ETSI Technology Radar

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EU Funded Research Programmes

Following on from Horizon 2020 (FP8), the Commission has recently launched  Horizon Europe (FP9), an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme, to run from 2021-2027.

The work programmes for Horizon Europe are available to view and download on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

© European Union, 2019 - European Commission – Preliminary Structure of Horizon Europe, the EU Research and Innovation Programme (2021-27)

The recently launched European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) aims to ensure industrial leadership for Europe in 5G and 6G. 

The SNS JU investments will reach at least €1,8 billion for the period 2021-2027, with a €900 million contribution from the EU Horizon Europe programme adequately complemented by industry investments. The SNS JU provides financial support in the form of R&I grants to participants following open and competitive calls.

The key goal of the SNS JU is to secure European leadership in the development and deployment of next generation network technologies and services, while accelerating European industry digitization.

The SNS JU has adopted its first research Work Programme 2021-2022 with an earmarked public funding of about € 240 million. The Call for Proposals sets out four main complementary work streams:

These four streams will be complemented by Coordinated Support Actions (CSA) to support EU wide synergies and international cooperation.

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is the EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations.

DIGITAL will not stand alone, but rather complements other EU programmes, such as the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation and the Connecting Europe Facility for digital infrastructure. It is a part of the long-term EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, which covers the period of 2021 to 2027.

The work programmes for DIGITAL are available to view and download on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Horizon 2020 was the EU Research and Innovation programme running from 2014 to 2020. It was the eighth such Framework Programme (FP8). For more information see https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/what-horizon-2020.

6G-IA is the voice of European Industry and Research for next generation networks and services. Its primary objective is to contribute to Europe’s leadership on 5G, beyond 5G and SNS/6G research. The 6G-IA represents the private side in both the 5G Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) and the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). In the 5G-PPP and SNS JU, the European Commission represents the public side. The 6G-IA brings together a global industry community of telecoms & digital actors, such as operators, manufacturers, research institutes, universities, verticals, SMEs and ICT associations. The 6G-IA carries out a wide range of activities in strategic areas including standardization, frequency spectrum, R&D projects, technology skills, collaboration with key vertical industry sectors, notably for the development of trials, and international cooperation. 

NetworldEurope is the European Technology Platform (ETP) for communications networks and services, that follows on from NetWorld2020 in the Horizon Europe programme.  

NetworldEurope has over 900 members representing principally researchers from the communications systems sector, industry leaders, innovative SMEs, and leading academic institutions. NetworldEurope drives the community discussions on the future research technologies for ICT, in order to provide guidance for the development of the future European Union R&D program.

NetworldEurope Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) provides a long-term view about the future of telecommunications in Europe and is developed in cooperation with the 5G-Infrastructure Association (5G-IA). It collects the views from industry and academia, and has received inputs from Alliance for Internet of Things Innovation (AIoTI) and from the Networked European Software and Services Initiative (NESSI). The SRIA may be downloaded here

As a follow up to the SRIA, NetworldEurope developed an Annex (SMART NETWORKS IN THE CONTEXT OF NGI) for the purpose of providing an auxiliary summary to the development of the future work programme for the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). The annex may be downloaded here.

ETSI works in close cooperation with NetworldEurope and together we have built a mapping between the research topics described in the NetworldEurope SRIA and the current ETSI work programme.

The mapping below shows the NetworldEurope SRIA technical domains mapped to the most appropriate ETSI or 3GPP standards activities. By clicking on the appropriate research topic it is possible to access the more detailed sub-topics and the mapping to the public information of the corresponding standards activities.

Mapping table between research topics in NetworldEurope and in current ETSI work programme

