The US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) signed an administrative arrangement on support to collaborative Research and Innovation projects in the area of Future Network Systems at the DG CONNECT premises in Brussels, on 4 April 2024.
Through the Trade and Technology Council (TTC), the EU and the US foster collaboration in research and innovation and work towards common visions on emerging technologies.
It is within this framework that NGI Transoceanic is running its open calls. The initiative aims to fund at least 21 projects between 2024 until 2027 for funding technology development, demonstrators and standards contributions specifically on trust and privacy enhancing technologies, data sharing and portability, sustainable and climate-friendly internet, electronic identities, internet architecture renovation, and decentralised technologies.
On 5th April, at the TTC ministerial meeting in Leuven, Belgium, the EU and US have adopted a common 6G vision setting out a path for leadership on this technology, building on the 6G outlook adopted in May 2023, and the industry roadmap on 6G of December 2023.
Part of a broader EU-US joint strategy
The agreement was signed at the same time as the EU-US Trade and Technology Council on 4-5 April 2024 which was co-chaired by European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, joined by European Commissioner Thierry Breton, and hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A joint statement was released from the council stating, "These milestones have contributed to shaping the joint “6G vision” that we are adopting today. This vision focuses on technology challenges and research collaboration including on microelectronics; AI and cloud solutions for 6G; security and resilience; affordability and inclusiveness, sustainability and energy efficiency; openness and interoperability; efficient radio spectrum usage; and the standardisation process. Having decided on this 6G vision, the European Union and the United States will strengthen cooperation between their research and innovation funding agencies, notably through an Administrative Arrangement signed between the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) of the European Commission covering collaboration in the field of 6G and Next Generation Internet technologies."
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