About the ELASTIC Project
Project Overview
The ELASTIC project is dedicated to redefining the capabilities of 6G network orchestration through cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. With a focus on enhancing network efficiency, security, and flexibility, ELASTIC integrates innovations like WebAssembly, Confidential Computing, and edge computing. The ambition is to develop dynamic and adaptable orchestration tools that facilitate on-demand resource allocation and efficient service provisioning across various sectors.
Partners
ELASTIC is a collaborative effort involving a consortium of leaders from academia, industry, and specialized small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. Each partner contributes unique expertise, ranging from technical development to strategic implementation, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the project’s goals. These organizations play pivotal roles in research, development, testing, and dissemination of project outcomes.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
The project starts with technologies at various initial TRLs, generally ranging from TRL 2 (technology concept formulated) to TRL 4 (technology validated in lab). ELASTIC aims to advance these technologies to higher readiness levels, targeting TRL 4 (technology validated in lab) to TRL 6 (technology demonstrated in relevant environment), by the project’s conclusion. This progression is expected to demonstrate the practical viability and scalability of the solutions developed.
Impact
The anticipated impact of ELASTIC includes significant advancements in 6G network performance, security, and energy efficiency. These improvements are expected to enable new applications and services in critical areas such as healthcare, autonomous transportation, and smart cities, thereby contributing to technological innovation and economic growth within the EU.
Workpackages
Work Package 1 – Efficient, Portable and Secure Executable Isolation
- Leader: AAL (Aalto University)
- Description: This work package focuses on advancing WebAssembly (Wasm) and extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) technologies for efficient, secure executable isolation in modern cloud-edge environments. It includes research on the security aspects of Wasm isolation, eBPF usage in real-time applications, and the extension of these technologies to support component-based architectures for better networking and orchestration.
Work Package 2 – Serverless FaaS Orchestration with Architecture-agnostic In-network Execution
- Leader: IME (IMEC)
- Description: WP2 aims to develop serverless Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) orchestration mechanisms that are lightweight and robust, focusing on improving scheduling, security, and low-latency capabilities by leveraging eBPF and XDP technologies. This work package seeks to enhance serverless computing with architecture-agnostic execution environments.
Work Package 3 – Privacy-preserving, Portable and Efficient Execution Using Confidential Computing
- Leader: THD
- Description: This work package is dedicated to enabling privacy-preserving and efficient execution of computational tasks using Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Objectives include specifying a hardware abstraction layer for secure enclaves, implementing Wasm runtimes inside TEEs, and developing secure remote attestation mechanisms.
Work Package 4 – Efficient, Portable and Secure Edge Workload Orchestration
- Leader: TID
- Description: WP4 focuses on the orchestration of workloads on edge computing platforms, enhancing the use of Wasm, eBPF, and TEE technologies for edge and constrained IoT nodes. It also explores hardware and software support for applying machine learning on the edge.
Work Package 5 – ELASTIC Demonstrators
- Leader: UVC (Ultraviolet Consult)
- Description: This work package is responsible for setting up and demonstrating the ELASTIC framework’s capabilities in real-world scenarios. It involves specifying the use cases, setting up the infrastructure, and deploying cloud computing testbeds for healthcare and other applications.
Work Package 6 – Dissemination, Standardisation and Exploitation
- Leader: ZEN
- Description: WP6 aims to disseminate the results of the ELASTIC project, engage with standardization bodies, and ensure the exploitation of the project outcomes. This includes communication plans, the expansion of the ELASTIC ecosystem, and the standardization of project technologies.
Work Package 7 – Project Management and Consortium Coordination
- Leader: TUC (Technical University of Crete)
- Description: The final work package oversees the coordination and management of the entire project, ensuring compliance with the project’s objectives, quality standards, and legal requirements. It includes risk management, quality assurance, and data management strategies.