Smart Radio Environment
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With the rapid advancement of mobile communication technologies, indoor environments have become the primary domain for mobile traffic. Current statistics indicate that 80-96% of mobile services are initiated within buildings of various types. This distinctive characteristic imposes unprecedented stringent requirements on the coverage quality, capacity, and energy efficiency of indoor wireless networks. Tracing the evolution of mobile communications, the industry has witnessed a continuous progression in addressing indoor coverage challenges-from the 2G/3G era relying predominantly on outdoor macro base stations, to the 4G period introducing indoor solutions such as distributed antenna systems, and further to the 5G/6G era adopting ultra-dense network technologies. Against this technological backdrop, smart radio environments (SREs) have emerged as an innovative paradigm that transcends the limitations of conventional communication approaches. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as programmable electromagnetic materials and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), SREs achieve a revolutionary shift from passively adapting to the environment to actively shaping it. This special session provides a systematic exploration of the key technologies and development pathways for SREs, with a focus on quantitative evaluation-based optimization methodologies for building wireless performance (BWP), material properties and control mechanisms of RIS, novel communication theoretical frameworks tailored for SRE and digital twin-enabled real-time performance optimization techniques. These research topics involve deep interdisciplinary convergence across communications engineering, materials science, electromagnetics, architecture, and computer science. As a promising technology for future wireless systems, the implementation of SREs will significantly enhance network performance metrics, optimize energy efficiency, and provide critical technical support for national strategic initiatives such as smart city development and low-carbon societal transformation.This special session aims to establish a high-level academic platform that brings together leading researchers and industry practitioners to foster breakthroughs in this strategic field. It seeks to make seminal contributions toward building an intelligent, high-efficiency, and sustainable next-generation wireless ecosystem.