Next generation connectivity for a smarter tomorrow

Next generation connectivity for a smarter tomorrow

Communications Hub for Empowering Distributed clouD computing Applications and Research

We’re a consortium of six leading UK universities researching the communications technologies of tomorrow.

The Communications Hub for Empowering
Distributed Cloud Computing Applications and Research
(CHEDDAR) is a hub dedicated to advancing future communications. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) – UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Technology Missions Fund
(TMF), CHEDDAR, alongside TITAN and HASC, represents pioneering platforms established to foster advancements in communication systems, and will serve to bridge connections across academia, business, and the
global community.

CHEDDAR Subprojects and Collaborating Institutions

As part of its mission to drive innovation in next generation telecoms, CHEDDAR Hub supports a series of subprojects led by universities across the UK. These collaborative efforts extend the reach and impact of the Hub’s research by addressing targeted challenges in distributed cloud computing, secure connectivity, and advanced network systems. These subprojects form a vital part of CHEDDAR’s ambition to empower research with real-world application.

Lead Institutions for CHEDDAR Subprojects:

• University of Surrey
• Keele University
• Lancaster University
• Glasgow Caledonian University

Collaborating Universities (non-core CHEDDAR partners):

These institutions are actively involved in CHEDDAR subprojects but are not part of the core CHEDDAR university consortium:
• Birmingham City University
• University of Exeter
• University of Warwick
• Northumbria University
• Queen Mary University of London
• Coventry University

Aims and Vision

The evolution of future communications ecosystems represents a continuum spanning from the smallest devices to extensive cloud farms. Anticipated around 2030, international standards for 6G are poised to usher in a transformation from interconnected people and devices to interconnected intelligence. It is crucial for these technologies to underpin and be reinforced by communications infrastructures that
are safe, secure, trustworthy, and sustainable.

CHEDDAR will explore how communications systems can underpin next generation computing and how cloud systems and AI can bolster communications. By leveraging UK expertise and innovative ideas, the Hub is investigating emerging computation and critical infrastructures with a cross-sector focus on end-users. CHEDDAR, in collaboration with the other two hubs, will contribute to building a unified research ecosystem that nurtures talent and explores
ground-breaking ideas, specifically concentrating on 6G technologies facilitating the shift towards
interconnected intelligence.

The CHEDDAR Hub is being led by Imperial College London, and its core partner universities include the Universities of Cranfield, Durham, Glasgow, Leeds, and York.

Next generation sub-projects within CHEDDAR

CHEDDAR Hub supports a series of university-led sub-projects designed to complement its strategic research in distributed cloud-continuum, secure connectivity, and sustainable 6G infrastructure. These projects are funded through both Sandpit and Follow-on mechanisms and involve collaboration across UK universities.

6G-AI-FINESSE

Improving 6G Rural Security using AI-Driven Intelligence to Identify Friend or Foe for Physical Layer Security.
Type: Follow-on Project
Duration: August 2025 – March 2026
Principal Investigator: Dr. Aisha Junejo
Universities involved: Imperial College London, Keele University, University of Surrey.

SecureSense

Enhanced Secure 6G Real-Time Joint Communications and Sensing Testbed
Type: Follow-on Project
Duration: August 2025 – March 2026
Principal Investigator: Dr. Muhammad Usman
Universities involved: Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Glasgow, Coventry University, InterDigital.

ORAN-TWIN-X 

Explainable Digital Twin for Energy-Aware and Trustworthy O-RAN Control
Type: Follow-on Project
Duration: August 2025 – March 2026
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mohammad Shojafar
Universities involved: University of Surrey, University of Leeds, York University, Birmingham City University

CHEESE: Configurable Holistic Explainability for Emerging Sixth-Generation Network Evaluation

Type: Sandpit Project
Principal Investigator: Yansha Dang
Universities involved: Kings College London, University of Hull, Brunel University, Digital Catapult

Electromagnetic Neural Networks for Over-the-air Communication, Sensing and Computing

Type: Sandpit Project
Duration: July 2025 – March 2026
Principal Investigator: Marco Di Renzo
Universities involved: Kings College London, Essex University, Loughborough University

EcoNGN: Embedding Carbon Awareness into Next Generation Telecom Networks

Type: Sandpit Project
Duration: July 2025 – March 2026
Principal Investigator: Nagham Saeed
Universities involved: University of West London, Oxford University

The Cheddar Hub

Our Research Focus

Research Themes

CHEDDAR strives to research, design, and derive proofs-of-concept of the 6G technologies that will support edge-fog-cloud continuum of computation through three thematic research pillars:

The pillars are augmented by innovative blue-sky and pilot research projects, which are structured to encourage multi-partner collaboration, generating a substantial presence and impact in each research area (see our Research Themes pages for more details).