Over the past months, COREnext has advanced a number of demonstrations showcasing how its architectural framework and digital components can support the development of secure, adaptable and high-performance communication systems. From trust-aware IoT management to resource-optimised network services, these demonstrations illustrate the practical application of COREnext technologies and highlight the progress being made across the project’s technical work. In this issue, readers will also find an overview of the latest scientific publications produced by the consortium, offering further insight into the research directions, experimental findings and methodologies shaping the project’s outcomes.