS community to consolidate the European Industry view on 6G and to promote the European vision around the world.
SUSTAIN-6G: SUSTainability-Advanced and Innovative Networking with 6G
SUSTAIN-6G aims to ensure that future 6G networks contribute to sustainable growth across key sectors. This unique approach will examine sustainability impacts across the full life-cycle of 6G technology, and apply the developed insights across multiple vertical sectors. By identifying key intersections between sustainability needs and the capabilities of 6G, the project will clarify the ways in which 6G can be used to responsibly drive economic and societal benefits.
SUSTAIN-6G’s mission is clear: to make sustainability integral to the design, deployment, and operation of 6G networks. SUSTAIN-6G will help shape a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive digital future.
Together, SNS CO-OP and SUSTAIN-6G represent a significant part of the unified European SNS Initiative to advance 6G networks that are highly performant but also resilient and responsible. While SNS CO-OP will foster collaboration and strategic alignment across the large and diverse 6G SNS community, SUSTAIN-6G will bring a focused approach to sustainable technology development, considering both the immediate and long-term impacts of 6G technology on society, the environment, and the economy.
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In January 2024 a new SNS JU funded project was started, called OPTI-6G (Grant Agreement number: 101139292). OPTI-6G develops an optical 6G cell free networks for significantly improved indoor communications. In addition to improved connectivity OPTI-6G will use the developed technology for the very accurate measurement of position and orientation of end user equipment. Advancements provided by OPTI-6G will be showcased in a proof-of-concept demonstrator.
Eurescom started the ESA 6G SmartSat project together with its subcontractors Airbus Germany GmbH, Deutsche Telekom AG and Fraunhofer FOKUS in January 2024. 6G SmartSat focuses on beyond 5G/6G networking architectures for multi-layered non-terrestrial networks and smart satellites. In this context the project considers the concurrent trends of 5G and beyond 5G NTN, mega-constellations, re-purposable payloads and the concept of multi-layer non-terrestrial networks (ML-NTN), and will assess viable alternatives. The project is planned to conclude in the middle of 2025.
Horizon Europe INPACE project
As part of a large consortium under the leadership of G.A.C. Group France, Eurescom started a new Horizon Europe support action INPACE – Indo-Pacific-European Hub for Digital Partnerships: Trusted Digital Technologies for Sustainable Well-Being, Grant Agreement number 101135568, in January 2024. The mission of INPACE is to actively support the implementation of the EC Digital Partnerships with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, and the cooperation with India in the context of the Trade and Technology Council, by creating a sustainable and interactive multi-stakeholder Indo-Pacific European Hub.
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