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SMART - deSigning a Meaning-Aware eneRgy-efficient optical communication network archiTecture

Duration:
01/01/2027 - 31/12/2030
Principal investigator(s):
Project type:
UE-funded research - HE - Excellent Science - MSCA
Funding body:
COMMISSIONE EUROPEA
Project identification number:
101300012
PoliTo role:
Partner

Abstract

The SMART project proposes a transformative approach to optical communications by developing a novel, meaning-aware, and energy-efficient network architecture. In an era of rapidly increasing data traffic, SMART addresses the critical need to optimise the way information is transmitted across digital infrastructure. By embedding semantic awareness into optical data transmission, the project will enable optical networks to prioritise information based on its contextual relevance, significantly reducing redundant data flow and enhancing overall system efficiency. This paradigm shift combines state-of-the-art advances in optical communication systems with intelligent, context-sensitive data processing. The SMART project aims to deliver improved transmission performance, lower energy consumption, and enhanced sustainability, paving the way for greener and more intelligent communication network infrastructure.

The project aligns with the principles of green computing and supports the EU’s objectives for climate-neutral digital technologies. SMART will be implemented through dynamic collaboration among academic institutions, industry partners, and endusers across the UK, Spain, Poland, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Ukraine, Greece and Ireland. The MSCA Staff Exchange scheme will facilitate the interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral mobility essential to the project’s success. Leveraging cutting-edge research in photonics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), SMART will establish a foundation for resilient, adaptive, and future-proof communication networks. By fostering international knowledge exchange and innovation, SMART not only advances the current state of optical networking but also strengthens Europe’s strategic leadership in sustainable digital infrastructure. The project represents a significant step toward next-generation connected systems that are smarter, greener, and more responsive to societal and technological needs.

Structures

Partners

  • POLITECNICO DI TORINO - AMMINISTRAZIONE CENTRALE
  • University of Warwick - Coordinator

Keywords

ERC sectors

SH3_11 - Communication and information, networks, media

Sustainable Development Goals

Obiettivo 9. Costruire un'infrastruttura resiliente e promuovere l'innovazione ed una industrializzazione equa, responsabile e sostenibile

Budget

Total cost: € 1,803,600.00
Total contribution: € 1,803,600.00
PoliTo total cost: € 90,180.00
PoliTo contribution: € 90,180.00