Sophia Antipolis, France The ETSI Research Conference took place on the 6th to 8th February 2023 in ETSI Headquarters, Sophia Antipolis, France.
This face-to-face event provided an exceptional opportunity for the research community to come together with industry representatives and standardization experts to discuss future technology research and links to standardization developments.
Maximizing the Impact of European 6G Research through Standardization
At the beginning of 2023, the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) launched the first phase of 5G / 6G research projects, many of which will play a crucial role in the definition of next generation networks. The ETSI Research Conference provided the perfect platform for these new projects to present their purpose and plans and exchange with the standards experts on their standardization roadmaps. More information about SNS JU projects is available here.
In addition, the ETSI Research Conference provided guidance to researchers on how to get involved in standardization, present success stories and examples of research being integrated into standards, as well as indications from the standards community as to where they would seek research input to help move next generation standardization forward.
The event enabled a fully interactive exchange between researchers, projects, industry and standards experts, with an overall objective of increasing visibility of European research initiatives and accelerating the journey from innovation / research, standards and on to global market deployments.
The event included poster sessions presenting several of the new SNS JU projects (see posters tab).
By attending the event:
- the research community learnt about the latest European research projects, and the plans for future activities and funding as well as guidance on when, where and how to get involved in standardization
- the standards community learnt about the latest innovative technology research areas that may have an impact on their future work, as well as making early connections to projects of relevance to their work
- the wider ICT community learnt about latest research and technology developments and network with the researchers who will be at the leading edge of these innovations
- all attendees enjoyed an open and honest exchange, and the ability to network with experts leading the technology innovation for the next generation of networks
Agenda
- Monday 6 February
14:00 - 15:30: SESSION 1: Opening Address and European 5G/6G Research Landscape
Chaired by Markus Mueck, ETSI Board RISE ChairThe session will provide an outline of the conference objectives, and will set the scene for research in Europe with a presentation of the main EC platforms.
- 14:00 Welcome and Opening Address
- Markus Mueck, ETSI Board RISE Chair
- Luis Jorge Romero, ETSI Director General
- 14:05 Welcome Address and State of SNS-JU, EU Landscape & Plans
Peter Stuckmann, SNS JU Interim Executive Director and Head of Unit, DG CONNECT, European Commission - 14:20 6G-IA Status and Plans for Action
Colin Willcock, 6G-IA Board - 14:35 NetworldEurope, SRIA Status and Plans for Action
Rui L Aguiar, Steering Board, NetworldEurope - 14:50 Code of Practice on Standardization in the New ERA for Research and Innovation
Gergely Tardos, DG Research & Innovation, European Commission - 15:05 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Markus Mueck
15:30 - 16:00: Networking Coffee Break and Posters' Visit
16:00 - 17:35: SESSION 2: National 6G Research Initiatives and Links to Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)
Chaired by Colin Willcock, 6G-IA Board ChairThe goal of the session will be to present several National 6G research initiatives and examine how they will work with SNS JU as well as feed research into standards.
- 16:00 Overview of German 6G R&D Platforms
Hans Schotten, 6G Platform Germany - 16:15 Overview of Finnish 6G R&D Landscape inc. 6G Flagship
Marcos Katz, 6G Flagship - 16:30 Overview of Spanish 6G R&I Landscape
Fernando Rico, CDTI - 16:45 Overview of the Dutch 6G R&D Collaboration in the Future Network Services Program
Paul Wijngaard, Future Network Services Foundation - 17:00 Overview of the UK R&D Landscape
Tom Kirkham, Innovate UK UKRI and Louise Lancaster, DCMS - 17:15 Overview of the French 6G R&D in the National Acceleration Strategy for 5G & Future Networks Technologies
Hakima Chaouchi, French High Education and Research Ministry - 17:25 Panel Discussion with the Session Speakers, moderated by Colin Willcock
17:45 Networking Drinks in ETSI Reception area
19:00: End of Day 1
- 14:00 Welcome and Opening Address
- Tuesday 7 February
09:00 - 10:30: SESSION 3: ETSI Tools & Services for Researchers and Academics
Chaired by David Boswarthick, Director NET (New Technology Department), ETSIThe objective of the session will be to present the various tools and enablers that ETSI provides to researchers, projects, and academia.
