International Collaboration – EU-JP -

• EU-Japan research collaboration for the evolution of Radio Access Networks (RAN), evolving following 6G standardization orientations, paving the way for future advancements towards AI-native radio access networks.
• Development, testing and evaluation of AI/ML algorithms for wireless networks to improve the performance of the system.
• Proof of concept architecture framework demonstrating the way forward for the required interoperability specifications, that future 6G RAN and integrated RAN-Core network approaches have to achieve.
• Alignment of views on radio interface concepts for future exploitation in international standardisation as well as contributions to standardisation bodies and fora, supporting global views on open standards and interoperability, with particular focus on developments ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP and other related standardization organizations.

Please refer to the "Specific Challenges and Objectives" section for Stream B in the Work Programme, available under ‘Topic Conditions and Documents - Additional Documents’.

This SNS International Cooperation activity targets a closer collaboration with Japan, in line with the objective outlined under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership. It builds on the interactions developed between EU stakeholders and the key associations and stakeholders in Japan.

The cooperation with Japanese stakeholders targets native and privacy-preserving AI platforms in direct connection to the related research and innovation work in Japan. The scope covers all following topics:

• AI-enabled radio access network (RAN) solutions including physical layer and signal processing technologies for 6G RAN such as distributed MIMO and user centric network, RIS implementations and AI-enabled integrated RAN/Core network functions. This domain will also allow to leverage the Open RAN/virtualisation experience of Japan towards interoperability alignment of architectural approaches in EU and Japan.
• Streamlined views on a) the use of AI and b) potential extensions on the radio interface.
• Impactful contributions to standardization bodies are also in scope of this project.

The scope includes availability of data sets, in compliance with the rules of data legislation, both existing and new ones created by the project, that may be used by researchers to validate AI approaches and inference rules applied to the selected solutions. Contribution to the framework and data access is expected to add value, notably for improvement and expansion of data sets, tools and algorithms for efficient new AI/ML solutions. Generation and exchange of data across EU-Japan stakeholders is in scope where possible and appropriate. Proposals on validation of AI techniques over experimental platforms, additionally providing the associated datasets, are in scope.

Applicants are invited to explain how the EU-Japan cooperation will be implemented, i.e., the target Japan initiative to collaborate with and the approach of cooperation to be deployed with Japan stakeholders. The retained project is expected to work with the relevant Japan funded initiative by MIC/NICT, the call of which will be announced by March 2024. Proposals should include description of specific cooperation activities to be carried out such as exchange of information and results, sharing of data, sharing of methodologies, researcher exchanges and visits, joint workshops, joint testbeds etc.

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