In technical espects, SEMANTIC fostered novel techniques for multi-GHz spectrum communications that explore the recently-released NR capabilities for dynamic beam management, adaptive duplexing, and selfcontained subframe transmissions, further studying coexistence issues with other systems operating in multi-GHz bands and proposing future-proof NR enhancements for non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and massively distributed MIMO. SEMANTIC was also be one of the first EU-funded projects to devise forward-thinking enhancements and original methodological tools for dynamic service provisioning capable to guarantee "zero perceived" downtime and massive connectivity at the network edge, through the integration of MEC-empowered upgrades to the 5G operation, as well as through the optimized creation, placement, chaining and utilization of e2e slices in the 5G continuum, fully exploiting the flexibility offered for dynamic functional split, traffic steering and IAB. Different from other EU-funded projects, SEMANTIC innovated 5G network control and automation through a comprehensive data-driven framework that is specialized to the i) control and parameterization of the large number of features ii) dynamic service placement and chaining of VNFs spanning the different network tiers and domains, as well as iii) inter-slice management and joint allocation of resources in converged MEC/RAN infrastructures.
To this end, SEMANTIC fostered collaboration of institutions with expertise in different disciplines through specialized schools, courses, seminars from recognized experts, and by incorporating theoretical and hands-on activities, thus, considerably promoting EU innovation capacity in 5G service provisioning. SEMANTIC exposed ESRs to a wide variety of research environments (university and industrial), practices (e.g. theoretical modelling by CTTC/EUR, simulation tools by UOA/CLM, prototypes/testbeds by NI/IQU/EUR) and cultural experiences by visiting various countries during secondments or training activities. All these aspects contributed to the creation of the required innovation-oriented, internationally trained and flexible European work-force in the emerging 5G technology arena, with increased employment prospects in both academic and non-academic sector. The SEMANTIC programme significantly contributed in structuring research training and strengthening EU innovation capacity by: 1) being one of the first projects of top EU academic and private institutions that targeted at training & research excellence in e2e technology integration and optimization beyond 5G; 2) bringing top-class ESRs on the emerging 5G market of data-driven automation of critical network tasks; 3) creating specific ToK procedures to transfer most recent research efforts from academia to industry, while bringing real-life requirements from industry to academia; 4) improving the impact of leading 5G industrial partners on the engineers training process, providing their own vision on the required know-how for ICT engineers; 6) remaining active, stable and well-connected after the project lifetime, through the structuring of new courses in academic institutions and through the joint setup of SoA platforms for experimentation.
