High-performance low-cost modules with excellent environmental profiles for a competitive EU PV manufacturing industry

The HighLite project aims to substantially improve the competitiveness of the EU PV manufacturing industry by developing knowledge-based manufacturing solutions for high-performance low-cost modules with excellent environnment profiles (low CO2 footprint, enhanced durability, improved recyclability).  To achieve this, the HighLite project focuses on thin (down to 100 µm) high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells with passivating contacts and capitalizes on the learnings from previous large funded projects. In HighLite, a unique consortium of experienced industrial actors and leading institutes will work collectively to develop, optimize, and bring to high technology readiness levels (TRL 6-7) innovative solutions at both cell and module levels. In practice, HighLite will demonstrate high-efficiency ¼ size (or smaller) cut solar cells (silicon heterojunction cells with efficiency η ≥ 23.3%, interdigated back-contact cells with η ≥ 24.3%; only 0.2% less than full size cells) in pilot-line manufacturing. Industrial tools will be developed in the project for assembling these cut-cells into high-efficiency modules tailored for various distributed generation (DG) applications. More specifically, the following developments will take place: (1) building-applied PV modules with η ≥ 22% and a carbon footprint ≤ 250 kg-eq.CO2/kWp, (2) building-integrated PV modules with η ≥ 21% and improved shading tolerance, and (3) 3D-curved vehicle-integrated PV modules with η ≥ 20% and a weight ≤ 5 kg/m2. Finally, HighLite aims to show improved cost and performance (both through indoor testing and outdoor demonstrators) against state-of-the-art commercially available modules. Altogether, it is expected that the solutions developed in HighLite will: (1) create more demand in Europe and worldwide for such DG products, (2) significantly improve the competitiveness of industrial actors that are part of the consortium, and (3) trigger significant investment in the EU PV industry.


NACIONALINIS MAISTO IR VETERINARIJOS RIZIKOS VERTINIMO INSTITUTAS

A safe DIVA vaccine for African Swine Fever control and eradication

African Swine Fever (ASF) is one of the most important viral diseases affecting swine, with a serious socio-economic impact. It is present in more than 13 countries in Europe (10 in the EU), 28 sub-Saharan African countries, and 2 Asian countries, China and Mongolia. No vaccine is available and recent incursions in Europe and Asia are jeopardizing the pig industry worldwide. Control of ASF is based on early diagnosis and the implementation of strict sanitary measures. However, measures taken by affected countries have not been sufficient to stop spread.  The objective of VACDIVA is to solve the ASF problem in Europe and affected countries through innovation efforts. VACDIVA will provide (1) Three safe and effective pilot vaccines for wild boar and domestic pigs ready for registration; (2) validated companion DIVA tests and 3) cost-benefit and effective surveillance and control-vaccination strategies, with field trials in Lithuania and Kenia. Two world leader companies in vaccine production and ASF diagnostic kits will provide production of the new vaccines and DIVA tests. Epidemiological modelling of worldwide scenarios will be offered in a portfolio of services to help animal health authorities control and eradicate the disease. This project will provide policy makers valuable decision support tools to better prevent and control ASF.  VACDIVA counts with the expertise of two world ASF Reference Laboratories (OIE and FAO), the EU reference laboratory (EURL), six EU national Reference Laboratories (of 6 out of the 10 countries currently affected by ASF) and four prestigious ASF research institutions. Participation of Russian, Chinese and African laboratories will provide useful support, increasing acceptance of the vaccines. Active involvement of pig producers, agricultural associations and International agencies like FAO will enlarge the impact of communication, dissemination and training activities.

Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research


Advancing Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European countries: BIOEASTsUP

The overall objective of BIOEASTsUP project is to support the BIOEAST initiative and Action Plan for transition of 11 Central and Eastern European (CEE) to bioeconomy. The specific objectives are: SO1: To trigger strategic thinking at governmental level and transnational peer-to-peer development of national circular bioeconomy strategies in BIOEAST countries. SО2: To emphasize the role of multi-actor approach in developing new value chains to advance bioeconomies. SO3: To develop in a multi-stakeholder driven approach a consolidated BIOEAST Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). SO4: To set-up and maintain a macro-regional framework in support of the BIOEAST initiative and the SRIA development and sustainability. SO5: To facilitate evidence-based policy making. SO6: To increase the visibility of the bioeconomy within the quintuple helix in the BIOEAST region. BIOEASTsUP methodology was developed to support a parallel setup: the project structure and the structure of the BIOEAST Initiative. Two work packages focus on the national bioeconomy deployment (WP1, WP2), two are dedicated to the impact at the macro-regional and the EU level (WP3, WP4) whereas dissemination activity complements all the components (WP5). The work plan is as follows: WP 1: Framework for National Bioeconomy Strategies Development WP 2: Capacity building for BIOEAST stakeholders WP 3: Establishing macro-regional structures in support of the BIOEAST initiative WP 4: BIOEAST SRIA development and positioning the macro-regional economies WP 5: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation WP 6: Project Management and Evaluation BIOEASTsUP has been initiated directly by the BIOEAST Initiative’s ministries. In total 26 ministries support the project. In addition associations, industrial chambers, innovation centres, other research organisations and NGOs have committed to the project. BIOEASTsUP will further engage all stakeholders in the bioeconomy value chain to coordinate efforts to maximize the impact.


Developing and Implementing Sustainability-Based Solutions for Bio-Based Plastic Production and Use to Preserve Land and Sea Environmental Quality in Europe

The project BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE addresses the topic „Sustainable solutions for bio-based plastics on land and sea“ (Topic identifier: CE-BG-06-2019), within the focus area „Connecting economic and environmental gains - the Circular Econonmy (CE)“ and will focus on sustainability strategies and solutions for bio-based products to support the Plastics Strategy. This shall include innovative product design and business models facilitating efficient reuse and recycling strategies and solutions, including ensuring the safety of recycled materials when used for toys or packaging food stuffs. In line with the EU strategy on international cooperation in research and innovation and in order to encourage the further replication, the European consortium is complemented by a partner in Malaysia, providing an added value and helping them to address the many problems they face.


LIETUVOS NACIONALINE VARTOTOJU FEDERACIJA ASOCIACIJA

Heating And Cooling Know-how and Solutions

The objective of Heating And Cooling Knowhow and Solutions (HACKS) is to achieve market transformation for heating and cooling (HAC) appliances by motivating consumers to replace old and inefficient equipment with new energy efficient equipment; and to encourage solutions that consume less fuel, lower energy bills and improve users’ comfort and health. In the EU, almost half of all buildings have individual boilers installed before 1992, with efficiency of 60% or less. The associated energy savings of a speedy replacement are immense.   To achieve these goals, 17 HACKS partners in 15 countries will raise awareness on HAC economic and environmental benefits via a communication campaign, and 15 dedicated national online platforms that will provide clear, understandable information. The focus will be on HAC appliances (e.g. boilers for space and water heating, local space heaters, etc.), but also on solutions that lower the energy consumption and avoid the installation of new equipment (shading systems, thermostats, taps and showerheads).   HACKS will engage consumers by assisting them during the purchasing process of new HAC equipment. The online platforms will provide tools to receive customized information, interactive comment functions, product information, and direct links to the suppliers of the product. The online platforms will also provide guidance on how to improve consumers' situation while avoiding the purchase of unnecessary equipment as well as how to use and maintain devices.  Finally, HACKS will work with all relevant stakeholders (“the multipliers”) that participate in the decision-making process of consumers by setting up strategic partnerships to promote and facilitate the purchase of energy efficient installed appliances. HACKS will place a strong emphasis on installers, retailers and consumer organisations because of their proximity to the consumers and capacity to involve and bring guidance on energy efficient equipment directly to them.


