HORIZON EUROPE

Biological reactor to power valves in agriculture. The Soil2Power project pioneers autonomous agricultural biobatteries powered by natural soil. This includes optimizing energy harvesting systems to generate 60% more energy than conventional solutions, developing silk-based bioelectrodes to accelerate the activation of microorganisms in the batteries, adapting biological battery architecture for seamless integration with irrigation valves, and fostering versatile applications beyond agriculture. Soil2Power aims to eliminate the need for chemical batteries and costly infrastructure, offering a sustainable, efficient energy source for agricultural irrigation while potentially revolutionizing energy solutions in various sectors. The Functional Printing and Embedded Devices Unit [...]

Artificial intelligence to optimise stroke treatment. The TRUSTroke project proposes a novel platform based on artificial intelligence, trustworthy by design and privacy-preserving, to assist clinicians, patients and caregivers in the management of acute and chronic phases of ischemic stroke. The project is based on the integration of clinical and patient-reported data, outcomes and experiences for a trustworthy assessment of disease progression and risks, enabling more personalised and effective stroke management, as well as providing inter-hospital benchmarking and sharing of best practices. TRUSTroke addresses risks of clinical severity at discharge; clinical worsening leading to unplanned hospital readmissions; [...]

Acceleration of systemic changes to create last-mile delivery ecosystems that are economically, ecologically and socially sustainable. The GREEN-LOG project offers Logistics-as-a-Service platforms for interconnected city logistics, automated delivery concepts using autonomous vehicles and delivery droids, cargo-bike-based innovations for sustainable micro-consolidation, and multimodal parcel deliveries integrating public transport network. The GREEN-LOG approach boosts a cutting-edge simulation environment for scenario building combining different solutions to enable the integration of last-mile delivery interventions with the highest possible impact on environmental sustainability and traffic reduction, also considering their financial viability. The solutions are supported by networked city logistics dataspaces that [...]

Co-creation of a citizen science toolkit for climate assemblies in living labs. The CLIMAS project aims to support a transition to climate resilience by co-designing an innovative problem-oriented climate adoption Toolbox, which relies on the application of a value-based approach, design thinking methods and citizen science mechanisms. CLIMAS will test the Toolbox in Climate Assemblies and Living Labs and formulate scientific-based guidelines for policymakers on how to shift Climate Assemblies from expert technically based deliberations to multi-stakeholder value-based dilemmas from a bottom-up and more societal perspective. The use of the Toolbox will anticipate possible tensions, points [...]

High voltage lithium batteries with a higher energy density, a faster charge and a longer useful life. The IntelLiGent project designs and develops electrode structures, supported by modelling, for a high energy density (>350 Wh/kg) while maintaining fast charging capacities (>2C). IntelLiGent balances the need to include a high amount of active material in the structure of the electrode for high-energy while facilitating the transport of mass, power and heat for high-power operation. The project refines the strategies to stabilise the interfaces for a long cycle lifetime, focusing on the stabilisation of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) [...]

Identification of key biomarkers in major depressive disorder to support the decision-making process of healthcare professionals. The OPADE project focuses on the microbiota-brain axis, which plays a major role in mental health and, in particular, in major depressive disorders (MDD). OPADE studies the combination between genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, immune system, microbiome and inflammatory networks to: Establish patient profiles to predict and optimise the efficacy of the antidepressants prescribed with an increase in the remission rate. Establish the possible correlation between inflammatory markers, metabolomics, epigenomics, genomics, immune profile and microbiome with mental disorders. Evaluate molecular and non-molecular [...]

Social innovation to renew multi-level and cross-sectoral water governance. The InnWater project responds to the need to find sustainable solutions for arbitrating water uses that take into account the realities of the field facing the challenges of climate change. The strength of the project lies in the close collaboration with the five pilot sites on Réunion Island (France), Brenta (Italy), Figueres (Spain), West Country (United Kingdom) and Middle Tisza (Hungary). The challenge is to progressively expand the target group of the pilot sites to develop a community of practice on the new modes of governance adapted [...]

Enablement of a two-way communication flow with enhanced feedback loops between users and AI, leading to improved human-AI collaboration, mutual learning and reasoning, and thus increased user trust and acceptance. The PEER project focuses on how how to systematically put the user at the centre of the entire AI design, development, deployment, and evaluation pipeline, allowing for truly mixed human-AI initiatives on complex sequential decision-making problems As an interdisciplinary project between social sciences and artificial intelligence, PEER facilitates novel ways of engagement by end-users with AI in the design phase. PEER creates novel AI planning methods [...]

Next generation of battery reverse logistics. The BatteReverse project develops a more efficient and universal method for battery discharge and first diagnosis. BatteReverse improves the safety of Li-ion batteries transportation by developing safety packaging with a monitoring system that can reduce thermal runaway risk. The project also boosts more advanced and precise methods for automated dismantling and sorting of battery components based on a safe and more efficient human-robot collaboration. In addition, BatteReverse develops a more precise and faster Remaining Useful Life assessment of battery modules for second-life applications based on acoustic testing and machine learning [...]

Data monetisation and sharing/trading platform for secure, reliable and controlled exchange and usage of proprietary data assets and data-driven intelligence. The PISTIS project advances the available techniques and technologies, such as federated data discovery and sharing, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or AI-driven data quality assessment and monetisation. These stakeholders formulate a distributed network of data spaces with built-in governance brought by PISTIS to eliminate silos while accruing the actual data value and multiplying it through derivative assets in a fair and transparent manner. PISTIS establishes the methodological and technical bases in different areas: [...]

Definition, structure and validation of the interconnected knowledge space foreseen by the European Research Area (ERA) Hubs Initiative. The ERA_FABRIC project adopts three different and intertwined dimensions, all of them relevant for the elaboration of policies, that act as a structuring principle for the community that will be built during the project: Knowledge ecosystems by fostering the dynamic interaction of R&D and innovation actors at regional and multiregional levels, taking into account the different knowledge and cultural contexts, as well as the alignment of research focus and industrial needs. Multi-stakeholder platforms by bringing together the representatives [...]

Development and demonstration of advanced membrane materials for pervaporation, gas separation and membrane distillation technologies, setting the basis for future commercialisation of greener technological pathways all along the value chain. By using advanced tools and by taking a holistic approach, MEASURED tackles the sustainability challenges of the chemical industry coming from waste streams, water footprints, energy efficiency and industrial emissions. MEASURED includes thorough multiscale modelling and simulation techniques, including a full Life Cycle Assessment, and addresses the societal implications to increase the acceptance and further market readiness. Eurecat participates in the MEASURED project through their Water, Air [...]

Flexible and hybrid manufacturing of green aluminium to produce tailored vehicle adaptive crash-tolerant structures. The Flexcrash project, coordinated by Eurecat, is developing a flexible and hybrid manufacturing technology using aluminium alloys and based on applying surface patterns by additive manufacturing onto preformed parts. In the last years, the automotive industry has made important efforts focused on lightweight construction to meet the stringent Greenhouse Gas Emission limits and increase passenger safety. However, both aspects are counteracting because we need heavier structures to improve passenger protection, but heavier vehicles also produce more severe crashes. In this sense, the [...]