2.1 Virtualised Network Control for Increased Flexibility - 3GPP CT

2.2 Integrated Fixed-Mobile Architecture - 3GPP CT

2.3 Slicing and Orchestrators - 3GPP CT1

2.5 Media Access Control - 3GPP CT3

2.6 Network-Based Localisation - 3GPP GERAN & 3GPP RAN

3.1 Spectrum Re-farming and Reutilisation - 3GPP RAN and 3GPP RAN5

3.2 Millimetre Waves - 3GPP SA1

3.3 Optical Wireless Communication - 3GPP SA1

3.4 Terahertz Communications - 3GPP SA1

3.5 Ultra-Massive MIMO - 3GPP SA1

3.6 Non-orthogonal Carriers - 3GPP SA2

3.7 Enhanced Modulation and Coding - 3GPP SA2

3.8 Improved Positioning and Communication - 3GPP SA2

3.9 Random-Access for Massive Connections - 3GPP SA2

3.10 Wireless Edge Caching for Further Increased Throughput - 3GPP SA1

4.1 Flexible Capacity Scaling - 3GPP SA2

4.2 New Switching Paradigms - 3GPP SA3

4.3 Deterministic Networking - 3GPP SA3

4.4 Optical Wireless Integration - 3GPP SA3

4.5 Optical Network Automation - 3GPP SA3

4.6 Security for Mission Critical Services - 3GPP SA3

4.7 Ultra-high Energy Efficiency - 3GPP SA3

4.8 Optical Integration 2.0 - 3GPP SA3

5.1 Beyond Mobile Edge Computing - 3GPP SA3

5.2 Future Directions for Fog Computing

5.3 Massive IoT Services

5.4 Data Analytics and Data Monetisation

ISG NIN

ISG PDL

ISG QKD

6.1 Security Transformation - ISG QKD

6.2 Network-wide Security - ISG QKD and ISG ZSM

6.3 Slice-Specific and Convergence on Common Software Defined Patterns - ISG ZSM

6.4 Distributed Trust Systems - ISG ZSM

6.5 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Application - ISG ZSM

7.1 Overall Vision - oneM2M

7.3 Ground Segment

7.4 Space Segment

7.5 Communication Architectures

7.6 Convergence with Heterogeneous Networks

8.1 Digital Service Transformation - TC SES

8.2 From Software-Centric to Human-Centric Services - TC SES

8.3 Services Everywhere, Infrastructure No Limits - TC SES

8.4 Network-Unaware Vertical Services - TC SES

8.5 Extreme Automation and Real-Time Zero-Touch Service Orchestration - TC SES

8.6 Service Injection Loop - TC SES

9.1 The Physical Stratum: Communication and Computing Resources

9.2 Algorithms and Data

9.3 Applications

2.1 Virtualised Network Control for Increased Flexibility - 3GPP CT

2.2 Integrated Fixed-Mobile Architecture - 3GPP CT

2.3 Slicing and Orchestrators - 3GPP CT1

2.5 Media Access Control - 3GPP CT3

2.6 Network-Based Localisation - 3GPP GERAN & 3GPP RAN

3.1 Spectrum Re-farming and Reutilisation - 3GPP RAN and 3GPP RAN5

3.2 Millimetre Waves - 3GPP SA1

3.3 Optical Wireless Communication - 3GPP SA1

3.4 Terahertz Communications - 3GPP SA1

3.5 Ultra-Massive MIMO - 3GPP SA1

3.6 Non-orthogonal Carriers - 3GPP SA2

3.7 Enhanced Modulation and Coding - 3GPP SA2

3.8 Improved Positioning and Communication - 3GPP SA2

3.9 Random-Access for Massive Connections - 3GPP SA2

3.10 Wireless Edge Caching for Further Increased Throughput - 3GPP SA1

4.1 Flexible Capacity Scaling - 3GPP SA2

4.2 New Switching Paradigms - 3GPP SA3

4.3 Deterministic Networking - 3GPP SA3

4.4 Optical Wireless Integration - 3GPP SA3

4.5 Optical Network Automation - 3GPP SA3

4.6 Security for Mission Critical Services - 3GPP SA3

4.7 Ultra-high Energy Efficiency - 3GPP SA3

4.8 Optical Integration 2.0 - 3GPP SA3

5.1 Beyond Mobile Edge Computing - 3GPP SA3

5.2 Future Directions for Fog Computing

5.3 Massive IoT Services

5.4 Data Analytics and Data Monetisation

ISG NIN

ISG PDL

ISG QKD

6.1 Security Transformation - ISG QKD

6.2 Network-wide Security - ISG QKD and ISG ZSM

6.3 Slice-Specific and Convergence on Common Software Defined Patterns - ISG ZSM

6.4 Distributed Trust Systems - ISG ZSM

6.5 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Application - ISG ZSM

7.1 Overall Vision - oneM2M

7.3 Ground Segment

7.4 Space Segment

7.5 Communication Architectures

7.6 Convergence with Heterogeneous Networks

8.1 Digital Service Transformation - TC SES

8.2 From Software-Centric to Human-Centric Services - TC SES

8.3 Services Everywhere, Infrastructure No Limits - TC SES

8.4 Network-Unaware Vertical Services - TC SES

8.5 Extreme Automation and Real-Time Zero-Touch Service Orchestration - TC SES

8.6 Service Injection Loop - TC SES

9.1 The Physical Stratum: Communication and Computing Resources

9.2 Algorithms and Data

9.3 Applications

Bringing the results of Research Projects into ETSI

Research projects funded by such programmes as Horizon Europe, SNS JU, Digital Europe and H2020 are not legal entities and the ‘projects’ themselves may not become a member of ETSI, nor can they provide contributions in the name of the ‘project’ to ETSI committees. 

However, the ideal path is for ETSI members that are present in those research projects to contribute elements of the research results directly in to ETSI technical groups, as contributions in the member's own name. They may indicate the origin of their contributions by acknowledging in their contribution documents that the work comes from a specific research project.

If there is no ‘existing home for the research results in ETSI it is always possible to create a new group to welcome the research topics and community. This is typically done using such groups as ISGs (Industry Specification Groups).