REDUCTION OF RADIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF DESIGN BASIS AND DESIGN EXTENDION ACCIDENTS

The Reduction of Radiological Consequences of design basis and extension Accidents (R2CA) project targets the development of harmonized methodologies and innovative management approach and safety devices for the evaluation and for the reduction of the consequences of DBA and DEC-A accidents in operating and foreseen nuclear power plants in Europe. For both purposes development of methodologies will be conducted with the goal of reassessing the safety margins using less conservative approaches and considering the new risks that rose from the original design or design extension phases. This will reinforce the confidence on these safety margins for conditions up to the extended design domain, will allow the identification of new accident management measures and devices and will support the optimization of the potential associated emergency population protection measures. Improvement of evaluations tools will be supported by the reassessment of the existing experimental and analytical databases. The efficiency of the approach will be demonstrated by comparing at start and then at the end of the project the results of the evaluation of a series of reactor cases selected by a senior expert group among two main categories: loss of coolant accidents and steam generator tube rupture accidents.   Detailed analyzes of these reactor cases simulations will suggest the development of harmonized evaluation methodologies.    The project will include also innovative actions to estimate the pros and cons of potential new accident management measures and devices, to explore the potential switch of prognosis evaluation tools to the diagnosis of on-going fuel cladding failure and to explore the potentiality for these accidental situations of advanced technological fuels.


Hydropower solutions for developing and emerging countries

The renowned European hydropower industry and its know-how can foster the transition into a more sustainable energy system in parts of the world that still need support to develop the sector. While the European hydropower market does not allow huge developments, some countries present a big potential. HYPOSO will provide strategic support and tools for the European hydropower industry to boost their export of products and services to markets in Africa and Latin America, especially those with a high market potential hydro sector, i.e. Bolivia, Cameroon, Columbia, Ecuador and Uganda. The project will develop solutions which can be easily implemented for overcoming barriers to the broad deployment of hydropower solutions in these export markets. The consortium will bring representatives of the European hydropower industry together with their counterparts and politicians from Africa and Latin America. It will provide political, legal, technical and strategic advice while considering the regional specificities, socio-economic, spatial and environmental aspects all along the life-cycle of hydropower projects. Experts of the consortium will identify pilot hydropower projects and provide capacity building for local stakeholders and politicians. Communications activities such as brochures, events, and workshops highlighting European state-of-the-art technology will complement these measures. Moreover, a website will be created. It will serve as an information hub for the European hydropower industry and useful source of information for hydropower stakeholders worldwide. The outcome of the HYPOSO project will contribute to the promotion of the European hydropower industry, paving the way for better investment conditions in the targeted countries and increasing the share of renewable energy in these regions. It will support the development of policies, market supports and financial frameworks at the local, national and regional level for hydropower facilities.


NanoPowder Plant – Metal nanopowders for a world of great opportunities

Current supply of metal nanopowders on the world market falls short on demand up to 15% , creating further obstacles to the technical progress in such industries as aerospace manufacturing, power machinery, engineered materials production, metal welding, heavy machinery, civil engineering and others. Metal nanopowders’ market is still only emerging due to low production capacities and insufficient purity, shape consistency and wide dispersion of nanoparticles produced, resulting in insufficient quality of such materials for key users. Nanopowder Plant (NPP), a Lithuanian based start-up, presents a revolutionary solution which has 8 times prevalence over other technologies in production capacity of metal nanopowders with the highest existing quality of the nanopowder produced. Moreover, it ensures low environmental pollution due to 80% energy efficiency of the solution and absence of need to use waste-generating chemical reagents during production process. Innovative production process, patented technology and experience team will help NPP to utilize market opportunity and obtain a strong position in the growing metal nanopowders market, which is projected to reach 60 bn USD in 2019 and accelerate further at 15-17% annual grows rate. NPP aims at global commercialization of its innovative solution to enable vast industrial application of metal nanopowder bringing superior value to end-customer and ensuring environmental protection. During the Phase 1 of SME Instrument feasibility study NPP wants to validate its market strategy through conducting thorough study of an emerging market and potential customers, strengthen IPR portfolio, modify existing commercialization strategy and develop an elaborate business plan.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA LIETUVOS INOVACIJU CENTRAS

Design-driven Open Innovation Challenge for 200 SMEs

Public innovation agencies strive at keeping the pace of SME innovation demand and traditional grant-based models remain the main source to fund research and innovation. However, public innovation agencies seek opportunities to implement supporting schemes pivoted on new approaches. Similarly, European policy makers at all levels experience a lack of robust evidence of the impact of both existing and new supporting models. 200SMEchallenge project will allow a selected set of innovation agencies to set up, implement and scientifically evaluate the impact and the effectiveness of a novel SME innovation support initiative; on the basis of the results, a complete Guide will be delivered and disseminated to make it possible to a larger set ot innovation agencies to take up the piloted scheme, and possible scale it up to other domains. The piloted support initiative has the format of an Innovation Challenges (a.k.a. innovation prize). In particular, the proposed Challenge aims at impacting on SMEs awareness on the benefits of adopting design thinking and user-centric design validated practices (e.g. the Design Sprint) to the extent of validate market fit and technology requirements during the early stages of a new product development (NPD) process. In order to meet such goals project partners will first build capacity to execute the Innovation Challenge, building on guidelines to be developed by an INNOSUP-05 H2020 project (INNOCHALLENGE), as well as from the know-how gathered during previous small scale pilots of the initiative. The experimental rollout of the novel scheme will be framed as the intervention action of an overarching RCT (Randomized Control Trial) study, which will overall involve 200 SMEs. By doing so, the project will deliver sound evidence of impact of the experimental initiative, and validate it as a new SME innovation policy tool.


Enhancing at an Early Stage the Investment Value Chain of Energy Efficiency Projects

Triple-A has a very practical result-oriented approach, seeking to answer three questions:  - How to assess the financing instruments and risks an early stage?  - How to agree on the Triple-A investments, based on selected key performance indicators?  - How to assign the identified investment ideas with possible financing schemes?  The Triple-A scheme is introduced, compromising three critical steps (answering each question), with the following main outputs:  - Step 1 - Assess: Member States (MS) risk profiles and mitigation polices, including a Web based database, enabling national and sectoral comparability, market maturity identification, good practices experiences exchange, reducing thus uncertainty for investors.  - Step 2 - Agree: Standardised Triple-A tools, efficient benchmarks, and guidelines, translated in consortium partners’ languages, accelerating and scaling up investments.  - Step 3 - Assign: In-country demonstrations, replicability and overall exploitation, including recommendations on realistic and feasible investments in the national and sectoral context, as well as on short and medium term financing.   The Triple-A case study countries were selected to promote diversity across a number of factors, including: a leading European economy (Germany), an innovation front-runner in energy (The Netherlands), a weak economy, went through one of the longest and most severe recessions (Greece), an economy with slow economic recovery (Italy), a diversified economy with a strategic geographical location having some of the largest European firms (Spain), a country that has experienced one of the fastest economic recoveries in Europe (Lithuania), a progressing country with a once sceptical stance towards low-carbon development (Czech Republic), and a country, recovering from a slow transition to a market economy, with growing regional strategic role and significant ambition towards EU processes (Republic of Bulgaria).


