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TECHNOLOGY NEWS

IMDEA Networks Participates in a European Project to Create 6G Networks that
Interact Intelligently with Reality

IMDEA Networks is part of MultiX, a European scientific project
involving 17 research centers and technology companies from
7 countries coordinated by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
(UC3M), which aims to revolutionize future 6G communication
networks by transforming their design and operation. By means
of an innovative system that integrates multisensory perception,
MultiX aims to make networks capable of intelligently observing
the environment and interacting with it in real time. This innovation
seeks to transform sectors as relevant as healthcare facilities
or the autonomous vehicle industry. “What we want to achieve
through the development of this technology is that the networks
stop being simple communication providers and become active
observers of reality, capable of interacting with it,” explains the
project coordinator, Antonio de la Oliva, professor in the UC3M detect emergency situations, such as a heart attack, and potentially
Telematics Engineering Department. “To do this, we want to use alert health services”. MultiX also stands out for its commitment
multiple tools, such as cameras and communication networks to sustainability, a key challenge for 6G technology. Thus, in order
acting as sensors simultaneously. In this way we will be able to to maximize energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption,
have a broader vision of what is happening around us and design the project leverages artificial intelligence to implement low-
a new access network in which everything is connected”. Within power solutions and thus adapt to the requirements of future
the project, IMDEA Networks is specifically focusing on the MultiX networks. The project will validate its progress through two proof-
energy-efficient network perception system, with perception of-concepts designed to demonstrate practical applications of the
enablers that allow for localization and multi-static sensing across technologies developed. The first consists of a multilayer digital
different radio technologies. IMDEA Networks is further involved network twin, aimed at optimizing processes in the field of industrial
in the development of machine-learning based algorithms to manufacturing. The second proof will focus on contactless health
integrate all the different sensing modalities to derive fine-grained monitoring in the home environment, with the aim of transforming
information about objects in the environment. “Multi-static, multi- home healthcare. These technologies combined with AI could
band integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) with coherent optimize diagnosis and treatment in health-related matters even
integration is key to high-precision perception of the environment,” from home, according to the researchers. To support these proof-
explains Joerg Widmer, Research Director at IMDEA Networks. of-concepts, IMDEA Networks is developing a powerful multi-band
“Capturing signals from multiple viewpoints improves spatial integrated sensing and communication platform for 6G. MultiX
diversity, enhances micro-Doppler extraction, and provides richer project has been funded by the European Commission under the
motion signatures, while coherent processing fuses information Horizon Europe program (GA 101192521) and involves: Apple
across bands to improve accuracy, which enables real-time, Technology Engineering BV&CO (Germany), BubbleRAN (France),
intelligent interaction with the environment.” The promoters of Siemens AG (Germany), Telefónica S.A. (Spain), Nextworks
this project have explained that one of the many applications of (Italy), INTEL Deutschland GmbH (Germany), InterDigital Europe
this new technology is to make networks capable of recognizing Ltd. (United Kingdom), Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario
if there is a higher concentration of people in a certain area, if per le Telecomunicazioni (Italy), IHP – Leibniz Institute for High
an elderly person has suffered a fall at home, or to optimize the Performance Microelectronics (Germany), Fundació Privada
distribution of coverage by dynamically adapting to the needs of i2CAT. Internet i Innovació Digital a Catalunya (Spain), IMDEA
users. Other potential uses MultiX is working on right now are Networks Foundation (Spain), Institute of Accelerating Systems
industrial automation processes and home connected health. and Applications (Greece), NEC Laboratories Europe GmbH
On the one hand, we intend that the networks can coordinate (Germany), Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. OTE
the movement of robots in real time, detecting obstacles and (Greece), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), Universidad de
enabling more efficient task management,” explains Antonio de la Cantabria and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Spain). Within this
Oliva. “On the other hand, the project is working on contactless consortium, Professor Antonio de la Oliva (UC3M) acts as Principal
health monitoring in the domestic environment. That is, through Investigator, Valerio Frascolla (INTEL) as Innovation Director and Xi
connected home devices, it will be possible to monitor vital signs Li (NEC) as Technical Director. The project has started in January
such as heart rate or respiration. In fact, the network could even 2025 and is expected to complete its work in June 2027.

52 MARCH-APRIL 2025