With many H2020 projects now concluding and others just beginning, there are multiple opportunities for interaction between research and standards:

Should you have any questions or require further guidance on how to bring research results into ETSI, please contact research@etsi.org.

ETSI’s participation in Research Projects

ETSI as an organization does not generally join a research project as a contractual partner.  

However, project proponents may contact ETSI directly should they wish to include relevant activities addressing standardization in the project proposal.

For cases where project consortia wish to establish strong links with ETSI’s technical work, ETSI may, under specific conditions, provide a “letter of support” which confirms ETSI’s interest in the relevant standardization project outcomes. The ETSI CTO considers each request on a case-by-case basis.

In exceptional circumstances, where the linkage between the project and ETSI standards work is expected to be significant, ETSI representative may participate to the project advisory committees. This offers an opportunity to have a regular exchanges with relevant projects and provide guidance on potential standards activities.

ETSI representatives may also participate to research conferences, project coordination and cluster meetings.  

This provides an opportunity to meet and network with project leaders and Commission staff as well as providing feedback on the opportunities for standardization activities for innovative research topics.

Should you have any questions on ETSI’s participation in research projects or related topics, please contact research@etsi.org.

Why Standards for Research?

Engaging in Standards groups at the appropriate stages of research and innovation cycles is crucial to the development of new and evolved technologies. It is important to identify research topics for standardization at an early stage of all research projects in order to ensure that the requisite standards are available to the industry when they are needed to take the relevant new technologies to market.

Every ICT device, application or service implements standardized technologies, at many levels. Standards support interoperability across technologies. They help create global markets and enable networked development, where innovation occurs on top of existing technology platforms.

ICT standards embody a ‘state of the art’ of technology development. They are an essential resource for researchers in ICT. ICT markets are shaped by standards and if ICT research should lead to new products, new services, or whole new markets, then clearly research must result in standardization activities. 

Researchers benefit from interactions with ETSI's technical groups and gain early exposure and the feedback from the standards community that is essential to be considered before taking the results of research to full-market deployment. Research results need to influence standards in order to have a market impact.

Industry benefits from faster exploitation of relevant research results and feedback from a far wider community. Research input is highly relevant to the early study phases of product development when multiple alternative technical solutions have to be evaluated. Standards need innovative contributions from researchers to advance the state of the art.

ETSI offers many tools to support the productive interaction between researchers and Industry, both in our standards committees and also during our public workshops and events. ETSI tools for researchers include:

Dedicated ETSI Research team:

research@etsi.org

to guide and advise researchers on how to best channel research results into our committees and get full value from their membership and participation in ETSI.

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Standardization is a business process which is driven by industrial and commercial considerations. Reaching a collective agreement on a technology through consensus can take time, but is surprisingly fast when interests are aligned. The following 8-point plan provides researchers with a roadmap for bringing research results into Standards.

ETSI's Research Strategy

ETSI’s Strategy identifies clear actions to “Strengthen the linkage between R&D and standardization”. These include:

ETSI has over 900 members from Europe and beyond with more than 120 of them from the categories Research Public (43%), University (37%) and Research Private (20%). Universities, research bodies and SMEs have reduced ETSI membership fees designed to encourage participation to standards.

ETSI seeks to increase the value and visibility of our academic and research members through the use of dedicated events, webinars, educational materials, onboarding of research results into our technical groups and providing ETSI support / partnership in selected EU research projects.

We are looking for more ways to support our ETSI research and academic community and would like to get your feedback and ideas on where we can help.

Should you have any suggestions or questions simply contact research@etsi.org.

How to contribute to Standardization

ETSI has a substantial number of technical groups working on many technical specifications. Knowing where to start can be a little daunting. A good place to start is this overview:

Technologies To get an introduction to ETSI's technical work areas a good place to begin is the ETSI Technologies pages.

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This list has been designed specifically for all ETSI members and non-members (who work closely with ETSI) in the domain on research, innovation and education.

It's a tool to share new initiatives and events relating to research and innovation topics to this very specific community.

If you wish to join the list please send a request to research@etsi.org and we will make things happen.

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ETSI ISGs are open to both ETSI members and non-members.

ISGs are the perfect ETSI tool for developing ‘early’ standardization work resulting from the output of research projects. This tool has been used for many successful standards efforts on such technologies as mWT, NFV, Edge, Artificial Intelligence, AR/VR/XR, Quantum Safe, Quantum Key and many more.

An ISG may be established on the initiative of any group of, at least four (4), Full or Associate members (or applicant members) making a request to the ETSI Director-General. The streamlined ISG process can enable a group to be set up quickly (4 weeks) and deliverables may be published in only a matter of months making it the ideal mechanism for early stage standardization.

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Help in getting involved

Should you wish to get involved in our standards work, bring new areas of work to ETSI or simply find out more about ETSI's activities in Research & Innovation, simply check our Research FAQs or send an email to research@etsi.org.