Context. Software quality is an essential competitive factor for the success of IT companies nowadays. Recent technological breakthroughs such as cloud technologies, the emergence of IoT and technologies such as 5¬G, pose demanding quality challenges in software development. Problem. Optimal software quality asks for the appropriate integration of quality requirements (QRs) in the software life-cycle.However, software development methodologies still provide limited support to QR management which is utterly important in rapid software development processes (RSDP): faster and more frequent release cycles should not compromise software quality. Concept. Q-Rapids defines an empirical-based, data-driven quality-aware rapid software development methodology. QRs are incrementally elicited and refined based on data gathered both during development and at runtime. This data is elaborated into quality-related key indicators presented to decision makers through a strategic dashboard with advanced capabilities. Selected QRs are integrated with functional requirements for their unified treatment in the RSDP. Outcome. A TRL7 validated Q-Rapids framework, including cutting-edge tools and methods to smartly manage QRs along with functional requirements in a similar rapid and holistic manner. Impact. Increase of software quality levels through continuous data gathering and analysis. Significant productivity increase to the software life-cycle by means of smooth and tool-supported integration of QRs in the RSDP. Shorter time to market due to reduction of quality-related maintenance efforts and more informed decision making in the planning of release cycles. Impact will be measured through 11 project indicators with defined target values. Consortium. 3 research organisations,1 SME, 2 mid-caps and 1 corporative with balanced geographical distribution. The consortium combines long research tradition in software development and cutting-edge technological knowhow in versatile ICT sectors

Having lost a significant share of the market to big players from the US and Asia, Europe is no longer at the forefront of the telecommunication industry. However, new services focusing on remote health monitoring, industry 4.0, and autonomous vehicles have created a unique opportunity for Europe to regain a leading position in 6G. Unlike traditional mobile broadband that mainly connect people, these emerging services not only exchange data but also critically rely on accurate information from their surroundings (i.e., sensing). Consequently, joint communication and sensing (JCAS) is a key feature of 6G networks, where devices will embed wireless sensing capabilities (e.g., localisation, activity recognition). JCAS faces major challenges since it demands fundamental changes to current communication systems. 6thSense follows a holistic approach to address these challenges by: (WP1) Going beyond traditional sub-6GHz systems and enabling sensing in new B5G/6G communication bands, i.e., millimetre-wave and visible light; (WP2) Addressing distributed sensing and networking challenges through architecture and protocol design; (WP3) Handling the analytical complexity of JCAS by combining the strengths of classical signal processing and optimisation models with advanced machine learning techniques; (WP4) Transferring these research contributions to industry-relevant applications in healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. 6thSense is an intersectoral and interdisciplinary cluster of excellence formed by electrical engineers and computer scientists that has pooled leading members of large EU initiatives (5G PPP), industry leaders (e.g., Nokia, Ford, Bosch) and academic institutions (e.g., KUL, TUDelft, Princeton, UCLA). Benefitting from this consortium, a comprehensive soft-skill training (WP5) and a tailored dissemination and exploitation strategy (WP6), the 10 PhD fellows will become highly employable in various industries, academia, or public government bodies.

The global telecommunications market has become tremendously competitive due to the emergence of new Asian players and saturation of traditional products (e.g., mobile broadband), which has decelerated the growth of the EU's telecommunications market. Thus, without dramatic innovation to open up new markets, EU's telecommunications industry is at risk. However, new markets such as industry 4.0 and autonomous driving demands extremely high data rates which can only be provided at mmWave frequencies. To successfully overcome mmWave challenges, a closely integrated, skilled and multi-disciplinary team is needed to co-create innovative technology and applications. The ETN for MIllimeter-wave NeTworking and Sensing for Beyond 5G (MINTS) offers the first training program on mmWave networks that covers the full stack from physical layer to application. MINTS is an inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary cluster of excellence formed by electrical engineers and computer scientists aiming at innovative solutions for future mmWave networks and has pooled leading members of large EU initiatives (5G PPP), EU projects (ERC, H2020), and major telecommunications manufacturers (NOKIA, Sony, NEC), operators (e.g., Italtel, Proximus) and prototype providers (NI). MINTS lays the foundation for resilient mmWave networks by enhancing physical-layer robustness via dynamic multi-beamforming techniques (WP1) and leveraging the directionality and broad communication bandwidth of mmWave systems for accurate environmental sensing (WP2). MINTS addresses the networking issues of dense mmWave systems through advanced interference control and secure algorithms (WP3) and devises application-specific solutions for emerging application of mmWave communications, including industry 4.0, V2X and augmented reality (WP4). The 15 ESRs in MINTS benefits from a comprehensive soft-skills training (WP5) and a tailored dissemination and exploitation strategy (WP6) which will boost their careers.

The 5G CHAMPION project ambitions to deliver the first 5G system proof-of-concept in conjunction with the 2018 South Korean Winter Olympics. Key novel 5G building blocks will be developed and implemented into a new architectural approach providing an efficient end-to-end system performance encompassing cutting edge 5G radio-access, core-network and satellite technologies. It will be the first time ever that state-of-the art terrestrial wireless communication, including future key enablers such as mmWave access, will be seamlessly combined with a disruptive satellite communication, forming a ‘multi RAT capable’ 5G network optimised to serve user equipment in various deployment context. The novel building blocks will rely on innovations in RF, antenna and radio protocols design for mmWave access and backhaul network, efficient virtualization through NFV/SDN functions enabling a flexible packet core implementation and satellite based communication and navigation solutions for extended coverage and ubiquitous high precision location estimation. Emphasize is furthermore laid on an efficient standardization strategy and on the resolution of key certification hurdles. The proposed technologies will finally be improving Latency in the ms range and provide high throughput in very dense user environment, cost effective network management, QoS improved in high speed mobility conditions, high precision/integrity location and timing estimation, ubiquitous service provisioning as well as flexibility in equipment reconfiguration through software which are listed among the main challenges for the design of the 5G network. These technologies are of particular interest for High speed mobile broadband and Internet of things and the respective integration of heterogeneous technologies in a common framework.