Advancing Network Digital Twins (NDTs) for AI-driven 6G systems: Insights, applications, and cross-project synergies
Date, hour and room to be defined
Organisers
- Régis Decorme (R2M Solution France, FR)
Motivation and Background
Network Digital Twins (NDTs) are becoming a cornerstone for AI-native 6G networks. By creating real-time digital replicas of physical infrastructures, NDTs enable testing, optimization, and predictive analytics across the edge–cloud continuum. This capability is critical to manage the growing complexity of 6G systems, which will be highly dynamic, programmable, and distributed. NDTs support network automation, scenario-based planning, AI-driven workflows, and safe experimentation before deployment, while addressing key operational requirements, including performance, security, and resilience.
Following the successful first edition in 2025, this second workshop continues the dialogue by bringing together multiple Horizon Europe & SNS JU projects that are advancing NDTs in complementary ways. Recent work in the field, including frameworks for functional architectures, lifecycle management, orchestration, and AI integration [1], provides a reference point for discussions. Importantly, the workshop emphasizes multi-domain digital twins, for instance linking vertical-specific digital twins (e.g., vehicles or industrial processes) with the network, as well as cross-project collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint exploration of emerging challenges.
The 2026 EuCNC & 6G Summit offers an ideal platform to explore these topics with a broad audience of academics, industry practitioners, and policy stakeholders. Discussions will focus on interoperability, scalability, data governance, explainable AI, and real-time situational awareness, while showcasing applications in vertical domains such as Smart Cities, Industry 4.0, and Emergency Services.
By fostering a shared understanding of NDT capabilities and challenges, the workshop aims to highlight pathways connecting STREAM B (network-focused) and STREAM D (vertical-focused) projects, define actionable strategies for collaborative research, experimental validation, and standardization, and strengthen Europe’s leadership in this transformative area.
Reference: [1] S. Faye et al., “A Reference Functional Architecture for Network Digital Twins in 6G Systems,” 6G-TWIN EU Consortium, 2025.
Structure
09:00 – 09:10: Opening and Introduction
The workshop will open with an introduction by the chairs (Sébastien Faye, LIST, 6G-TWIN project coordinator & Régis Decorme, R2M, 6G-TWIN DEC manager), providing an overview of the goals, agenda, and the state-of-the-art in Network Digital Twins (NDTs). This session will set the context for discussions, highlighting the importance of NDTs for AI-driven 6G systems and presenting key concepts and objectives shared across contributing projects.
09:10 – 10:40: Project Presentations
Participating projects will present their approaches, results, and perspectives, highlighting both unique contributions and cross-cutting synergies. The project presentations are grouped by their key focus to facilitate thematic discussion.
Group 1: Foundational Architectures and Experimental Testbeds
(Focus on core reference models, synchronization, and NDT implementation in testbeds/sandboxes)
6G-TWIN – Key focus: Reference functional architecture for NDTs in 6G systems | Speaker: Sébastien Faye (LIST)
6G-SANDBOX: Key focus: Results from Digital Twin work applied to the 6G-SANDBOX project, from measurement to prediction of technology performance in energy consumption use case. | Speaker: Michael Dieudonne (Keysight Technologies)
MARE, Key focus: Using an NDT-based Sandbox for incidents and remediation actions analysis and pre-assessment | Speaker: Xavi Masip (UPC)
6G-PATH, Key focus: 6G Digital Twin Testbed for the Classroom of the Future | Speaker: Jose M Alcaraz Calero (Aston University)
Group 2: Network-Centric NDT (RAN, NTN, and Heterogeneous Core)
(Focus on specific network domains, including cloud, core, and radio technologies)
SUNRISE-6G: Key focus : NTD for ORAN | Speaker: Dr. Daniel Camps (I2CAT)
FLECON-6G | Key focus: NTN Network Digital Twin | Speaker: Dr. Carlos Guimaraes, SIEMENS
UNITY-6G: Key focus: NDT in unified architecture for heterogeneous 6G network | Speaker: Paweł Kryszkiewicz (Poznan University of Technology)
6G-DALI | NDT for the European 6G dataspace | Speaker: Prof. Adlen Ksentini (EURECOM)
6G-Cloud, Key focus: NDT-enabled AI/ML framework for 6G-Cloud service-oriented architecture | Speaker: Dr. Nikos Dimitriou (NCSR “Demokritos”)
10:40 – 11:00: Coffee Break
Group 3: Cross-Domain Integration and Security NDT
(Focus on NDT for verticals, critical infrastructure, security, and leveraging programmability)
ENVELOPE | Key focus: Exploring how application- and vehicle-level digital twins can leverage network and edge programmability to optimize performance and service delivery | Speaker: Pavlos Basaras (ICCS).
6G Future Network Services (flagship project in the Netherlands), Key focus: Adaptive synchronization for the Network Digital Twin | | Speakers: Chrysa Papagianni (University of Amsterdam), Giovanni D’Amore (Keysight Technologies)
INTACT: Key focus: An integrated toolbox for a cybersecurity digital twin for critical Infrastructure| Speaker: Wissam Mallouli (Montimage)
SECASSURED: Key focus: AI-based security services for Trustworthy 5G/6G security| Speaker: Ioan Constantin (Orange)
ACROSS: Key focus: AI-driven, zero-touch, multi-domain service orchestration across the cloud continuum | Speaker: Javier Nuñez Fuente (Telefonica)
11:50 – 12:20: Interactive Discussion / Panel
An interactive session will follow, focusing on cross-project challenges and opportunities:
Interoperability across platforms and ecosystems
Scalability of digital twin deployments
Data governance, privacy, and security
Explainability of AI-driven network decisions
Situational awareness and integration with vertical domains
All participants will be encouraged to contribute, ensuring a collaborative environment for sharing insights, experiences, and lessons learned.
12:20 – 12:30: Closing Remarks and Action Plan
The workshop will conclude with a summary of key takeaways, followed by a collaborative discussion to define an action plan. Possible outcomes include opportunities for joint publications, coordinated experiments, or follow-up workshops, reinforcing cross-project collaboration and European leadership in NDT development.
