| PROJECT: | GENIUS: 6G CONNECTED ENVIRONMENTS FOR LOGISTICS AND MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION | |||||
| ACRONYM: | GENIUS | |||||
| MAIN OBJECTIVE: | Vision: The impact of successive generations of mobile networks in industry has always been strong on the Transport and Logistics (T&L) sector, as it emerges naturally as one of the areas where transformation runs deeper, and efficiency and security gains have been increasing since it was first possible to make a phone call on the move. Still, it is also a sector where all kinds of mobility challenges keep bringing requirements for new functionalities and services to enable automated transportation and logistics.
With 5G, many issues were addressed. Besides increased bandwidth, reduced latency, and higher connection densities, the expansion of the ever-increasing processing capacity towards the Edge of the network and the support to non-public networks are examples of features of major importance to the automation of the T&L sector. Meanwhile, as 6G standardization progresses, the promise of even more bandwidth, less latency, higher density, or NTN integration, will bring new opportunities towards better efficiency and automation, and will enable new and better services. The integration of logistics, multimodal transport and automation within the 6G ecosystem is expected to deliver transformative benefits across efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of supply chains. Ultra-reliable low-latency communications will enable continuous monitoring and synchronization of goods across heterogeneous transport modes, supporting seamless coordination at hubs such as in a crowded city, ports and airports. Leveraging 6G-enabled digital twins and AI-driven optimization, multimodal networks can dynamically adapt to disruptions, optimize mode-shifting decisions, and reduce both operational costs and carbon emissions in line with European Green Deal objectives. Furthermore, the massive machine-type communication capabilities of 6G will allow the deployment of dense IoT sensor networks across vehicles and infrastructures, facilitating predictive maintenance, real-time safety monitoring, and autonomous operations. These capabilities can strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in logistics while enhancing competitiveness and resilience in global supply chains. Nevertheless, 6G may fall short of some expectations, as we look into 3GPP Release 19. For example, location mechanisms need to become more accurate and agile to enable advanced capabilities such as automation, trusted zones, context-aware logistics, and high-precision positioning for autonomous vehicles in multimodal transport hubs. Furthermore, O-RAN–compliant multimodal orchestration will allow seamless integration of heterogeneous networks across ports, air, and road transport, ensuring interoperability, reducing operational fragmentation, and enabling real-time optimization of resources. Having 6G addressing these and other features will bring undeniable value to the sector, but their need must be made very clear, and their feasibility proven, if they are to reach the standards path that will bring them to market availability in the future. This consortium was put together to propose the establishment of real-world platforms where such developments can take place and be validated. Partners from key verticals such as city, ports, airports, logistics as well as ICT companies, municipalities and research and academia with wide experience in conducting trials will set up business-relevant testbeds, where use cases selected to highlight the needs of the automated Transport and Logistics industry can show the possibilities of 6G, but also show aspects that can contribute to the enhancement of 6G standards. |
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| Region of Intervention: | Portugal, Spain, Greece, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland | |||||
| Reference: | 101293076 | |||||
| Funding: | EU/Horizon Europe | |||||
| Approval Date: | 26-01-2026 | |||||
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| Team: | Susana Isabel Barreto Miranda Sargento, Pedro Filipe Vieira Rito, Joaquim Manuel Santos Ramos, Gonçalo Lourenço da Silva, João Pedro Caldeira Amaral, Marco Paulo Viegas Araújo, Duarte Miguel Garcia Raposo, Nuno Miguel Abreu Luís | |||||
| Groups: | Network Architectures and Protocols – Av | |||||
| Partners: | Instituto de Telecomunicacoes, Fundació Privada i2CAT, Internet i Innovació Digital a Catalunya, IMEC vzw, Altice Labs, S.A., Capgemini Portugal SA, Athens International Airport S.A., GOLDAIR EXYPIRETISEIS EDAFOUS ANONIMI ETAIREIA, BCN Port Innovation, Orange Espagne, S.A.U., SAVIA Innovation and Technology S.L., EBOS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, WINGS ICT Solutions Technologies Pliroforikis kai Epikoinonion Anonymi Etaireia, Software Radio Systems, Limited, BEYOND VISION - SISTEMAS MÓVEIS AUTÓNOMOS DE REALIDADE AUMENTADA, SA, Municipality of Aveiro | |||||
| Local Coordinator: | Susana Isabel Barreto Miranda Sargento |
This project falls under the following United Nations Strategic Development Goals (SDGs):
No publications associated with this project.