Horizon Europe-MSCA – Doctoral Network FOCAL : « Free-space Optical Communications for Aerial-sateLlite networks »
Horizon Europe (HE)
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA)
Doctoral Network (DN)
Starting Date : 01/12/2024
End Date : 30/11/2028
Budget : 3 569 385,60 €
Project Website : https://focal-dn.eu/
Context of the project : With nearly 3 billion people still lacking access to broadband internet worldwide, operators continue to struggle to cover “white areas” where connectivity is insufficient or entirely non-existent. The need to alternative solutions is becoming increasingly urgent, especially as radio-frequency-based satellite communication systems are reaching their capacity limits and offer limited scalability. In light of the early promises of 6G wireless networks, non-terrestrial networks appear as an attractive complement to the terrestrial radio and fiber infrastructures.
Free-space optical (FSO) technology is a natural alternative for providing much higher capacity while also better addressing data security requirements through quantum communication techniques. Once the key remaining research challenges are overcome, FSO can rapidly scale and serve as a catalyst for deploying a new communication backbone in the sky, composed of aerial and space optical nodes operating at different altitudes (see the illustration below)
Objectives of the project :
The main aim of the FOCAL project is to train a new generation of highly qualified doctoral candidates in developing innovative aerial and space optical wireless technologies that will provide future telecommunication networks with ubiquitous connectivity, resilience, and quantum-proof security. In addition to contributing to the fundamental understanding and technical know-how of such networks through co-supervised individual research projects, FOCAL will train talented and innovative researchers with multidisciplinary expertise and skills that are desirable in this European industrial sector.
This will be achieved through a combination of theoretical and hands-on research training provided by a unique consortium of 16 academic and 10 industrial partners from 8 countries, resulting in collaborative research including co-supervision and secondments, as well as transferable training skills, which is necessary for prosperous careers in this prominent R&I area.
Partners involved in the project
Academic Sector Beneficiaries :
- École Centrale Méditerranée – https://www.centrale-mediterranee.fr
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft – und Raumfahrt – DLR – https://www.dlr.de/en/kn/about-us/the-institute
- Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung – HHI – https://www.hhi.fraunhofer.de
- Aalto Korkeakoulusaatio – https://research.aalto.fi/en/organisations/mobile-communication-systems-2
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universitaet Erlangen-Nuernberg – FAU – https://www.idc.tf.fau.eu/
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek – TNO – https://www.tno.nl/en/about-tno/organisation/units/high-tech-industry/optomechatronics/
- University of Edinburgh – UEDin – https://eng.ed.ac.uk/research/institutes/idcom
- University of Northumbria at Newcastle – NUN – https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/mathematics-physics-and-electrical-engineering/
Private Sector Beneficiaries : Nokia Denmark – Airbus Netherlands – Thales Alenia Space – Tesat – Spacecom – Nokia Networks France – Thinkquantum
Associated Partners :
Contacts at Institut Fresnel :
Dr Ali KHALIGHI, Project Coordinator : ali.khalighi@fresnel.fr
Minéa ALLAIX, Project Manager : minea.allaix@fresnel.fr
FOCAL is a MSCA Doctoral Network funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme in the frame of the GA n° 101 169 042.
