Pisa, Italy | 3–5 February 2026 – The 6G-LEADER project reached a significant milestone this month as partners gathered at the CNR Area della Ricerca di Pisa for the project’s 3rd General Assembly (GA). Marking the 14th month (M14) of the project, the three-day event was a crucial junction for reviewing initial progress, refining technical roadmaps, and strengthening the collaborative ties essential for delivering the next generation of mobile connectivity.
The meeting was hosted by our partners from CNIT and Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, providing an inspiring backdrop for high-level technical exchange.
Deep Dive into Proof-of-Concepts – Day 0
The gathering kicked off on February 3rd with a focus on the project’s Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs). Specialized sessions were held for PoC1 (led by CNIT) and PoC4 (led by FDI). These sessions allowed technical teams to align on hardware requirements, experimental setups, and the specific KPIs/KVIs that will define the success of the 6G-LEADER architectures.
Strategic Alignment and WP Progress – Day 1 & 2
On February 4th and 5th, the full consortium joined for the official General Assembly. The agenda was packed with many updates, covering the entire spectrum of the 6G-LEADER vision:
- Architecture & Requirements: Revisiting the technology radar and architectural design.
- The 6G PHY: Advancements in ML-empowered and resource-efficient physical layers.
- Sustainability: Leveraging Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and non-orthogonality for a greener RAN.
- Semantic Networking: Moving toward goal-oriented, semantics-empowered 6G communication.
- O-RAN Integration: Extending the Open RAN framework with AI/ML and semantic capabilities.
The discussions weren’t limited to presentations; significant time was devoted to Open Discussion slots for PoCs 1 through 5, ensuring that theoretical breakthroughs are grounded in practical, deployable infrastructures. The consortium also had the chance to visit the labs of Sant’Anna and CNIT, allowing partners to discuss the future of 6G in a more informal setting.
The GA concluded on February 5th with a clear set of action points, a refined timeline for upcoming deliverables, and a unified strategy to meet the expectations of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU).