Real time network, text, and speaker analytics for combating organized crime

Discovering criminal networks and identifying their members is one of the primary aspects of LEAs' mission. ROXANNE will contribute towards this goal by bridging the strengths of speech and language technologies (SLTs), visual analysis (VA) and network analysis (NA). If funded, ROXANNE will achieve a significant increase in the speed of investigation processes and an improvement in identification of individuals by means of speech, in the scope of criminal cases where large amounts of lawfully intercepted communications (with multilingual attributes) are analysed.   The technical development will be centred around the ROXANNE platform, which will enhance criminal network analysis capabilities by providing a framework for extracting evidence and actionable intelligence based on speech, language and video technologies. The intention is not to replace humans but automate time-consuming tasks, and support LEA decision-making. Its early version will offer preliminary SLT, VA and NA capabilities to collect end-user feedback.  The final version will provide multilingual, probabilistic tools interfacing SLT and NA technologies, boosted by natural language processing (NLP) and relation analysis in the synoptic criminal activity graph. ROXANNE will achieve full compliance with relevant INTERPOL and EU legal and ethical frameworks, including innovative approaches to data protection management such as privacy by design.   Special efforts will be expended to ensure ROXANNE outcomes achieve widespread adoption by law enforcement. The effort will be enhanced through a series of education and awareness campaigns and the direct involvement of LEAs from nine European countries, that will test our solutions on real case data. In addition, ROXANNE partner INTERPOL and EUROPOL (member of the External Advisory Board) will provide advice and guidance.   The consortium has 24 partners with complementary skills, including leaders in key technology areas impacting criminal investigations.

Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens


KLAIPEDOS MIESTO SAVIVALDYBES ADMINISTRACIJA

Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning: Pathways and Links to Urban Systems

‘SUMP-PLUS’ is a three-year RIA, designed to address urban mobility related challenges and to exploit new opportunities, by developing a strong, rigorous evidence base through a co-created City Laboratories approach (to be demonstrated in different EU cities) building on the strengths of the existing SUMPs and SULPs. SUMP-PLUS will develop and apply transition pathways towards more sustainable cities taking into account the need to establish stronger links with other urban system components.   It has 4 primary policy objectives: 1.	To develop and apply a set of context-specific mobility transformation pathways that will enable cities to map out a practical implementation pathway. 2.	To demonstrate how cities can develop stronger links with other urban system components (education, health, retail, land use planning, etc.) - while taking into account disruptive technological and contextual developments - so that urban mobility and accessibility can be delivered more comprehensively, efficiently and effectively. 3.	To identify new solutions that will increase efficiency and sustainability, in both the freight and passenger sectors. 4.	To identify and demonstrate new partnerships and business models that enable various mobility objectives to be met cost-effectively through appropriate public/private sector partnerships  These objectives will be met and demonstrated through a programme of trials and comprehensive evaluation, in six co-created City Laboratories.  This requires achieving 4 operational objectives: developing appropriate urban governance arrangements and advanced analytics; extensive stakeholder engagement and co-creation of outputs; producing enhanced SUMP-PLUS guidance matching the different needs and maximising impact through a targeted range of dissemination, capacity building, knowledge transfer and legacy exploitation activities.


FINANSINIU NUSIKALTIMU TYRIMO TARNYBA PRIE VIDAUS REIKALU MINISTERIJOS

Prediction and Visual Intelligence for Security Information

The mission of PREVISION is to empower the analysts and investigators of LEAs with tools and solutions not commercially available today, to handle and capitalize on the massive heterogeneous data streams that must be processed during complex crime investigations and threat risk assessments. With criminals being ever more determined to use new and advanced technology for their cause, the aim is to establish PREVISION as an open and future-proof platform for providing cutting-edge practical support to LEAs in their fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime, which represent three major cross-border security challenges that are often interlinked. PREVISION provides advanced near-real-time analytical support for multiple big data streams (coming from online social networks, the open web, the Darknet, CCTV and video surveillance systems, traffic and financial data sources, and many more), subsequently allowing their semantic integration into dynamic and self-learning knowledge graphs that capture the structure, interrelations and trends of terrorist groups and individuals, cybercriminal organisations and organised crime groups, giving rise to enhanced situational awareness in these fields.  PREVISION has a pan-European engagement and support agenda for LEAs: ten (10) different LEAs and practitioners take part in its consortium, while additional ones (including Europol) have joined its external advisory board. A strong inter-disciplinary dimension, combining technological expertise with sociological, psychological, linguistic and data science models, will lead to a common strategic approach for predicting abnormal and deviant behaviour, radicalisation potential, threat risks for soft targets, and cybercrime trends at different timescales. PREVISION will conduct demonstrations on five representative and complementary use cases, under real-life operational conditions, in full compliance with fundamental rights and applicable legislation.


BALTIJOS PAZANGIU TECHNOLOGIJU INSTITUTAS


VALSTYBES SIENOS APSAUGOS TARNYBA PRIE VIDAUS REIKALU MINISTERIJOS

Detecting Document frauD and iDentity on the fly

The D4FLY project will augment the current capabilities and capacities of border authorities in countering emerging threats in document and identity verification (e.g., forged documents, impostor fraud, morphed faces) at manual and highly automated border control points and in the issuance process of genuine documents. The confluence of D4FLY set of tools and systems will improve the quality of verification and reduce major time sinks in the processes thus enabling real on-the-move border crossing experience for travelers. Novel sensor hardware based on advanced lightfield cameras and novel algorithms developed in the project will enhance verification accuracy and robustness via the combined usage of 2D+thermal face, 3D face, iris and somatotype biometrics. Analytical means to identify known criminals based on somatotype and 3D face data generated from mugshots and observation data will be developed. Various operational needs of end-users with different threat landscapes constitute the backbone of D4FLY development efforts. D4FLY will create a resilient document verification system that can verify a multitude of physical and electronic security features (e.g. Kinegrams®, MLIs, CLIs), detect complex forms of electronic fraud and advanced morphing, and identify fraud in breeder documents. The potential benefit of blockchain technology in identity verification will also be investigated. The D4FLY solution will consist of a border control kiosk geared with enhanced enrolment, verification and detection capabilities; smartphones applications for improved performance and verification capabilities; and a non-stop on-the-move system for biometric verification. The innovation will be validated against European societal values, fundamental rights, privacy, data protection and applicable legislation. Four different border control points and one document fraud expertise center will form the project’s testing and demonstration ground.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA KAUNO MOKSLO IR TECHNOLOGIJU PARKAS

Proactive communication and marketing measures for SMEs

The main project’s aim is to enhance the agencies’ management efficiency in the field of  seeking the ways how to attract innovative SMEs by using emerging communication and marketing tools and facilitating interaction and partnerships with various actors of innovation ecosystem. Four innovation agencies involved in the project will work using twinning+ methodology in order to create valuable Design Options Paper regarding communication, branding and marketing strategy for strengthening the position of innovation centres on the national as well as on the international arena as a high value added business support organisations. The solutions developed in the paper will be implemented in the agencies as new or improved programmes based on these given approaches.  The result of peer learning activities within the project will be developing an effective approach to identify new topics in the field of communication, find the attractive methods od engaging inovative SMEs and put them into practice. It involves designing the whole proactive marketing process from the identification of the target group, marketing channels and campaigns, attractive offer, diagnostics of individual needs, consequent support delivery and follow up of the process till key performance indicators.  The results of the project will be communicated to regional and national authorities as the topic of reaching  the  right  SMEs is very common with regard to efficiency of policies aiming to enhance SMEs competitiveness, especially their growth on national and international markets as well as their engagement in innovation processes.


