Nicosia: The KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at the University of Cyprus is at the forefront of a groundbreaking research project, 6G-VERSUS (6G Vertical Trials for Sustainability), which is backed by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program through the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU). This initiative seeks to illustrate the significant sustainable, economic, and societal impacts of 6G technology by utilizing state-of-the-art 6G research facilities throughout Europe.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the 6G-VERSUS project is organized around trials and pilots aimed at addressing environmental challenges in five key industries. Specific pilot clusters have been established in various countries, each focusing on unique applications of 6G technology. These include an AI-driven optimization system for distributed renewable energy in Bulgaria, a collaborative robotics pilot for search and rescue operations in Greece, an immersive telepresence actuator for field operations in Spain, sustainable and secure port infrastructures in Portugal, data-driven strategies for water and waste management in France, and an energy self-sustainable 5G base station in Finland.
The initiative introduces a new methodology that adapts existing use cases to 6G applications, structured around a triadic model of Vertical, Network, and AI-assisted Apps. This model aims to enhance the data and control planes of 6G systems, ensuring efficient information flow and decision-making.
The KIOS CoE research team, led by Prof. Georgios Ellinas along with Assist. Prof. Panayiotis Kolios and Senior Research Associate Dr. Irina Ciornei, is spearheading the Bulgarian use-case. They are tasked with the innovative design, development, integration, and testing of an AI-based 6G-triplet for sustainable smart grids.
The project envisions several key outcomes: the creation of a sustainable framework for applications utilizing the vertical, AI, and network app triplet within the 6G system; the development of trials that leverage sustainable 6G features like resource optimization and energy efficiency; the enhancement of existing B5G testbeds to support 6G applications; and a clear demonstration of the societal, economic, business, and market impacts of the sustainable framework.
6G-VERSUS unites 34 partners, including academic and research institutes, large industry players, telecom operators, NGOs, and SMEs from 10 European countries, with coordination by the University of Oulu in Finland. The project is co-funded by the European Union, although the views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or SNS JU.