- 09:00 Overview of ETSI Tools & Services for Researchers
Markus Mueck, ETSI Board RISE - 09:15 ETSI Technology Radar
Christian Toche, ETSI Board TREND - 09:30 ETSI Support to Research Projects
David Boswarthick, ETSI - 09:45 Introduction to ETSI Support of Standardization Initiatives for Education about Standardization (EaS)
Gavin Craik, ETSI - 10:00 Overview of HSBooster and StandICT projects
Nicholas Ferguson, HSbooster.eu - 10:15 Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by David Boswarthick
10:30 - 11:00: Networking Coffee and Posters' Visit
11:00 - 12:30: SESSION 4: Enabling Interactions between Research & Standardization - Standards towards Research: Needs, Experiences and Enhancements,
Chaired by Diego Lopez, ETSI ISG PDL Chair, ETSI ISG NFV NOC ChairThe session will address how ETSI standards groups can better interact with research and innovation (provoking research input to technical work).
- 11:00 3GPP Open to Research: Where, When, How to Contribute
Thomas Haustein, Fraunhofer HHI - 11:15 The ETSI ISG NFV Research Agenda
Diego Lopez, ETSI ISG NFV NOC - 11:30 The ETSI ISG MEC Approach to Research
Walter Featherstone, ETSI ISG Multi-access Edge Computing (ISG MEC) - 11:45 Overview of ETSI ISG RIS: Research to Standards Story
Arman Shojaeifard, ETSI ISG Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (ISG RIS) - 12:00 Overview of ETSI ISG THz: Research to Standards Story
Thomas Kuerner, ETSI ISG TeraHertz (ISG THz) - 12:15 Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Diego Lopez
12:30 - 14:00: Networking Lunch and Posters' Visit
14:00 - 15:30: SESSION 5: Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Projects Part 1 (Stream A, Strand A1 - A7)
Chaired by Kostas Trichias, 6G-IAThe SNS Phase 1 (2022) Stream A projects target the development of smart communication components, systems, and networks following the evolution of 5G systems. These projects follow an evolutionary path towards the development of 6G networks, relying on the development of an intermediate technology point. As such, the solutions developped by these projects are closer to the current standardization activities of 3GPP and other relevant SDOs and stand a chance to impact standardization in the short to mid-term. To achieve that, clear technology evolution directions and concrete targets with regards to standardization organizations and Work Groups are needed, aligned with the current SDO roadmaps.
In this session, each project will present its key objectives, the technologies with potential for significant standardization impact and their standardization plans, and commonly discuss how to maximize short to mid-term impact in relevant SDOs.- 14:00 Project Presentation: 5G-STARDUST
Mohamed El Jaafari - 14:10 Project Presentation: ACROSS
Ioannis Markopoulos - 14:20 Project Presentation: BeGREEN
Mir Ghoraishi - 14:30 Project Presentation: NANCY
Alexandros Apostolos Boulogeorgos and Panagiotis Sarigiannidis - 14:40 Project Presentation: SEASON
Filippo Cugini and Ramon Casellas - 14:50 Project Presentation: VERGE
Oriol Sallent - 15:00 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Kostas Trichias
15:30 - 16:00: Networking Coffee and Posters' Visit
16:00 - 17:30: SESSION 6: Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Projects Part 2 (Stream B, Strand B1 and B4)
Chaired by Rui L. Aguiar, Steering Board Chair, NetworldEuropeThe SNS Phase 1 (2022) Stream B projects perform research for revolutionary technology advancements, in preparation for 6G and revolutionary advancements of IoT, devices and software. The strand B1 and B4 projects specifically will engage in 6G System Architecture research and Smart and Secure service development, respectively. These projects will attempt to address fundamental principles of the 6G system, which lay at the basis of technology standardization. Their findings stand the chance to significantly affect initial 6G discussions (use case/system requirements, KPIs, interfaces, etc.) in various SDO bodies, and as such concrete plans are needed with tight synchronization with the relevant SDO activities. Each project will present its key objectives, key enabling technologies researched and standardization plans, focusing on the identification of the proper SDO WG/body and the timing to maximize standardization impact.
