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A Common Code Base and Toolkit for Deployment of Applications to Secure and Reliable Virtual Execution Environments

Project description

Making quick application development even faster

To lead the next generation of cloud computing, software developers must build, upload and quickly deploy applications. Currently, the software and IT industry run software on shared hardware like data centres to keep costs down. The EU-funded UNICORE project will enable software developers to easily build and quickly deploy the smallest lightweight virtual machines (unikernels). It will create a common code base from which to build unikernels and develop tools that will make the creation of these unikernels easy. The creation of an open-source toolchain will enable secure and portable unikernel development, with promising commercial opportunities that will be prototyped and demonstrated in four relevant industrial innovation directions: serverless computing, network function virtualisation, Internet of Things and smart contracts.

Objective

Quickly developing, upgrading and deploying applications is the core function of the software and IT industry, often achieved through running software on shared hardware (e.g. on data centers) in order to reduce costs and improve profitability. At this point however, the software world appears stuck with inherently insecure and not-so-efficient lightweight virtualization (e.g. containers), because virtual machines are deemed too expensive to use in many scenarios. Unikernels, extremely lightweight VMs, seem like a step towards a solution, but their overwhelming development time and costs hinder their use in real-world settings. Unicore will challenge this status quo by enabling software developers to easily build and quickly deploy lightweight, secure and verifiable images (which we call unikernels) starting from existing applications. Unicore will create a common code base from which to build unikernels, and develop tools that will make the creation of such unikernels as easy as compiling an app for an existing OS, which will enable EU players to lead the next generation of cloud computing services and technology. Such tools will also allow for the creation of lean, efficient operating systems that would be perfectly suitable for resource-constrained devices settings such as IoT. Through its industry-led consortium and its top-notch academic partners, Unicore will ensure exploitation of its technical results through the implementation and operational deployment of multiple use cases. Unicore addresses the work programme’s goals by (1) providing a common code base and tools for code reusability, (2) by developing tools for verification and validation of the generated software, (3) through transparently handling of cross-platform dependencies and by (4) accelerating the full software lifecycle by fully automating several of its stages.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-ICT-2018-20

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 367 850,00
Address
SPLAIUL INDEPENDENTEI 313 SECT 6
060042 Bucharest
Romania

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Region
Macroregiunea Trei Bucureşti-Ilfov Bucureşti
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 367 850,00

Participants (11)

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