Promoting and implementing joint programming to reinforce transnational research at the crossroad between biodiversity and climate change

The biodiversity-climate change interaction is strong, bi-directional, and often positive (actions in favour of one are also beneficial to the other). While the main drivers of biodiversity loss are habitat degradation, the syndrome of factors directly & indirectly associated with climate change is the dominant threat to biodiversity. It is therefore imperative to understand with sufficient detail and confidence the interactions between biodiversity & climate change so they can be incorporated into decision-support models & tools. By networking 33 funding agencies from 22 countries from Europe & other continents, BiodivCim aims to promote coordinated international research on biodiversity & climate change in all environments, incl. agricultural areas. It will strengthen research & research programmes coordination with the ultimate aim to provide policy makers & other stakeholders with adequate knowledge, tools & practical solutions to improve the conservation & sustainable use of biodiversity & ecosystems under a changing climate. The BiodivClim objectives are to: -Coordinate the research agendas of major European & international research funders to agree on shared research priorities related to biodiversity & climate change -Reinforce collaboration with other relevant initiatives in the field to increase synergies & avoid fragmentation -Design & implement two joint calls for research proposals in this field (incl. one co-funded) -Promote research collaboration across national borders & disciplines in order to build capacity, exchange best practices & have a lasting effect on the international research community & landscape -Support dialogue & collaboration between academia & stakeholders, and stakeholder engagement in research projects in order to increase the impact of research on policy & practice -Ease rapid & efficient uptake of funded research results by the IPBES & IPCC for their future assessments, & by other relevant initiatives -Reinforce data open access

Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials


EOSC-Nordic aims to facilitate the coordination of EOSC relevant initiatives within the Nordic and Baltic countries and exploit synergies to achieve greater harmonisation at policy and service provisioning across these countries, in compliance with EOSC agreed standards and practices. By doing so, the project seeks to establish the Nordic and Baltic countries as frontrunners in the take-up of the EOSC concept, principles and approach. EOSC-Nordic brings together a strong consortium of 24 partners including e-Infrastructure providers, research performing organisations and expert networks, with national mandates with regards to the provision of research services and open science policy, and wide experience of engaging with the research community and mobilising national governments, funding agencies, international bodies and global initiatives and high-level experts on EOSC strategic matters.


Border detection of illicit drugs and precursors by highly accurate electrosensors

Combining robust sensor technologies with the inherent advantages of electrochemical strategies, nano-molecularly imprinted polymers, and multivariate and pattern data analysis, BorderSens will enable highly accurate selective detection of trace levels of illicit drugs and precursors. With borders being important gateways for the entrance of illicit drugs and their precursors, custom and border control authorities are facing pertaining challenges to detect such dangerous substances and safeguard the public. The main challenges posed by currently used on-site methods to detect illicit drugs and precursors are low accuracy, in the case of colour tests, and high cost and low portability, in the case of spectroscopic tests. In the light of a pressing need for better drug test systems at EU borders, the ultimate research aim of the BorderSens is to develop a portable, wireless single prototype device with the capability to quickly test for different types of drugs, precursors and adulterants/cutting agents, with outstanding accuracy and reduced false positives and false negatives. BorderSens will demonstrate the innovative technological solutions at seven demonstrations sites at EU borders with end-users and ensure exploitation plans guaranteeing strong impact. BorderSens brings together universities, a big manufacturer of electrochemical sensors, a specialised SME, ten end-users i.e. forensic institutes, police forces and border authorities, and a high quality external advisory board, to provide an excellent scientific-technical perspective and a straightforward exploitation route, with great impact on the safety of EU citizens.


Towards European Licencing of Small Modular Reactors

ELSMOR (towards European Lisencing of Small MOdular Reactors) aims to create methods and tools for the European stakeholders to assess and verify the safety of light water small modular reactors (LW-SMR) that would be deployed in Europe.  ELSMOR advances the understanding and technological solutions pertaining to light water SMRs on several fronts: •	Collection, analysis, and dissemination of the information on the potential and challenges of Small Modular Reactors to various stakeholders, including the public, decision makers and regulators. •	Development of the high level methods to assess the safety of LW-SMRs •	Improvement of the European experimental research infrastructure to assist in the evaluation of the novel safety features of the future LW-SMRs. •	Improvement of the European nuclear safety analysis codes to demonstrate the capability to assess the safety of the future LW-SMRs  Establishing education and training in the field of innovative nuclear reactors for young professionals is also emphasized.  The ELSMOR project is built upon the expertise of the consortium that consists of technical support organizations, technical research centres, industrial partners, and universities with the long experience in European nuclear safety analysis and the development and implementation of innovative nuclear technologies. The industrial partners include utilities, small medium sized enterprises as well as the consortium currently developing the French LW-SMR (F-SMR design). The developers of European safety analysis tools and other computer codes use their well-established paths for exploitation of the improved and validated simulation tools.   The licencing approaches and methods would be expected to be directly utilized by SMR designers like the French consortium. The outcomes should make the licensing process more fluid and comprehensive; this should also be true from the regulator point of view.


Innovative Cluster for Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies

INCLUDING connects 15 Partners from 10 EU Member States (MS), bringing together infrastructure, equipment and experts coming from Medical Organizations, Fire Corps, Government Department, Municipalities, Law Enforcement Agencies, Ministries, Governmental and Civilian Research Institutes and Industries operating in the field of radiological and nuclear emergencies. Far from being a simple aggregation of entities separated geographically and with complementary expertise, INCLUDING pursues to develop a Federation in which individual Members will cooperate together to provide a common framework to standardize access to their respective facilities, enhance interoperability and to allow a more intensive use of expensive equipment. The operative tool to manage the Federation will be a web-based platform with a sophisticated architecture and whose functionality has been proven in a previous EU project. At the same time the project aims to enhance practical know-how and to boost a European sustainable training and development framework for practitioners in the Radiological and Nuclear Security sector. The INCLUDING project will be  flexible in order to include new facilities and innovation in technology, organizations and procedures. The plurality of facilities and expertise in the INCLUDING Federation reflects the complex and intertwined structure of the prevention and response phases of RN threats and will provide to the practitioners a set of real or emulated scenarios where  to test concept of operations in a controlled environment.  The Joint Actions will be the focal points of the project. They are multidisciplinary field exercises, tabletop exercises, training, serious gaming and simulation organized at their premises by the project partners and with the objective of demonstrating the added value of the Federated scheme and of the use of an innovative tool like the INCLUDING web based Platform to manage a pan European network of training facilities and resources.