- 16:00 Project Presentation: ADROIT6G
Kostas Ramantas - 16:10 Project Presentation: DETERMINISTIC6G (previously EINSTEIN6G)
Dhruvin Patel - 16:20 Project Presentation: PREDICT-6G
Zoltan Vincze - 16:30 Project Presentation: CONFIDENTIAL-6G
Drasko Draskovic - 16:40 Project Presentation: HORSE
Fabrizio Granelli - 16:50 Project Presentation: RIGOUROUS
Cristian Patachia - 17:00 Project Presentation: PRIVATEER
Diego Lopez - 17:10 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Rui L. Aguiar
17:30: Networking Cocktail in ETSI Reception area
19:00: End of day 2
- 09:00 Overview of ETSI Tools & Services for Researchers
- Wednesday 8 February
09:00 - 10:30: SESSION 7: Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Projects Part 3 (Stream B, Strand B2 and B3)
Chaired by Bernard Barani, Deputy Head of Unit, DG CONNECT, European CommissionThe SNS Phase 1 (2022) Stream B projects perform research for revolutionary technology advancements, in preparation for 6G and revolutionary advancements of IoT, devices and software. The strand B2 and B3 projects specifically will address Wireless communication and infrastructure technologies as well as 6G device technologies targeting innovative solutions of low TRL with a long-term horizon. As such, these projects stand to create some of the most significant innovations of the 6G system with end-to-end implications for the entire 6G chain. To ensure that these innovations become part of the 6G family of technologies, early planning and clear identification of the relevant SDO bodies and their respective roadmaps is necessary, while good knowledge of the ongoing standardization activities and decisions, will also help steer the project research in the correct direction to achieve maximum impact.
- 09:00 Project Presentation: 6GTANDEM
Parisa Aghdam - 09:10 Project Presentation: CENTRIC
Carles Navarro Manchon - 09:20 Project Presentation: TERRAMETA
George Alexandropoulos - 09:30 Project Presentation: TIMES
Luca Sanguinetti - 09:40 Project Presentation: 6G-NTN
Mohamed El Jaafari - 09:50 Project Presentation: 6G-SHINE
Gilberto Berardinelli - 10:00 Project Presentation: ETHER
Konstantinos Ntontin - 10:10 Project Presentation: SUPERIOT
Marcos Katz - 10:20 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Bernard Barani
10:30 - 11:00: Networking Coffee and Posters' Visit
11:00 - 12:30: SESSION 8: Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Projects Part 4 (Streams B, C, D, Strand B5, C1, D1)
Chaired by Pavlos Fournogerakis, SNS JUThe SNS Phase 1 (2022) projects of this session perform holistic research on the 6G system (strand B5), provide the necessary infrastructure, experimentation tools and interfaces to test and validate 6G innovative solutions (strand C) throughout the SNS program lifetime, and realize large-scale trials and pilots to investigate the performance and effect of the 6G solutions in realistic vertical use cases (strand D). These projects are tasked with providing the final end-to-end, holistic definition of the 6G system (from end-user requirements & use cases, to technologies, architecture, interfaces, devices and more) and to create the proper tools and put all previous innovations to the test, for a realistic evaluation of their capabilities. These activities go hand-in-hand with standardization activities as on one hand close monitoring of standardization developments will allow fine-tuning and adjustment of the research and proposed solutions and will allow for the identification of gaps that may be improved and on the other hand it will create opportunities for maximum standardization impact by offering solutions, evaluation data and insights in the correct moment to affect decision making within the SDOs.
