Why is 6G-REFERENCE part of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)?
In October 2023, the SNS JU announced its new 27 research, innovation, and trial projects that commenced operations as of 1 January 2024 with a total budget of €130 millions, being 6G-REFERENCE one of these 27 projects, presented in a webinar in March.
The projects represent a “significant stride towards advancing smart networks and services, offering breakthrough innovations, experimental platforms and large-scale trials, driving world-class research and shaping the world’s digital connected future”, unveiled the SNS JU.
Each of the winning projects explores innovative approaches spanning a comprehensive spectrum of 6G domains. 6G-REFERENCE, 6G hardware enablers for cell free coherent communications and sensing, envisions a future where urban areas are equipped with sustainable solutions that can cope with the ever-increasing traffic demands and population densification, while providing disruptive capabilities like the materialization of the internet of sense.
For that, the 6G-REFERENCE consortium will develop integrated circuit and antenna component solutions, including dynamic frequency filtering and modulated radiation, to enable efficient spectrum coexistence schemes, and deploy practical hardware enablers in terms of low complexity, cost and power consumption that could end up constituting a reference design for future 6G-distributed radios.
6G-REFERENCE, Innovating in Microelectronics-based Solutions for 6G Networks
6G-REFERENCE belongs to the Call 2 Projects Stream B5 ‘Microelectronics-based Solutions for 6G Networks’ of the SNS JU. In fact, it has been featured in the SNS JU Journal 2024.
Call 2 B5 projects will contribute to the strong push towards the advancement of European microelectronics in providing solutions for next-generation communication networks and devices at various levels of the device data processing chain, from baseband and mixed-signal processing to radio frequency (RF) and antenna systems covering frequencies from sub-6 GHz to THz.
Our project is joined by FirstTo6G (Fourier-Domain TRx Solutions Enabling Widespread Realisation of 6G) and TeraGreen (Towards Energy-Efficient Tbps Wireless Links).
The rest of the 27 projects part of the SNS JU community are:
- System Architecture: 6G-CLOUD, 6G-INTENSE Project, 6G-TWIN, Project EXIGENCE, ORIGAMI Project.
- Wireless Communication Technologies and Signal Processing: 6G-DISAC, 6G-GOALS, 6G-MUSICAL, 6G-SENSES, INSTINCT, iSEE-6G.
- Communication Infrastructures Technologies and Devices: ECO-eNET, 6G EWOC Project, OPTI-6G Project, PROTEUS-6G.
- Reliable Services and Smart Security: SNS iTrust6G Project, Natwork Project, SAFE-6G, ROBUST-6G.
- Complementary SNS Experimental Pan-EU Federated Infrastructure: SUNRISE-6G.
- SNS Large Scale Trials and Pilots with Verticals: 6G-PATH, ENVELOPE Project.
- Harmonising 6G Advancements with Societal Values: 6G4Society.
- EU-US 6G R&I Cooperation: 6G-XCEL.
More About the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking
The European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) is a Public-Private Partnership that aims to facilitate and develop industrial leadership in Europe in 5G and 6G networks and services. The SNS JU funds projects that shape a solid research and innovation (R&I) roadmap and deployment agenda by engaging a critical mass of European stakeholders and facilitating international cooperation on various 6G initiatives.
6G-REFERENCE also belongs to the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (SNS 6G-IA).