Call for Applications: 6G-BRICKS Project

6G-BRICKS will adopt the trend of Software-Defined Infrastructures (SDI) and Software Networks that replace “black boxes” (e.g., physical network functions, such as firewalls) with their softwarised equivalents. This trend will be extended to the RAN via the O-RAN initiative, aiming to evolve O-RAN elements in the 6G era via the integration of breakthrough technologies. To this end, 6G-BRICKS will deliver the first open and programmable O-RAN Radio Unit (RU) for 6G networks, termed the OpenRU, based on an NI USRP-based platform. Moreover, 6G-BRICKS will integrate the RIS concept into the OAI. In addition, 6G-BRICKS will deliver breakthrough experimentation tools, going well beyond the current Testing as a Service (TaaS) capabilities of current initiatives, and allowing experiments also on devices via O-RAN compliant Extended Applications (xAPPs). Thus, the 6G-BRICKS experimentation facility aims to serve a dual role, both as a playground for testing advanced vertical applications and for validating and showcasing the clear benefits and capabilities of 6G breakthrough technologies and devices. Moreover, it will deliver and test new architecture principles, with multi-tenancy, disaggregated Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Deep Edge integration at the forefront.

Project Tiers

• More specifically, the 6G-BRICKS facility will include the following architectural tiers:
  • The Core Tier acts as the entry point to the experimentation facility, offering Public Cloud services to the 6G Sites. Mature frontend elements and experimentation engines will be leveraged and deployed at the Core Site from the 5GMediaHUB project, delivering DevOps Driven Testing as a Service functionality which allows test cases and validation testing workflows to be authored via standard DevOps tools. A unique testing tool based on Near-RT RIC will also be delivered for the first time, giving experimenters access to low-level RRM and RAN slicing capabilities via standardized xApps. Moreover, the Core Site will offer Business Support System (BSS) services to the 6G-BRICKS facility, allowing vertical application owners to upload their applications and Business Intents (SLOs).
  • A disaggregated Management Plane, which consists of a set of Domain Manager Orchestrators (DMOs) for each Cloud, Edge, and Network orchestration domain. The DMO layer, deployed at each facility site, acts as a unified controllability framework aiming to provide the ability to enforce and propagate state-to-action mappings, automatically generating service objectives based on the SLOs (or business intents) submitted at the Business Layer. These actions are subsequently implemented by the infrastructure domain (e.g., RAN controller, SDN, VIM, etc.). Explainable AI mechanisms are leveraged for policy translation and unification. This breakthrough explainable architecture design supports end-to-end slicing, provides explainable feedback to experimenters for potential SLA breaches and facilitates a loose coupling with the Business Layer, avoiding bottlenecks.
  • 6G Experimentation Platforms layer, where breakthrough 6G technologies are integrated into reusable, selfcontained modules with O-RAN interfaces to ensure the openness and reusability of the developed components. At the KUL site, a Distributed Cell-Free RAN is delivered, leveraging on the MARSAL baseline work and an O-RAN stack from ISRD. The EUR site builds on the 5G-EVE facility and the EUR OpenAirInterface ORAN stack, which will be integrated with a RIS platform from the RISE-6G project. In both sites, UE Farms will be deployed, i.e., a managed constellation of UE devices to be offered to experimenters, supporting Experimentation Plane System Portal Edge Node PaaS Core Node Edge Node RIS Controller RIS xApps Deep Edge OpenRU OpenRU OpenRU Cell Free APs verticals intents MEP Intent Engine Conflict Resolution Engine Security Orchestrator DMO X-Haul π-Edge CEC Manager SMO π-Edge CU MEO DMO SMO System Registry (xApps, Docker images) VPNaaS Zero Trust automation DU RIC DU CU RIC virtualization and service placement at the device level, termed the Deep Edge. The UE farm may include (i) 5G enabled remotely controlled smartphone devices or (ii) similarly spaced clusters of Single Board Computers (e.g., Raspberry PIs) and IoT devices.

Innovation Areas

• Innovation Area 1: Network-controlled open RIS platform
• Innovation Area 2: Distributed CFmMIMO processing and synchronization
• Innovation Area 3: Multi-band and mmWave CFmMIMO
• Innovation Area 4: Communication and sensing: RIS and cell-free based approaches
• Innovation Area 5: Explainable AI and Machine Reasoning for Unified, Zero Touch Orchestration
• Innovation Area 6: Platform as a Service Abstraction for a self-synthesized compute continuum

Funding Information

• Fixed Lump Sum per sub-project. The maximum funding per beneficiary is €60.000 and the maximum funding per sub-project is €120.000. A dedicated allocation of at least 30% of the total budget has been earmarked specifically to support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
• Duration of sub-project: 6 months
• Total number of proposals to be selected: 7-14 depending on the participants per submitted project.

Eligibility Criteria

• Beneficiaries must be consortia composed of up to 2 legal entities (SME and/or Big Company and/or RTO) acting as technology providers and/or application providers for use case implementation. All organizations have to be established in any of EU Member States and their Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
• 6G-BRICKS partners can NOT be involved in the grantees’ projects, neither their affiliates nor employees – including persons working under employment contracts or contracts or similar to employment contracts and board members.

Exclusion 

• Grants will not be awarded in the event of:
  • Bankruptcy, winding up, court-administered affairs, creditor arrangements, suspended business activities, or other comparable procedures (including those involving persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts).
  • Non-compliance with social security or tax obligations (including if such noncompliance is committed by persons with unlimited liability for the applicant’s debts).
  • Commission of grave professional misconduct.

For more information, visit EC.