Europe is investing heavily in the future of telecommunications, with four major 6G projects involving the University of Oulu launching in January 2025. Funded through the SNS JU (Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking), these initiatives represent a substantial EU commitment, with a total budget of €39.6 million across the projects. Collectively, the projects aim to tackle critical challenges in sustainability, resilience, collaboration, and human-centric innovation.
SNS JU’s role in shaping Europe’s 6G development is significant. The SNS JU was established as part of the EU’s broader strategy to ensure Europe remains competitive in the global race for 6G leadership, countering major investments from regions like the US and Asia. By funding ambitious projects, the SNS JU ensures research aligns with Europe’s goals of digital sovereignty, competitiveness, and inclusivity. The four projects (SUSTAIN-6G, 6G VERSUS, AMBIENT 6G, and SNS-CO OP) reflect this vision, addressing sustainability, resilience, human-centric design, and collaboration. Together, they demonstrate the multidisciplinary approach needed to link technological progress with societal impact.
“These projects reflect Europe’s commitment to advancing not just technology but also the societal and environmental priorities that come with it. By funding projects that combine innovation with responsibility, we are shaping a 6G future that benefits everyone,” says professor Ari Pouttu from the University of Oulu. He is 6G Flagship’s Vice Director and chairperson of the Expert Advisory Group of Networld Europe.
Here’s a closer look at the mission and goals of each project.
SUSTAIN-6G: Leading Sustainability in 6G Development
Duration: January 2025 – June 2027
Funding: €13M (Total Budget), €570K (University of Oulu)
Designated as the Sustainability Lighthouse project for SNS JU, SUSTAIN-6G’s mission is to embed environmental, social, and economic sustainability principles into the foundations of 6G development. The project’s overarching goal is to create a digital ecosystem that meets the demands of next-generation connectivity and aligns with global sustainability objectives. To achieve this, SUSTAIN-6G will focus on designing energy-efficient networks to minimise environmental impact and developing advanced ways to reduce waste—just some examples of its broader commitment to tackling key sustainability challenges. At the same time, it seeks to promote equitable access to 6G technologies, ensuring that connectivity benefits are distributed inclusively across society. The project also explores how 6G can actively support global efforts to lower carbon emissions and enable sustainable digital solutions. By combining technological innovation with sustainability principles, SUSTAIN-6G aims to set a new global benchmark for responsible digital infrastructure, shaping networks that are as ethical as they are advanced.
6G VERSUS: 6G Vertical Trials for Sustainability
Duration: January 2025 – December 2027
Funding: €14.5M (Total Budget), €12.1M (Grant), €930K (University of Oulu)
6G VERSUS is a pioneering initiative designed to bridge technological innovation with strategic experimentation to achieve tangible sustainability outcomes. Leveraging advanced 6G research platforms across Europe, the project conducts large-scale trials and pilots to explore sustainable solutions in five environmentally conscious vertical industries. The project introduces a novel methodology that transforms existing use cases into 6G applications, structured as Vertical Apps (V-Apps), Network Apps (N-Apps), and AI-assisted Apps (AI-Apps). This triadic framework optimises the data and control planes of 6G systems. It facilitates seamless information flow and decision-making processes. With the support of six 6G platforms spanning across Europe, 6G-VERSUS aims to demonstrate the profound sustainable, economic and societal impact of 6G technology, propelling towards a more sustainable and prosperous society.
AMBIENT 6G: Creating a Sustainable IoT Ecosystem
Duration: January 2025 – December 2027
Funding: €8M (Total budget), €778K (University of Oulu)
The AMBIENT-6G project tackles the urgent need for sustainable IoT solutions in an era where billions of connected devices are set to reshape daily life. Traditional battery-powered devices bring environmental challenges and high maintenance costs. To manage this, the project is set to develop intelligent energy-neutral devices (ENDs) and a supporting 6G network infrastructure. This project focuses on designing, prototyping, and validating hardware and software solutions for ultra-low-power 6G networks. Innovations include energy harvesting, wireless power transfer, intelligent resource management, and on-device machine learning. The project aims to reduce waste and significantly improve energy efficiency by enabling devices to operate without reliance on traditional batteries. A key aspect of AMBIENT-6G is its active role in 3GPP ambient IoT standardisation activities, ensuring the project's breakthroughs set the foundation for a sustainable IoT ecosystem. With these advancements, AMBIENT-6G addresses environmental responsibility and establishes standards that will drive the next generation of IoT connectivity.
SNS-CO OP: Fostering Collaboration for 6G Innovation
Duration: January 2025 – June 2027
Funding: 4,1 M€ (Total), 70 k€ (University of Oulu)
SNS-CO OP (Smart Networks and Services Cooperation) focuses on collaboration, within Europe and globally. It aims to strengthen Europe's position in the global 6G landscape by fostering partnerships between research institutions, industries, and policymakers. The project emphasises knowledge sharing and coordinated efforts to set international standards for 6G. It works to ensure that European innovation is not siloed but contributes to shaping global norms. By aligning research agendas and pooling resources, SNS-CO OP wants to keep Europe at the forefront of 6G development.