SJ
Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)

Higher Speed Optical Access Networks and future end-to-end Packet Optical Network Architecture in 6G

Funds research on high-capacity, energy-efficient optical access networks and AI-managed optical architecture for the 6G transport layer.

The topic sits alongside eight sibling topics under the same call, HORIZON-JU-SNS-2025-01, all sharing the 18 September 2025 deadline in the Funding and Tenders Portal. The SNS JU expects one grant from this topic's own EUR 8,000,000 line, funded as a Research and Innovation Action; other topics in the same call range from other single EUR 8,000,000 awards up to a single EUR 15,000,000 grant for S…

This topic wants high-performance, energy-efficient passive optical network technology integrated into the overall 6G architecture, protocols for a future end-to-end packet optical network, and AI-enhanced green optical networking including AI-driven automation and optical sensing. Necessary photonics components are expected to come from other initiatives such as Photonics21 or Chips JU, not be built from scratch here.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€8M

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HardwareSemiconductors+2
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SJ
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Funds research on core technologies that let satellite (non-terrestrial) and terrestrial 6G networks operate as one seamless system.

SpaceIoT & Edge
€8M
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6G Telco Cloud and Service Provision Enablers

🇪🇺SNS JU · European Union

Funds one project to build an evolvable 6G telco-cloud experimental infrastructure that hosts and validates network functions and AI/Compute/Security-as-a-Service.

AIHardware
€15M
SJ
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Advanced Architectures Systems and Technologies

🇪🇺SNS JU · European Union

Funds 6G network-architecture research on simplified control/user-plane designs, constrained AI for network operations, and serverless multi-domain service orchestration.

AIHardware
€3M
SJ
Closed

Advanced IoT and Device Technologies

🇪🇺SNS JU · European Union

Funds research on near-zero-energy 6G IoT devices, unlicensed-band 6G connectivity, and next-generation connected IoT applications.

IoT & EdgeHardware
€3M
SJ
Closed

Collection, Generation and Validation of Datasets suitable for training AI Models for 6G Networks and for AIaaS

🇪🇺SNS JU · European Union

Funds one project to build curated real-world and synthetic datasets, plus a shared data space, for training AI models that run 6G networks.

AI
€8M