Project Objectives

The global goal of the proposal is to propose, analyze, and validate a set of techniques, tools, and architectures that offer solutions to some of the open problems in 6G. Specifically, we envision a scenario where an integrated 6G architecture is required to manage massive, hyper-connected multi- technology network resources. This architecture should facilitate the provision of complex services demanding deterministic communications with security and energy optimization constraints.

In this context, 6G-INSPIRE proposes a set of solutions to automatically manage the hyper-connected 6G networks for massive services using a native-AI approach.

Based on the experience of the consortium members acquired during the TRUE-5G project and on the research trajectory of each group, 6G-INSPIRE identifies five main objectives:

Objective 1: Design of hyper-connected network solutions.

Develop and manage multi-connectivity in 6G networks to ensure optimized performance, security, and scalability. Focus on orchestration across Edge, Cloud, and NFV environments, aligning with ETSI standards and cloud-native models.

Objective 2: Design of deterministic network solutions.

Design flexible private 6G networks for critical services with deterministic communications. Integrate TSN for time synchronization, QoS mapping, and NFV to enhance industrial applications, ensuring ultra-reliable and low-latency performance.

Objective 3: Design of secure network solutions.

Enhance security in 5G/6G with quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure key exchange and integrate zero-trust authentication mechanisms. Address security challenges in heterogeneous networks, ensuring safe communication through SDN, NFV, and INC technologies.

Objective 4: Native-AI network management and services.

 Introduce AI-driven automation for 6G networks using federated learning, meta-learning, and distributed ML models. Enable zero-touch management of massive, heterogeneous network environments while optimizing energy consumption.

Objective 5: Use case demonstrations.

Establish a national-scale testbed integrating pre-6G infrastructures from previous projects (5GCity, TRUE5G). Validate research outcomes across multiple sites, ensuring interoperability and large-scale 5G/6G experimentation.

Objective 6: Project management and dissemination.

Ensure effective coordination, quality assurance, and scientific excellence. Promote results through publications, conferences, and standardization efforts while fostering collaborative research and outreach activities.