The European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking has announced €116m funding for 20 selected projects, further cementing European 6G research and innovation.
This investment forms part of the €630m EU public funding from Horizon Europe, already allocated since 2021 and expands the SNS JU portfolio to 100 6G research projects.
In 2026 and 2027, the SNS JU will invest an additional €270m of EU public funding, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for Europe’s digital ecosystem.
This strategic investment marks a major step in Europe’s ambition to reinforce its technological sovereignty, shape global 6G standards and ensure that next-generation connectivity delivers tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and public services.
Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director General DG CONNECT, stated: “6G will be a key enabler of Europe’s technological sovereignty, strengthening strategic autonomy in critical digital infrastructures.
“By embedding cybersecurity, privacy-by-design principles and resilience at its core, 6G aims to become a trusted, human-centric technology that promotes digital inclusion and ensures that connectivity benefits all citizens and regions.”
6G technologies present strategic opportunities for Europe
6G research represents a fundamental shift in how digital infrastructure will support society, industry and sustainability in the next decade.
6G technologies will support real-time remote healthcare, advanced diagnostics and connected care ecosystems, allowing medical expertise to be delivered across borders and into rural or underserved areas. In the field of mobility, it will drive intelligent transport systems, connected and autonomous logistics, and safer road infrastructure.
Beyond these, 6G will unlock new opportunities in maritime and port security, enabling ultra-reliable connectivity for port operations and automated vessel coordination and communications at sea. In industry, it will power smart manufacturing, robotics and highly automated production processes.
Moreover, 6G will significantly enhance environmental monitoring capabilities and optimise energy and resource management systems, helping Europe meet its climate objectives.
New projects support 6G research in critical industries
The newly funded projects will support vertical use cases, proofs-of-concept, and large-scale advanced 5G and early 6G validation trials, alongside foundational 6G research projects in sectors such as healthcare, mobility and logistics, space, media and entertainment, manufacturing, and industrial robotics.
These trials will demonstrate how next-generation connectivity can operate in real-world conditions and deliver measurable impact.
“By enabling seamless integration between physical and digital systems, 6G will contribute to building a more resilient, secure and sustainable Europe – one where connectivity becomes an invisible but essential layer of everyday life,” explained Colin Willcock, Chairman of the SNS JU Governing Board.
“With SNS JU, we are proud to invest in pushing the boundaries of innovation, shaping the future of connectivity, and setting global 6G standards that will not only strengthen European industrial leadership but also advance Europe’s technological sovereignty.”
Together, the 20 projects form a critical building block in Europe’s 6G research and innovation roadmap and pre-deployment agenda.
The SNS JU’s two-pillar approach – combining support for advanced 5G deployment with long-term 6G research – ensures continuity for European stakeholders while strengthening Europe’s industrial ecosystem.
2026: A pivotal year for advanced digital networks
The coming year will be crucial for the future of 6G research.
International standardisation bodies such as 3GPP, ETSI and the IEEE are advancing frameworks that will guarantee interoperability between networks, ensure high levels of security and promote efficient spectrum use.
Europe enters this phase with strong industrial players, including Nokia and Ericsson, and a dynamic research community supported by the SNS JU.
By investing early and strategically in research, trials and ecosystem coordination, Europe is positioning itself to influence global standards and secure long-term competitiveness in next-generation connectivity.
So far, SNS JU projects have made over 1,000 contributions to international standardisation efforts and have generated significant innovation-based growth, registering 98 patents, 94 of which are confidential patents.