Smart and sensing robotic system for endovascular interventions with haptic feedback

UAB "Inovatyvi medicina" has developed an innovative design of endovascular robotic system HAPGuide. This SMART and SENSING technology allows to perform endovascular procedures without medical personnel being exposed to harmful X-rays. HAPGuide solves the main issues of existing robotic systems and opens up possibilities for safer, faster and more effective endovascular interventions in EU and Worldwide. In comparison to existing systems (with only visual feedback and videogame like control) the main HAPGuide advantage is the haptic feedback and traditional control of endovascular instruments using fine-tuned surgeons’ perception-action-visualization abilities. Future developments involve HAPGuide use in telemedicine and partially automated functions via machine learning. Our system is designed to use all standard endovascular instruments and avoids the need of expensive catheters dedicated for the system. The primary target market of HAPGuide is cath labs performing percutaneous coronary interventions and peripheral vascular procedures in EU and US (more than 5.6 mln. procedures annually). The estimated market potential of HAPGuide robotic system in primary worldwide market exceeds €4 billion. The secondary target market would involve neurointerventional procedures while in the long-run expansion to telerobotics will create new market opportunities. Our revenue model involves four main components: 1) durable robotic HAPGuide system; 2) single use cassette; 3) annual service of the system; 4) HAPLearn training software. A multidisciplinary team with vast experience in medical sciences, medical device development, robotics, mechanical and electronic engineering, product design, commercialisation and business development has joined forces for the implementation of HAPGuide project aiming to bring the technology to clinical practice for benefit of patients, physicians and hospitals and exploit this €4 billion niche market commercial opportunity.


Following decades of RD&D in support of the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste, and building on the preparatory work of the recent EC JOPRAD project, a European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD) is now proposed to coordinate activities on agreed priorities of common interest between European Waste Management Organisations (WMOs), Technical Support Organisations (TSOs) and Research Entities (REs).  Such Joint Programming will complement National RD&D Programmes, by jointly establishing and carrying out activities jointly where there is added value at the European level. It is the logical next step in deepening collaboration between European actors in the field of radioactive waste management (RWM). It builds on existing and emerging networks of European actors (IGD-TP, SITEX and REs network), preceding coordination and support actions (in particular, SecIGD2, SITEX-II project and JOPRAD).  The Joint Programme will generate and manage knowledge to support EU Member States with their implementation of the Directive 2011/70/Euratom (Waste Directive), taking into account the different magnitudes and stages of advancement of Member State National Programmes. This will encompass: • Supporting Member-States in developing and implementing their national RD&D programmes for the safe long-term management of their full range of different types of radioactive waste through participation in the RWM Joint Programme; in particular: • Consolidating existing knowledge for the safe start of operation of the first geological disposal facilities for spent fuel, high-level waste, and other long-lived radioactive waste, and supporting optimization linked with the stepwise implementation of geological disposal; and • Enhancing knowledge management and transfer between organisations, Member-States and generations.


VALSTYBES IMONE IGNALINOS ATOMINE ELEKTRINE


VALSTYBINIS MOKSLINIU TYRIMU INSTITUTAS FIZINIU IR TECHNOLOGIJOS MOKSLU CENTRAS


LIETUVOS AGRARINIU IR MISKU MOKSLU CENTRAS

Stepping-up IPM decision support for crop protection

The ‘IPM Decisions’ project proposed here will accelerate impact from farm Decision Support Systems (DSS) for IPM, as advocated in the Sustainable Use Directive.  The impact of DSS in crop protection has been constrained by regional and sectoral fragmentation of actors, inadequate testing of DSS and quantification of their benefits, DSS addressing single pests whilst farmer decisions need to account for multiple pests, and DSS which are insufficiently risk-averse.   We will address these constraints and enable innovation by creating a ‘one stop shop’ delivering DSS, data, tools and resources through a pan-European online Platform and an ‘IPM Decisions Network’. The latter forming a community of users and stakeholders.  Users will be farmers and advisers, and applied research or industry organisations that deliver or develop DSS.  Each type of user will access the Platform via a tailored Dashboard, specific to their requirements.  The project consortium brings together multi-actor participants from research, crop protection industry, ICT, meteorological services, policy, farming, advisory and extension organisations.  Participants in IPM Decisions are also participants in relevant European projects and networks, enabling efficient engagement and impact.  The focus will be on delivering DSS for key pests of major outdoor crops. Integrating key examples of contrasting DSS on the Platform will address urgent needs and demonstrate that the Platform has the functionality required for wide impact.  Longevity of the Platform and Dashboards beyond the life of the project will be aided by minimizing the resources required to maintain and update the system, and a realistic business plan.  Software, scientific publications and research data will be open access. IPM Decisions addresses all the requirements of part A of SFS-06-2018-2020. The outcomes from this project will support the EU wide demonstration farm network to be established under part B of the call.


SecureGas focuses on the 140.000Km of the European Gas network covering the entire value chain from Production to Distribution to the users, providing methodologies, tools and guidelines to secure existing and incoming installations and make them resilient to cyber-physical threats.  Three business cases, addressing relevant issues for the Gas sector and beyond (e.g. oil), have been identified so that to ensure the delivery of solutions and services in line with clear needs and requirements, focused on: risk-based security asset management of gas transmission and distribution networks; impacts (economic, environmental and social) and cascading effects of cyber-physical attacks on interdependent and interconnected European Gas grids; integrity and security, through the operationalization of resilience guidelines, of strategic installations across the EU Gas network.  SecureGas tackles these issues by implementing, updating, and incrementally improving extended components, integrated and federated according to an High-Level Reference Architecture built upon the SecureGas Conceptual Model, a blue print on how to design, build, operate and maintain the EU gas network to make it secure and resilient against cyber-physical threats.  The components are contextualized, customized, deployed, demonstrated and validated in each business case, according to the scenarios defined by the end-users. Related services provided by SecureGas will be offered to the end-users via a Platform as a Service (PaaS), that allows modularity, flexibility, cooperation and third-party interoperability, thus securing a long-lasting impact, supporting the project exploitation strategy. A multidisciplinary consortium (Gas operators, technology providers, research institutions, sector-related associations), supports the project implementation across Construction, Demonstration and Validation phases, as well as a Stakeholder Platform ensures inputs, advise, and a wider Diffusion of the project outcomes


StakeHolder-based Analysis of REsearch for Decommissioning.

