The SUSTAIN-6G project officially commenced with a highly engaging and productive kickoff meeting hosted by Orange in Paris. This three-day event brought together experts, researchers, and industry leaders, marking the first in-person gathering for many participants. The meeting set the stage for collaboration, aligning goals, and defining the strategic direction of the project.

Day 1: Launching the Collaboration

The kickoff began with a plenary session where Olivier Bouchet from Orange (SUSTAIN-6G Technical Coordinator) and Christoph Schmelz from Nokia (SUSTAIN-6G Project Manager) welcomed attendees, setting the agenda for the event. Chiara Mazzone from the SNS Office (Project Officer), provided an insightful overview of the SNS-JU initiative, followed by a brief introduction to the SUSTAIN-6G project.

A key highlight of the morning was the partner introduction session, where consortium members presented their teams, ambitions, and contributions to the project. This session was crucial in fostering collaboration and mutual understanding among partners.

The afternoon focused on administrative and practical aspects, covering data security, ethics, innovation management, and project guidelines.

The day concluded with a networking reception at Orange, offering participants a valuable opportunity to build relationships in a relaxed setting.

Day 2: Deep Dive into Work Packages

The second day was dedicated to refining the project’s work structure and defining key methodologies. In these sessions, sustainability needs, evaluation methodologies, and stakeholder involvement, ensuring a structured approach to defining and validating sustainability-driven 6G innovations were explored.

WP5 had its official kickoff, focusing on sustainable platform definition and proof-of-concept (PoC) requirements. In parallel, task-specific discussions addressed deliverables, responsibilities, and work distribution among partners. The day concluded with a General Assembly, covering governance aspects, financial planning, and reporting requirements to ensure smooth project execution.

The evening featured a social dinner, fostering deeper connections among participants and strengthening the collaborative spirit of the project.

Day 3: Strategic Planning and Roadmap Alignment

The final day focused on communication, dissemination, exploitation, and standardization strategies, ensuring that project outcomes would have broad visibility and impact.

Afternoon sessions resumed discussions on key technical aspects, consolidating insights from previous days. Simultaneously, dedicated working sessions addressed project management topics, including the project handbook, data management, and further development plans.

The meeting concluded with a closing session summarizing the outcomes and defining clear next steps. Participants left with a shared vision, well-defined responsibilities, and a strong foundation for the successful execution of SUSTAIN-6G.

Looking Forward

The SUSTAIN-6G kickoff meeting in Paris successfully set the groundwork for the project’s ambitious goals. With strengthened collaboration, well-structured methodologies, and a clear roadmap, the consortium is poised to drive innovation in sustainable 6G technologies.