The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has selected 16 winning projects from its third call for proposals, securing over 127 million EUR in funding to advance 6G research and innovation across Europe. These selected initiatives, involving 301 beneficiaries from 25 countries, focus on critical domains including sustainable AI-native architectures, next-generation microelectronics, and robust zero-trust security frameworks. Key projects such as FLECON-6G, UNITY-6G, and the Lighthouse initiatives SUSTAIN-6G and X-TREME 6G aim to develop flexible network infrastructures, energy-neutral IoT devices, and advanced chipsets to support the next generation of connectivity. Additionally, international collaborations with Japan and South Korea through projects like 6G-MIRAI and 6G-ARROW will foster global interoperability and standardization. The outcomes of these efforts are expected to strengthen European industrial leadership and contribute to the development of global 6G standards aligned with the EU Green Deal.
Keywords: 6G architecture, zero-trust security, quantum-safe, sustainability, AI-native