The 11th IEEE Conference on Network Functions Virtualization and Software-Defined Networking (IEEE NFV-SDN 2025) Conference will take place in the beautiful city of Athens, Greece. The conference is an important forum for the ongoing exchange of the latest ideas, developments, and results amongst ecosystem partners in both academia and industry. The conference fosters knowledge sharing and discussion on new approaches and works addressing gaps and improvements in virtualized-enabled architectures, algorithms, and operational frameworks for virtualized network functions and infrastructures.

The ATHENA 2025 workshop focuses on the pivotal advancements required for 6G networks to become a reality. The core themes revolve around research infrastructures, adaptive frameworks, and the architectural evolution of future communication systems.

The first edition of ATHENA Workshop, hosted at IEEE CAMAD 2024, was a resounding success, attracting a diverse group of researchers, industry experts, and innovators dedicated to shaping the future of 6G networks. With approximately 40 original research papers published, the workshop provided a fertile ground for discussions on advanced network infrastructures, AI-driven adaptability, and global architectural evolution. The event fostered insightful exchanges on emerging 6G technologies, cutting-edge research testbeds, and the pivotal role of adaptive frameworks in next-generation networks. ATHENA established itself as a premier venue for thought leadership in 6G research, laying a strong foundation for its continuation at IEEE SDN/NFV 2025.

The motivation behind ATHENA 2025 is to provide a dedicated venue where experts can discuss next-generation testbeds, AI-driven network adaptability, and global connectivity solutions that transcend traditional network paradigms. With 6G expected to introduce ultra-low latency, AI-native architectures, and seamless integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, this workshop will serve as a vital forum to address technical challenges and propose groundbreaking solutions.

ATHENA 2025 complements the IEEE SDN/NFV 2025 conference by exploring how the softwarization of networks, virtualization techniques, and AI-driven optimizations will shape the transition to 6G. By bringing together academia, industry, and policymakers, this workshop fosters collaboration on key innovations driving the evolution from 5G to 6G.