SHARE intends to provide an inclusive roadmap for Research, in technical and non-technical fields, enabling stakeholders to jointly improve safety, reduce costs and minimize environmental impact in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.  Through a consultation process among the worldwide community involved in the decommissioning value chain, the project is committed to: •	Building confidence in the steps needed for the generation of knowledge on decommissioning and its safety, economic and environmental aspects  •	Assist policy makers in future decisions about which research areas are most appropriate for financial support over the coming decades. •	Create synergies, cooperation and coordination between the decommissioning stakeholder community and with other international platforms and organisations in Europe and beyond,   •	Engage universities and research laboratories in the innovative approaches, contributing to the maintenance of key skills in decommissioning and environmental remediation and to the development of young engineers in this growing field.   A Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) will be is set up to define main decommissioning research actions needing a coordinated effort over the next years and in particular those actions for which enhanced cooperation within the shareholder community are desirable and achievable.  These actions will result from a gap analysis where the expected situation answering to the needs and perspectives of different stakeholders will be compared to the present situation with existing and emerging innovative techniques and solutions, international best practices and advanced technologies. Three levels of stakeholders will be considered:  the consortium, the expert review panel and the wider community of persons and organizations having an interest in decommissioning.  From the topics identified in the SRA, a road map with detailed actions to be implemented in the 10-15 years will be developed, with a proposal of deploy


The discussion on the modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is in full progress and one element is how the CAP will benefit from and stimulate ongoing digitisation of the agricultural sector. Digitisation accelerates a cost-effective administration of CAP payments, the update of CAP instruments, stimulates data (re) use for monitoring the societal benefits of agriculture towards climate, environment and rural development and thus improves the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. Administrative bodies from 9 EU Member States join forces to realise a new vision on the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) – the instrument for CAP governance – in this project called: “New IACS Vision in Action” (NIVA). The project is built on an iterative work plan. This ensures fast results, built-in flexibility and greater involvement of stakeholders. NIVA strives for maximum impact by involving all EU paying agencies and other relevant actors in the stakeholder board, by reserving a substantial budget for supporting third parties and the set-up of an innovation ecosystem that will continue after the project. NIVA manages cross cutting digital innovations as well as standardization issues in dedicated work packages as defining, accepting and defending common standards is exemplifying the desire for collaboration. The nine prime use cases are demonstrated in three waves, from national to multi-national to pan-European, hence underlining our ambition to make a significant contribution to improved digital competences, awareness and innovation at the European scale. The project’s results are a suite of digital innovations and a roadmap for IACS transformation. The project will speed up innovation, reduce administrative burden, sustain broader and deeper collaboration in an innovation ecosystem and provide methods to establish information flows to improve environmental performance.


Feasibility Study for INTELEG® S HF – a Wide Pressure Range Process Gas Analysis System

The fast growing thin and ultra-thin film industries largely rely on modern vacuum-based processes, which often exhibit fast and slow process gas composition changes and drifts. Such changes are undesirable and can result in reproducibility and product quality issues. Various control strategies, relying on proper monitoring systems (such as Gas Analysis Systems [GAS]), can be employed to stabilise production processes at the desired working point by regulating gas flow and thus adjusting gas composition. However, currently existing GAS are rather limited and there is no solution available on the market that provides gas composition information reliably in the process pressure range between 0.1 and 10,000 mTorr as well as provide 24/7 non-stop operation. Furthermore, ultra-thin film market has been exponentially growing: by 2024 it is expected to grow at CAGR of 15.1%; up to €99.78 bn. Due to the growing demand for reliable wide-range GAS solving the existing shortcomings, Nova Fabrica has developed a miniature high-frequency plasma-OES-based gas analysis system INTELEG® S HF. It enables to measure the gas composition of vacuum-based processes in the pressure range from 0.1 up to 10,000 mTorr. It is expected that INTELEG® S HF will be the first single GAS instrument in the world capable to provide process gas analysis for PVD, CVD, ALD, IAD, etc., as well as for processes taking place in even lower vacuum at pressures up to 10,000 mTorr. Comparing to competing solutions, a breakthrough INTELEG® S HF solution offers a true global “down-stream” process gas analysis, 24/7 operation, 100,000 hours of mean time before failure, fulfilment of industry 4.0 requirements, competitive price, has no production downtime and is maintenance-free. The main objectives of Phase 1 of SME Instrument are to develop an elaborate feasibility study including technical feasibility testing, IPR strategy and business plan – crucial steps towards successful commercialisation of the solution.


MOKSLO INOVACIJU IR TECHNOLOGIJU AGENTURA

Continuation of the Cooperation of Space NCPs as a Means to Optimise Services under Horizon 2020

COSMOS2020plus is the next funding phase of the Space NCP network after COSMOS2020. For participants of Horizon 2020 Space the project will allow to continue organising information days, providing a newsletter service and a website. To improve the performance of single Space NCPs exchange means and trainings will be performed. Through this the overall performance of NCP services should be improved.

Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEIT)


MANAGEMENT AND UNCERTAINTIES OF SEVERE ACCIDENTS

In the current state of maturity of severe accident codes in terms of phenomena addressed and extensive validation conducted, the time has come to foster BEPU,Best Estimate Plus Uncertainties, application in the severe accident (SA) domain, and accident management (AM). The advantages with respect to deterministic analysis are known: avoid adopting conservative assumptions in the model and allow identifying safety margins, quantify likelihood of reaching specific values and,  through the distribution variance provide insights into dominating uncertain parameters.The overall objective of the Management and Uncertainties of Severe Accident (MUSA) project is to assess the capability of SA codes when modelling reactor and SFP (Spent Fuel Pool) accident scenarios of Gen II and III. To do so UQ (Uncertainty Quantification) methods are to be used, with emphasis on the effect of already-set and innovative accident management measures on accident unfolding, particularly those related to ST (Source Term) mitigation. Therefore, ST related Figures Of Merit (FOM) are to be used in the UQ application. The MUSA project proposes an innovative research agenda in order to move  forward the predictive capability of SA analysis codes by combining them with the best available/improved UQ tools and embedding accident management as an intrinsic aspect of SA analyses.MUSA develops through key activities which also describe the main outcomes foreseen from the project: identification and quantification of uncertainty sources in SA analyses; review and adaptation of UQ methods; and testing such methods against reactor and SFP accident analyses, including AM. Given the focus of FOM on source term, the project will identify variables governing ST uncertainties that would be worth investigating further. All the ingredients necessary to conduct the project are already available: analytical tools, experimental data, postulated reactor and SFP scenarios and, technical and scientific competences.


BLOCKCHAIN BASED PLATFORM FOR BRINGING SLOW FOOD IDEAS AND FAMILY OWNED FARMING TO CYBERSPACE

During the last decades farming and production of gourmet foods, traditionally dominated by Mediterranean region, experienced a setback because of decrease of inhouse consumption. This forced the whole market towards export to strong economies with high quality of life. Export markets bring challenges to small farms and producers of gourmet foods. They have no experience and funds to cope with refocus from local sales to export. This puts them into disadvantage reaching international markets. The wish to get the share in export forces farms to accept wholesalers as a necessity, to sell at 30-50% of prices, to agree that distributors get the largest share of value created by farmers. I Go Slow offers a unique solution for the problems of the industry. The main objective is to develop a platform based on integration of Internet, e-commerce, Cloud and Blockchain technologies for promoting key ideas of Slow Food movement and family owned farming into cyberspace. For farmers the platform provides a user-friendly, reliable channel for presenting themselves directly to consumers without intermediaries. It requires little if any marketing funds, and allows engaging with customers directly for visits, product sales and sharing next harvest. All interactions are supported by underlying Blockchain technology and carried out with the use of a native Slow Token ecosystem. Any interaction between farmers and consumers strengthens Authenticity Rates, leaves no space for manipulations of intermediaries and builds trust. Trust gives credibility to farmers. It contributes to the secure content of global cyberspace. I Go Slow platform offers producers a compelling proposition to increase their global exposure, maximize profit by getting most of the created value themselves. It is a socially responsible proposition as I Go Slow will monetize the business using commission fees on transactions instead of subscription fees.


