The Project
6G4Society is an SNS JU project that supports and promotes the integration of societal, environmental, and economic values in 6G, ensuring its design, development, and adoption contribute to a sustainable future while fostering social acceptance.
Our Vision
6G4Society envisions a future where next-generation connectivity is shaped by societal needs, environmental responsibility, and ethical values. Our goal is to deepen public understanding of what influences the acceptance of 6G technologies, while supporting the development of a European framework that embeds sustainability and trust into network design. By actively engaging citizens and reflecting EU policy priorities, we aim to ensure that 6G evolves in a way that is inclusive, transparent, and aligned with the public interest.
Let's talk about our objectives
Foster public understanding and shared knowledge of the factors influencing 6G acceptance.
Propose theSocial Acceptance of Technology (SAT) framework as a holistic framework to analysesocial acceptance in the context of 6G.
Proactively engage with the public audience to understand and foster social acceptance of 6G.
Define and promote the use of a common understanding of Key Value Indicators (KVIs) for 6G.
Define and promote the use of common Key Sustainability Indicators (KSIs) for 6G, as a subset of KVIs.
Map and inform relevant policy-making efforts for a socially accepted and sustainable 6G.
Liaise, promote and engage relevant initiatives and projects at work for a sustainable 6G.
Contribute to regulatory and pre-/standardisation efforts at a pan-European level.
Activities
6G4Society engages key stakeholders within the Smart Networks and Services (SNS) ecosystem, as well as civil society players, regulators, policymakers, media, and the public at large, to ensure that correct and clear information about the expected impacts of 6G technology is disseminated and understood by all relevant parties. The project is divided into four work packages that interact with and build upon each other: Understanding the impact of 6G on society, public engagement and communication, synergies and coordination support, and communication, dissemination, exploitation and standardisation.
Planned Outcomes
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Launch of 6G4Society Citizen Survey
The 6G4Society Citizen Survey was launched in April 2024, and we have been receiving a steady stream of responses from citizens across Europe. The survey gathers valuable insights into public experiences with 5G and expectations for 6G, which we will analyse to guide EU policy and support the development of technology that aligns with societal needs and values. This activity is complemented by the organisation of citizen engagement workshops, ensuring the public has a voice in the development of next-generation networks.
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Organisation of Webinars and Workshops
We are actively organising workshops and webinars to foster dialogue on the societal and environmental aspects of 6G development. These events explore topics such as defining Key Value Indicators (KVIs) and Key Sustainability Indicators (KSIs) to measure impact, and aligning technical innovation with societal priorities. Through these sessions, we are strengthening synergies within the SNS JU ecosystem and increasing awareness of the importance of embedding sustainability into 6G at the design stage.
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Advancing Research on Sustainable and Inclusive 6G Development
We are contributing to the scientific community by developing research papers and supporting materials that explore the intersection of 6G, sustainability, and public acceptance. These include the Ontology Requirements Specification Document, the KVI/KSI Ontology, and a Standardisation Roadmap, all of which aim to guide sustainable and inclusive innovation. We have also identified and refined Key Exploitable Results (KERs) to better align research outcomes with societal and market needs.
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Development of the Social Acceptance of Technology (SAT) Framework
We have developed and adapted the Social Acceptance of Technology (SAT) Framework to the 6G context, a tool designed to analyse and evaluate technology acceptance across four key dimensions: Social Disruptiveness, Value Impact, User Experience, and Trust. This framework offers a structured way to study societal acceptance within research and innovation activities. More details can be found in the deliverable D1.1 Societal aspects in 6G technology: concerns, acceptance models and sustainability indicators.
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Accessible Public Information and Communication
We are committed to ensuring that 6G is understandable and relatable to citizens. This includes producing easily digestible content that explains what 6G is, why it matters, and how it connects to societal values. Through strategic use of social media, newsletters, infographics, and explainer videos, we make our findings accessible to both expert and non-expert audiences.
Launch of 6G4Society Citizen Survey
The 6G4Society Citizen Survey was launched in April 2024, and we have been receiving a steady stream of responses from citizens across Europe. The survey is gathering valuable insights into public experiences with 5G and expectations for 6G, which we will analyse to ensure they inform EU policy and guide the development of technology that aligns with societal needs and values.
Organisation of Webinars and Workshops
We are actively organising workshops and webinars to foster dialogue on the societal and environmental aspects of 6G development. These events focus on topics such as defining Key Value Indicators (KVIs) to measure the impact of 6G, exploring strategies to ensure social acceptance, and discussing how to align technological advancements with sustainability goals. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, we aim to shape 6G in a way that reflects societal priorities and values.
Advancing Research on Sustainable and Inclusive 6G Development
We are contributing to the scientific community by developing research papers that explore the intersection of 6G technology, sustainability, and social acceptance. These papers address key challenges and propose frameworks to ensure that future connectivity aligns with environmental goals and societal values. Through this work, we aim to advance the academic discourse and provide insights that support a sustainable and inclusive approach to 6G development.
Development of the Social Acceptance of Technology (SAT) Framework
We have developed the Social Acceptance of Technology (SAT) Framework, a tool designed to analyse and evaluate the acceptance of new technologies across four key dimensions: Social Disruptiveness, Value Impact, User Experience, and Trust. This framework provides a comprehensive approach to analyse social acceptance in the context of 6G. More details can be found in the deliverable D1.1 Societal aspects in 6G technology: concerns, acceptance models and sustainability indicators.
