Advanced Architectures Systems and Technologies

The Horizon Europe program, specifically through the HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01 call, offers funding opportunities aimed at advancing 6G technologies and architectures. This funding is organized under Research and Innovation Actions, with the primary goal of facilitating more efficient and innovative mobile network operations. The applications are structured as a single-stage submission process, with the opening date set for May 22, 2025, and a deadline of September 18, 2025.

The expected outcomes of the funding include the development of innovative architectures for 6G networks, specifically focusing on control and user planes. This involves creating systems that enable seamless service provision and reduce operational costs. Proposals are encouraged to develop novel AI techniques emphasizing energy efficiency and resource optimization, and to explore technologies that support diverse backend services through serverless computing.

The call covers five specific areas: new architectural solutions aimed at simplifying network structures; deep learning models guided by operational constraints; real-time serverless computing techniques; autonomous cognitive agents that enhance network operations; and goal-oriented communication methods that improve the efficiency of device communication.

Funding amounts vary based on the specific area, with total allocations between €8 million to €21 million per topic. Notably, for the call regarding HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-01-01, there is an allocation of €15 million, with approximately five grants expected to be awarded. The call stipulates that proposals must highlight their primary focus area while indicating any additional priorities addressed.

Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, OECD, and Mercosur countries while excluding those from Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine. A consistent emphasis is placed on including small and medium-sized enterprises, and collaboration between diverse entities is highly encouraged.

Successful applicants must provide a gender equality plan if they are public bodies, research organizations, or higher education establishments and must align their proposals with EU values by incorporating relevant gender issues in their research content.

Overall, this funding opportunity seeks to advance the development of next-generation 6G technologies in Europe, enhancing the continent's technological sovereignty and encouraging cooperative and innovative research practices.

The EU's Horizon Europe program, under call HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01, is offering funding for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) aimed at advancing 6G technologies and architectures. The call, titled "Advanced Architectures Systems and Technologies," specifically targets Stream B-01 and seeks proposals that can simplify network operations, reduce operational costs, and enable new service models. The call is structured as a single-stage submission process with an opening date of May 22, 2025, and a deadline of September 18, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this call involve the definition and design of innovative, efficient, and simplified advanced 6G architectures, particularly focusing on the control and user planes. These architectures should facilitate seamless service deployments without constraints, targeting the long-term evolution of 6G networks. Furthermore, the call aims to foster the development of novel techniques for constrained AI operations, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, real-time learning, and optimal deployment of computational resources. Another key objective is the identification and performance characterization of technologies and architectures that support the provision and orchestration of various telco or vertical backend services through serverless computing across multiple domains and for vertical use cases.

The scope of the call is divided into five specific areas, and proposals must clearly indicate which area they are addressing:

1. New Architectural Solutions: This area focuses on simplifying network architectures, both user and control planes, to enable operators to introduce and manage services more efficiently. It also aims to facilitate the integration of new network domains and seamless roaming across different operators and network technologies. This includes addressing limitations of the Service-Based Architecture (SBA), legacy constraints, and evolving early 6G architectures like the Hexa-X II model.

2. Deep Learning Models: This area involves the development and evaluation of deep learning models that incorporate predefined constraints, whether from a network operation or user service provision perspective. These constraints can take the form of physical laws, logical rules, or other domain-specific knowledge, with a focus on end-to-end connectivity. Problems related to AI optimization under energy and security constraints are of particular interest. The scope includes constrained deep learning for network process optimization and the interconnection of untrusted data sources.

3. Real-Time Serverless Computing: This area focuses on provisioning and orchestration algorithms and technologies for database and storage services, aiming for the widespread implementation of "Function-as-a-Service" (FaaS). This allows code execution on various parts of the network, such as the edge, and supports versatile/optimized function placement and dynamic replacement expected in 6G. Research on methods for instant start, high-dimensional task orchestration across multiple stakeholders, and embedded security in such infrastructures is also within scope.

4. Autonomous Cognitive Agents: This area involves defining architectures that emphasize simplicity, scalability, and security, with a focus on the holistic combination of service composition and knowledge handling in a network-compute continuum. The goal is to create a system where the network and applications merge organically, and operations are carried out in a decentralized manner. These multi-agent systems, potentially based on Large Language Models (LLMs), should outperform individual agents, invoke each other spontaneously, and operate in a decentralized manner while remaining under effective service management models.

5. Goal-Oriented Communication: This area focuses on defining and designing revolutionized effective goal-oriented communication protocols, languages, and media among devices and machines equipped with AI, especially those with generative AI technologies. The aim is to enable these devices to extract and communicate only goal-relevant information, possibly directly in various waveform formats, to reduce communication, computing, storage, and energy consumption. Full system concepts are expected, including ancillary control and management aspects.

To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded to proposals that are the highest-ranked within each of the five areas, provided they meet all thresholds and are subject to available budget. Proposals may address multiple priorities but should clearly indicate the primary focus.