Optimizing Bio-based Fertilisers in Agriculture – Knowledgebase for New Policies

Imported mineral phosphate and fossil energy-intensive nitrogen fertilisers cause major detrimental impacts on the environment, whilst nutrient-rich side-streams/organic waste remain under-utilised. By optimising usage of bio-based fertilisers (BBF) from side-streams, ensuring their safety, building evidence-based trust in their usage and developing legislative framework for their use, it will be possible to reduce dependence upon mineral/fossil fertilisers, benefiting the environment and the EU’s economy.  LEX4BIO aims to achieve this by collecting and processing regional nutrient stock, flow, surplus and deficiency data, and reviewing and assessing the required technological solutions. Furthermore, socioeconomic benefits and limitations to increase substitution of mineral fertiliser for BBFs will be analysed. A key result of LEX4BIO will be a universal, science-based toolkit for optimising the use of BBFs in agriculture and to assess their environmental impact in terms of non-renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and other LCA impact categories. LEX4BIO provides for the first time connection between production technologies of BBFs and regional requirements for the safe use of BBFs.  The large variation between EU regions in nutrient flows and regional requirements for fertilisers will be estimated by harmonised methods to produce the knowledge basis needed to set up feasible ways to redirect the nutrient flows where needed. This will be followed by classifying the best available technologies for producing regionally tailored BBFs to secure high agricultural productivity, as well as environmental protection, food safety and human health.  In LEX4BIO, the knowledge basis and recommendations will be gathered and processed together with stakeholders across Europe, providing best solutions for decreasing the dependency on imported fertilisers, closing the nutrient cycles and improving sustainability of European farming systems.


REGATRACE (REnewable GAs TRAde Centre in Europe) aims creating an efficient trade system based on issuing and trading biomethane/renewable gases Guarantees of Origin (GoO). This will strongly contribute to the uptake of the European common biomethane market. This objective will be achieved through the founding pillars: - European biomethane/renewable gases GoO system - Set-up of national GoO issuing bodies - Integration of GoO from different renewable gas technologies with electric and hydrogen GoO systems - Integrated assessment and sustainable feedstock mobilisation strategies and technology synergies - Support for biomethane market uptake - Transferability of results beyond the project’s countries. REGATRACE relates, within the H2020 Work Program 2018-2020 on Secure, clean and efficient energy, to the Call BUILDING A LOW-CARBON, CLIMATE RESILIENT FUTURE: SECURE, CLEAN and EFFICIENT ENERGY, with topic LC-SC3-RES-28-2018-2019-2020: Market Uptake support and to the specific issue: Development of cost-effective logistics, feedstock mobilisation strategies and trade-centres for intermediate bioenergy carriers. The intermediate bioenergy carrier is biomethane, a Europe-wide trade centre for biomethane and other renewable gases is necessary for enabling investments to supply the whole European market and for promoting cross-border biomethane trade. REGATRACE supports the mobilisation of biogas feedstocks, which otherwise would not be utilised. Efficient bioenergy logistics refers to biomass conversion and use of the gas grid as the logistic tool.  A stable, reliable and common market for biomethane and other renewable gases in Europe plays an important role to achieve EU political targets and to decouple the energy systems from fossil fuels: biomethane/renewable gases can be produced from waste or residual streams of organic material and they can be transmitted and stored in existing infrastructures, so allowing to combine the European natural gas and electricity grids.


Feasibility study for Multicursor - a non-contact sensor for curing quality control

Although manufacturing is moving towards digitalization and full automation, some industries, such as the furniture industry, are still heavily reliant on inefficient and outdated technologies. In particular, the furniture sector has been identified to lack any sort of automated solution for wood curing quality control, one of the critical manufacturing processes. Apart from causing a high defect rate, the absence of an inspection system creates a risk of manufacturing hundreds of thousands of pieces of furniture that are not adequately cured and potentially poisonous. This, in turn, leads to increased health risks and possible legal liabilities for the manufacturing company. To address the challenges, Factobotics, a Lithuanian robotics SME, has developed a novel solution– Multicursor. Multicursor is an intelligent non-contact polymerization quality system combining cutting-edge laser technology and machine learning models to provide a real-time response on wood surfaces curing level and quality. On the contrary to the existing solutions on the market, Multicursor is provided with a non-contact sensor, is easy to integrate into the process of manufacturing through, enabling automated quality control and data collection. Thanks to its competitive advantages the system will make measurement faster and allow zero defect manufacturing through real-time system monitoring and collection of valuable data. Multicursor is currently at TRL 6. The next step is moving on to TRL 7 that will require the introduction of the industry-grade prototype with further testing in the furniture production facilities. To ensure successful commercialization, in Phase 1 of SME Instrument, Factobotics intends to develop an elaborated feasibility study for Multicursor that is to include the finalization of Multicursor’s value proposition, the creation of the Technical Specifications for Artificial Intelligence and development of the Multicursor business plan.


agROBOfood: Business-Oriented Support to the European Robotics and Agri-food Sector, towards a network of Digital Innovation Hubs in Robotics

agROBOfood is dedicated to accelerate the digital transformation of the European agri-food sector through the adoption of robotic technologies. It will consolidate, extend and strengthen the current ecosystem by establishing a sustainable network of DIHs. This will boost the uptake of robotic solutions by the agri-food sector: a huge challenge requiring an inclusive approach involving all relevant European players. The agROBOfood consortium has 39 partners, led by Wageningen University & Research and other core partners of previous key projects such as IoF2020, ROBOTT-NET, PicknPack and I4MS, to leverage the ecosystem that was established in those projects. The heart of the project is formed by Innovation Experiments (IEs), organized and monitored by the DIHs. In each of the 7 Regional Clusters, an initial IE will demonstrate the robotics innovations in agri-food in a manner that ensures replicability across Europe, wide adoption and sustainability of the DIHs network. agROBOfood will work in lockstep with the European robotics community, ensuring synergetic effects with initiatives such as EU-Robotics. This will maximize the return of European, including private capital, investments in the digital transformation of agri-food. A key instrument to achieve this objective is the Industrial Advisory Board. They will provide strategic guidance and also define priorities for the selection of solutions to be funded. Open Calls of 8MEUR will attract additional Innovation Experiments (12) and Industrial Challenges (8). These will expand the network and ensure that vast technological developments and emerging challenges of the agri-food sector are incorporated in the service portfolio of DIHs. Through its inclusive structure and ambitious targets, agROBOfood aims to bring the entire European ecosystem together; connecting the dots in a way that ensures effective adoption of robotics technologies in the European agri-food sector.


ISM VADYBOS IR EKONOMIKOS UNIVERSITETAS UAB

Collaborative production for the circular economy; a community approach

POP-MACHINA aims to demonstrate the power and potential of the maker movement and collaborative production for the EU circular economy. We draw from a number of cut-edge technologies (factory-of-the-future, blockchain) and disciplines (urban planning, architecture) to provide the support necessary to overcome scaling issues; a typical drawback of collaborative production; to find the areas more in need of our intervention and to reconfigure unused spaces. We put forth an elaborate community engagement program to network, incentivize and stimulate through maker faires and events existing and new maker communities in all our municipalities. We build upon the current informal curriculum for maker skills development by nurturing the social side and we put educators and makers together to exchange ideas on the training modalities. A particular focus on the skill development of women and vulnerable groups will aim to empower these (underrepresented) segments to partake actively in collaborative production. In every pilot area we will demonstrate business oriented collaborative production of feasible and sustainable concepts from secondary raw material or other sustainable inputs, based on the needs and preferences of the local stakeholders. A thorough impact assessment framework with increased scope (e.g. social) will be co-designed with stakeholders after short basic assessment trainings and will be used in the assessment of our pilot work. Based on the findings we will kick-start a series of policy events to discuss openly – without pushing our results – the tax and legal barriers that hamper collaborative production.


