EU Awards More Funds for 6G Projects

The European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU), the entity responsible for advancing 6G development within the European Union, has allocated €22 million across five newly selected projects. These initiatives prioritize the development of connected devices and the optimization of data for AI-native network architectures.

The organization stated that these selections are intended to address critical requirements for the forthcoming phase of 6G evolution. The primary objective is to enable European researchers and enterprises to transition promising technologies from laboratory settings to large-scale trials and commercial implementation. The SNS JU, which receives partial EU funding, emphasized that Europe is at a decisive juncture in its 6G strategy amidst intensifying global competition. The selected projects are 6G-AID, Hemes-6G, EUnicon-6G, EU-India-6G-Bridge, and SNS Impact.

The 6G-AID project focuses on establishing a European data foundation for AI-driven networks, while Hemes-6G will integrate eight EU-based testbeds into a unified platform for extensive research. EUnicon-6G aims to identify connectivity opportunities for non-smartphone devices, and the EU-India-6G-Bridge will facilitate deeper technical cooperation with India. Finally, SNS Impact is designed to coordinate and support collaborative efforts across multiple projects.

Erzsebet Fitori, Executive Director of the SNS JU, noted that these projects will provide the industry with improved access to the data, infrastructure, and partnerships necessary to commercialize 6G research. For the public, these efforts lay the groundwork for more secure and capable connectivity in the future. “These initiatives ensure that Europe plays a leading role in defining the technological standards that will characterize future communications,” Fitori remarked.