The budget allocation for the call is as follows:

HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-01-01: EUR 15,000,000, with approximately 5 grants to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-01-02: EUR 9,000,000, with approximately 3 grants to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-02: EUR 21,000,000, with approximately 3 grants to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-03-01: EUR 8,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-03-02: EUR 8,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-04-01: EUR 8,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-04-02: EUR 8,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-B-05: EUR 12,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.
HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01-STREAM-C-01: EUR 15,000,000, with approximately 1 grant to be awarded.

The call is subject to several general conditions, including admissibility criteria, eligible countries, and financial and operational capacity requirements. The proposal page limit for RIAs submitted under Stream B and C is 70 pages. Participation is restricted to legal entities established in Member States, Associated Countries, OECD countries, and Mercosur countries, as per Article 22(5) of the Horizon Europe Regulation. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may participate only if they can demonstrate that their participation would not negatively impact the Union's strategic interests, assets, autonomy, or security. Entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment are not eligible. Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are also ineligible, with limited exceptions.

Applicants must provide a gender equality plan if they are public bodies, research organizations, or higher education establishments. They should also address gender issues in research and innovation content where relevant.

The evaluation and award process will follow the guidelines described in Annexes D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes. The ranking of proposals will consider the coverage criterion, excellence criterion, impact criterion, level of SME participation, and level of IKOP.

Selected projects will be required to cooperate in the SNS Programme by signing a collaboration agreement. AI/ML training data sets created within Stream B projects must be made available through a common, openly accessible repository.

A call-specific application form must be used and will be available in the Submission System.

Applicants are encouraged to consult various guidance documents, including the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, the SNS R&I Work Programme, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. Support services such as the JU SNS FAQ, SNS Brokerage Platform, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, and the Enterprise Europe Network are available to assist applicants.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to drive research and innovation in advanced 6G architectures and technologies, focusing on efficiency, simplification, and the integration of AI and serverless computing. It seeks to address key challenges in network operations and service delivery, while promoting European autonomy and security in the telecommunications sector. The call encourages collaboration, open science, and the participation of SMEs to ensure a balanced and impactful portfolio of projects.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include legal entities such as startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities in the area of advanced network architectures, systems, and technologies. The focus is on entities from Member States, Associated Countries, OECD, and Mercosur countries, with specific attention to SMEs and their participation. Public bodies, research organizations, and higher education establishments are also eligible, with a requirement for a gender equality plan.

Funding Type: The funding type for this opportunity is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under the Horizon Europe program. This involves direct financial support to projects aimed at research, development, and demonstration activities.

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated as mandatory, the structure of the call and the need to address complex challenges in advanced network architectures suggest that a consortium approach is highly encouraged, if not implicitly required. The emphasis on SME participation and the need for a balanced portfolio across different priorities also points towards the benefit of forming consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for this opportunity is primarily focused on legal entities established in Member States, Associated Countries, OECD countries, and Mercosur countries. There are restrictions on entities controlled by non-eligible countries, and entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are generally ineligible.

Target Sector: The target sector for this program is primarily ICT, specifically focusing on advanced network architectures, systems, and technologies related to 6G mobile networks. This includes areas such as AI, cloud computing (serverless computing), advanced materials, and security/cybersecurity aspects of network infrastructure. The program also touches on areas like energy efficiency and new service models within the telecommunications sector.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions Member States of the European Union, Associated Countries, OECD countries, and Mercosur countries as eligible. It also specifically excludes Russia, Belarus, and non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of projects for this opportunity is research and innovation actions (RIA). This suggests that the projects should be in the research, development, and demonstration phases, aiming to create new knowledge or explore the feasibility of new or improved technology, products, processes, services or solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from EUR 8,000,000 to EUR 21,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, with some topics expected to fund multiple projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research and innovation activities. There is also an expectation of cooperation and knowledge sharing among selected projects.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process, meaning applicants submit a full proposal directly.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but given the competitive nature of Horizon Europe calls, the success rate is likely to be below 10 to 39%.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the SNS (Smart Networks and Services) Joint Undertaking, focuses on Advanced Architectures, Systems, and Technologies for future 6G mobile networks. The call aims to fund research and innovation actions that will lead to more efficient, simplified, and secure network operations, reduced operational costs, and the deployment of new services and service models. The call is structured around five key areas: new architectural solutions, deep learning models, real-time serverless computing, autonomous cognitive agents, and goal-oriented communication.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, OECD, and Mercosur countries, with a particular emphasis on SMEs. The call encourages collaborative projects, and successful projects will be expected to cooperate with other SNS projects. The funding amounts vary from 8 million to 21 million EUR depending on the specific topic, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The call aims to foster European technological sovereignty in 6G and ensure that the developed technologies are aligned with EU values and strategic interests, including gender equality and open science principles.