The Quantum Secure Networks Partnership (QSNP) project aims at creating a sustainable European ecosystem in quantum cryptography and communication. A majority of its partners, which include world-leading academic groups, research and technology organizations (RTOs), quantum component and system spin-offs, cybersecurity providers, integrators, and telecommunication operators, were members of the European Quantum Flagship projects CIVIQ, UNIQORN and QRANGE. QSNP thus gathers the know-how and expertise from all technology development phases, ranging from innovative designs to development of prototypes for field trials. QSNP is structured around three main Science and Technology (ST) pillars. The first two pillars, “Next Generation Protocols” and “Integration”, focus on frontier research and innovation, led mostly by academic partners and RTOs. The third ST pillar “Use cases and Applications” aims at expanding the industrial and economic impact of QSN technologies and is mostly driven by companies. In order to achieve the specific objectives within each pillar and ensure that know-how transfer and synergy between them are coherent and effective, QSNP has established ST activities corresponding to the three main layers of the technology value chain, “Components and Systems”, “Networks” and “Cryptography and Security”. This framework will allow achieving the ultimate objective of developing quantum communication technology for critical European infrastructures, such as EuroQCI, as well as for the private information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. QSNP will contribute to the European sovereignty in quantum technology for cybersecurity. Additionally, it will generate significant economic benefits to the whole society, including training new generations of scientists and engineers, as well as creating high-tech jobs in the rapidly growing quantum industry.

The 6G-EWOC project aims to contribute to the development of future 6G-AI based networks by ending with TRL-4-level developments on critical technologies and devices for expanding the reach of 6G, especially in high mobility scenarios. It is addressing Key Societal Value indicators (KVI) defined by the Work Programme and developing KV enablers such as services for coordination, precise positioning and localization, multi-agent supporting network architecture and joint communication and sensing. The three ambitions of 6G-EWOC focus on: AMB1, Optical Wireless Communications (OWC) for V2V and high-rate (Gb/s) V2I applications, chip-scale optical beamformers, and developing connected laser/radio detection, ranging, and communication (Lidar/Radar). AMB2, PIC and ASIC for tuneable transmitter and receiver concepts for fiber-based fronthaul supporting 50 Gbps and 100 Gbps per wavelength over DWDM fiber links and SDN-enabled photonic switching. AMB3 focuses on AI-assisted control and orchestration of resources for the multi-band, heterogeneous 6G-EWOC network concept and AI-based applications development for autonomous vehicles. Up to 17 KPIs are expected to be validated at three final demonstrations. In conclusion, 6G-EWOC search to develop an AI-enhanced fibre-wireless optical 6G network in support of connected mobility by creating a new access network for high mobility scenarios and expanding the reach of 6G through the integration of optical and wireless technologies, free space optics, and joint communication and sensing. It is supported by a fast, reconfigurable, highly dynamic, and customizable optical fiber fronthaul infrastructure, minimizing optoelectronic transitions by tuneable and programmable devices and low energy photonic switching of (packet/optical) spectrum and spatial resources, controlled by AI-based SDN. Providing end-to-end connectivity between AI-based edge computation units supporting connected mobility in a fast reconfigurable network architecture.

Future networks will support several applications that require extending fiber-optic quality of experience to wireless links. This means connectivity at extremely high data rates with deterministic performance (guaranteed requirements in terms of reliability and time response). Virtual avatar presence, traffic control, autonomous driving, remote health monitoring, cyber physical systems for intelligent transportation, industrial automation are only a few examples of anticipated use cases. Owing to the large amount of available bandwidth, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute has identified terahertz (THz) as a key technology for future wireless networks. TeraWireless is the first EU training-through-research industrial doctoral network of doctoral candidates and senior supervisors fully committed to lay the theoretical, algorithmic, and architectural foundations for enabling THz systems at optical speed with deterministic performance. TeraWireless will 1) put forth the innovative ultra-MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) technology for increasing the data rate and link reliability through spatial multiplexing and superdirective beamforming, and will pioneer the development of electromagnetic and communication models for evaluating its performance in low-scattering THz channels, where multipath propagation cannot be exploited, by integrating sensing, localization, communication capabilities; 2) leverage the emerging concept of semantic and goal-oriented communications by folding message semantics and goals of communication within communication layers; 3) develop innovative physics-based ML solutions for energy-efficient, robust, reliable, and explainable-by-design implementations; 4) make available to the research community the EU’s and world’s first open-access and open-source simulation environment - integrating ray tracing, link-level, and system-level features - for evaluating and optimizing THz large-scale deterministic networks at optical speed.

X-TREME 6G proposal relies on a unique industry led consortium to provide a foundational open microelectronics platform in Europe with the objective to create and design key disruptive next generation chiplets and chipsets for 6G use cases. The idea is to break-up the full potential of best-in-class Silicon BiCMOS, InP and heterogeneous 3D integration for high capacity radio access technologies such as wireless back-hauling at sub-TeraHertz frequencies, Joint Communication And Sensing, Non Terrestrial Networks and Network as a Sensor. New classes of chipsets will unleash the full potential of 6G and enable the emergence of new applications through specific developments for the underpinning novel microelectronic technologies. X-TREME 6G valorizes also resource efficient 6G algorithms and an ML/AI software toolbox for computationally efficient silicon-ready baseband extensions. Part of the SNS “Microelectronic Lighthouse” visionary initiative, the proposal’s ambition is to establish and maintain a sustainable open platform for the duration of the SNS program and beyond, to support 6G verticals. By nurturing the links with the emerging Chips JU pilot lines, the platform acts as a first fabric to accelerate joint initiatives between SNS and Chips JUs. In a nutshell, X-TREME 6G will provide tangible contributions towards an experimentation EU framework for 6G, demonstrating the full benefit of the newly developed chipsets and chiplets for a set of emerging 6G high potential use cases (wireless back-hauling, JCAS, NTN, NaS); while being open to dynamically support the emerging 6G ecosystem (SMEs, Industries, Service Providers, Government etc.) and evaluate additional 6G challenges and expectations. By strengthening and extending the 6G functionality and microelectronics supply chain, X-TREME 6G contributes towards a network-centric democratized and open 6G ecosystem able to release the current hyperscaler’s market embrace, while empowers European Industry at large.

The COREnext project aims to build a computing architecture and digital components for sustainable and trustworthy B5G and 6G processing. This architecture must support an open, multi-vendor and multi-tenant disaggregated RAN by employing virtualization technology. A step forward in digital component design must be made to address the compute throughput and energy-efficiency requirements. This is addressed by the development of powerful and efficient heterogeneous accelerators, purpose-built for RAN computation and signal processing, as well as ultra-high-speed and low-power interconnects to support disaggregation of compute resources. A cornerstone of the project is trustworthiness. The pervasiveness of B5G and 6G use cases requires deeply embedded hardware trust anchors to fulfil the vision of secure disaggregated compute systems. To realize these goals, the project brings together major telecommunications and microelectronics players as well as academic research partners. A strategic roadmap will offer a transparent path towards future exploitation of the generated research results, fostering a continuing European strategy for the emergence of European digital capabilities in this communication-computing domain.