During the reporting period, MiFuture has made substantial progress in its technical and scientific activities, consolidating the core research directions of the project and advancing the individual research projects of all recruited Doctoral Candidates (14 DCs).
All DCs have been fully integrated into their host institutions and have actively pursued their Individual Research Projects (IRPs), covering key topics related to ultra-massive MIMO and future cell-free heterogeneous networks. These include, among others, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), OTFS-based waveform design, positioning-aided beamforming, AI-native procedures for UmMIMO, cell-free resource allocation, machine-learning-based localization, hybrid intelligent surfaces, and experimental validation of advanced 5G/6G antenna technologies. Several research contributions have already resulted in peer-reviewed conference publications and journal submissions, demonstrating early scientific impact.
At project level, several major technical deliverables have been successfully completed, providing the methodological and architectural foundations for the next research phases. These deliverables were prepared with broad participation from DCs and supervisors, fostering cross-work-package alignment and a shared technical vision across the consortium.
The Mid-Term Meeting, held in March, represented a major scientific milestone, enabling in-depth technical exchange, presentation of DC research objectives and results, and interaction with leading academic and industrial experts. Overall, the project is progressing according to plan and has successfully transitioned from initial setup to consolidated scientific production.