- 11:00 Project Presentation: FIDAL
Ioannis Markopoulos - 11:15 Project Presentation: 6G-SANDBOX
Apostolis Salkintzis - 11:30 Project Presentation: 6G-BRICKS
Kostas Ramantas - 11:45 Project Presentation: HEXA-X II
Hannu Flinck - 12:00 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers and moderator
12:30 - 14:00: Networking Lunch and Posters' Visit
14:00 - 15:30: SESSION 9: Research into Standards - Lessons Learned, Overcoming Challenges
Chaired by Riccardo Trivisonno, 6G-IA Pre-Standards Working Group ChairDuring this session, attendees will hear from research projects who have successfully impacted standards.
- 14:00 The Role of 6G-IA Pre Standards Group
Riccardo Trivisonno, 6G-IA Pre-Standards Working Group Chair - 14:15 Project Presentation: HEXA-X I
Hannu Flinck - 14:30 Project Presentation: 5G-CLARITY
Mir Ghoraishi - 14:45 Overview of TERAFLOW H2020 Project - the journey from an EU Research Project to Standards Activity
Ricard Vilalta, ETSI Open Source Group TeraFlowSDN Chair (ETSI OSG TFS) - 15:00 Q&A and Panel Discussion with the session speakers, moderated by Riccardo Trivisonno
15:30 - 16:00: SESSION 10: Conclusions, Guidance for Researchers, Projects, Academics, Standards Makers and Next Steps
- Rui L. Aguiar, Steering Board Chair, NetworldEurope
- Bernard Barani, Deputy Head of Unit, DG CONNECT, European Commission
- Diego Lopez, ETSI ISG PDL Chair, ETSI ISG NFV NOC Chair
- David Boswarthick, Director NET, ETSI
16:00: End of the ETSI Research Conference 2023
- 09:00 Project Presentation: 6GTANDEM
Venue:
ETSI Headquarters
650 Route des Lucioles
06560 Valbonne - Sophia Antipolis
FRANCE
Tel: +33 4 92 94 42 00
Information about the venue, travel, visa, local transports, accommodation is available here.
Members of the Programme Committee:
- Rui L. Aguiar, Steering Board Chair, NetworldEurope
- Bernard Barani, Deputy Head of Unit, DG CONNECT, European Commission
- David Boswarthick, Director NET (New Technology Department), ETSI
- Carlos Lopez Rodriguez, Policy Officer, DG CONNECT, European Commission
- Diego Lopez, ETSI ISG PDL Chair, ETSI ISG NFV NOC Chair
- Markus Mueck, Programme Committee Chair, ETSI Board Vice Chair, ETSI Board RISE Chair
- Kostas Trichias, 6G-IA
- Riccardo Trivisonno, 6G-IA Pre-Standards Working Group Chair
- Colin Willcock, 6G-IA Board Chair
Event attendees had the opportunity to visit the following posters representing some of the SNSJU Projects during the networking coffee and lunch breaks.
Information on the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) Projects is available here.
- 5G-STARDUST
Presented by Mohamed El Jaafari - CONFIDENTIAL6G
Presented by Nenad Gligoric - EINSTEIN6G / DETERMINISTIC6G
Presented by Dhruvin Patel - HORSE
Presented by Fabrizio Granelli - TERRAMETA
Presented by George Alexandropoulos - TIMES
Presented by Luca Sanguinetti - VERGE
Presented by Oriol Sallent - DESIRE6G
Presented by Chrysa Papagianni - IMAGINE-B5G
Presented by Rui L. Aguiar - 6Green
Presented by Raffaele Bolla - Hexa-X I and II
Presented by Hannu Flinck - HS BOOSTER
Presented by Nicholas Ferguson
Presentations made during the event are available in PDF format here.