VERGE - AI-powered eVolution towards opEn and secuRe edGe architEctures

VERGE will drive the evolution of edge computing towards an integrated, next-generation edge-cloud compute continuum, as a key enabling technology to deliver the most demanding applications and use cases in the road towards 6G. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach to converge techniques from multiple areas, including telecommunications, edge and cloud technologies, embedded and distributed computing, cybersecurity and AI, VERGE will achieve its vision based on three technical pillars, which can be briefly summarised as: i) building an “edge for AI” framework (Edge4AI), to support the flexible and efficient deployment and execution of the emerging 6G AI-enabled applications across a jointly orchestrated compute and communication continuum, while meeting the ultra-high computational and communication requirements, ii) leveraging “AI for edge” (AI4Edge), by employing cutting-edge AI methods to learn and optimise the network performance in the highly heterogeneous and rapidly changing B5G and eventually 6G environments, and iii) providing the necessary Security, Privacy and Trustworthiness “SPT for AI” methods (SPT4AI), to address the relevant challenges that specifically emerge due to the decentralized edge computing environment and the extensive use of distributed AI methodologies in a dynamic and heterogeneous network structure.