KAUNO MIESTO SAVIVALDYBES ADMINISTRACIJA


VARTOTOJU ALJANSAS LITHUANIAN CONSUMERS ALLIANCE

Solutions to Tackle Energy Poverty (S.T.E.P) is an ambitious, innovative and replicable model based on proven approaches to addressing energy poverty. STEP, by focussing on countries with the highest incidences of energy poverty, will use existing channels to reach energy poor consumers. Synthesising experience and knowledge of consumer organisations on energy and consumer issues, strengthening partnerships with frontline organisations in daily contact with energy poor consumers, and consolidating best practices from past projects on energy poverty, the project will implement appropriate schemes to alleviate energy poverty in the 9 target countries (Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Cyprus and the UK).  The general objective of STEP is to alleviate energy poverty by facilitating behavioural change through trusted, tailored advice provided directly to consumers in or at risk of energy poverty and by implementing low-cost energy efficiency solutions in energy poor households. The specific objectives are:   - to develop well-functioning and well-trained national networks of advisors from consumer and frontline organisations who are in direct contact with consumers in or at risk of energy poverty - to improve living conditions of consumers in or at risk of energy poverty through behaviour change and implementation of no- or low-cost energy efficiency measures - to create schemes contributing to the alleviation of energy poverty, promote their replication and draw policy recommendations  Through low cost energy efficiency measures - such as information campaigns and tips, demonstrations of cost savings, installation of no- and low-cost energy efficiency measures – STEP has the potential to reduce consumer energy bills and provide relief to energy poor households. Furthermore, through the institutionalisation of energy efficiency advice in sustainable consumer networks, we anticipate long term impacts and sustainability of STEP.


VALSTYBINE VARTOTOJU TEISIU APSAUGOS TARNYBA VI

This proposal proposes a substantial project of a pan-EU market surveillance action to achieve impacts in line with the aims and objectives of the Horizon 2020 ― Work Programme 2018-2020 Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy. The project, if approved, will be the most comprehensive and complex product market surveillance exercise ever undertaken in the EU’s energy efficiency and Ecodesign sector, building on and reinforcing the successes and momentum of the predecessor programmes: Energy Efficiency Compliant Products (ECOPLIANT, EEPLIANT2014 and EEPLIANT2), Market Surveillance Project for TYRES 2015 (MSTyr15). The proposed activities are structured around the needs and priorities identified by the memberships of the Energy Labelling and Eco-design ADCOs. These, without surprise, closely match the requirements set in the Call with ref. no. H2020-IBA-SC3-energy-2018, Exchange of information and best practices, development of common methods, protocols, checklists or IT tools (e.g. web crawlers), execution of joint surveillance activities, strengthening the collaboration with customs authorities, communication, establishment of centres of excellence for product testing, support the development of the Energy Labelling products registration database, input into standardisation, addressing challenging issues like defeat devices, software updates, plausibility testing, support for international alignment of test standards are all covered.  The methodology to be used for addressing those requirements will include the delivery of a programme structure consisting of a matrix of activities both horizontal (method development and capacity improvement) and vertical (product inspection and testing). This will result in building further expertise, developing and adopting common best practices and protocols by the Member State Authorities (MSAs). Altogether, Energy Efficiency Compliant Products 3 (EEPLIANT3) is expected to substantially enhance the impacts and the overall effectiveness and efficiency of market surveillance across the European Union (EU).   The core objective of this proposal is to continue the transformation of the effectiveness and efficiency of the market surveillance work undertaken across the European Union (EU) in the field of the Energy Labelling Regulation 2017/1369 and the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125. This will be achieved through the coordination of the monitoring, verification and enforcement activities of 24 MSAs and 5 other organisations across the Single Market plus Turkey and through further enhancing their knowledge, skills and experience of doing this type of work. Key to this effort will be the development of strategic IT tools that overlap with every WP in the project and that aim to go beyond business as usual. These tools will help MSAs achieve greater results with the same level of resources, a necessity in light of the doubling of Ecodesign and energy labelling requirements over the past six years without equivalent increases in financing. Furthermore, the project will seek to enhance the visibility and outreach of market surveillance activities by engaging with key stakeholders ― the ADCOs, the EU trade associations of the suppliers of the products to be inspected and consumer organisations. As a result, stakeholders will continue to build confidence in the increasing effectiveness of market surveillance in the EU/EEA.  The project directly addresses all the requirements identified in the Call. The Scope calls for strengthening the enforcement of these two pieces of legislation and specifically asks for supporting the monitoring, verification and enforcement activities of MSAs. The main activity described in this proposal is the market surveillance of specific product sectors and the (further) development of tools – including innovative IT-tools – and methodologies in support of the MSAs. This work is to be undertaken by the responsible enforcement authorities in the Member States (MS) in liaison


Monitoring EU energy efficiency first principle and policy implementation

The ODYSSEE-MURE project aims to support policy makers in EU Member States to fulfill their obligations in the framework of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). In particular, it provides user-friendly databases and web-tools for monitoring and evaluating the impact of energy efficiency policies. The ODYSSEE database and facilities contain and analyse latest available energy consumption and energy efficiency indicators by sector, end-use in households and services, by mode in transport. The MURE database and facilities contain and analyse energy efficiency policies and measures by sector. These tools have been conceived in the past and will be extended under this project by an experienced team comprising national energy efficiency agencies from 28 EU Member States (plus Norway, Switzerland and Serbia), and a strong technical coordination. Future inclusion of Balkan countries will be prepared under this project. We enhance, update and modernise these tools for support to the Member States through regional and national training events as well as dissemination products such as country/sector profiles, newsletters, policy briefs and webinars. In addition, we focus on operationalising the Energy Efficiency First Principle (EE1-P) for the MS, which is a key requirement in the EU Energy Union Governance Regulation . We will develop an indicator-based approach to EE1, considering wider aspects such as (1) New Societal Trends (e.g. the Shared Economy) which may increase or reduce energy demand, (2) Energy poverty, (3) the multiple benefits of energy efficiency. We will disseminate the analysis developed in this project to national bodies, inter alia by dissmeinating the outputs at key conferences (such as the eceee conferences).


Promoting the internAtional competitiveness of European Remote Sensing companies through Cross-cluster collaboration

Emerging industries, as high-potential growth sectors in early stage development, can be effectively supported by cross-sectoral cluster-facilitated innovation towards the creation of new value chains and the opening up of new markets. Earth Observation-derived information has been widely proven to improve productivity (e.g. reduced fertiliser, pesticide, water, labour inputs in precision agriculture), outputs (e.g. solar farm yield), and eco-friendliness (e.g. carbon footprint monitoring of industrial activities) in the emerging food, energy and environment industries. In designing, developing and delivering sustainable services that meet the needs of these industries, European SMEs need to be supported in accessing knowledge, capital, technology and markets. Recognising this need, PARSEC aspires to build a cross-sectoral/cross-border ecosystem whereby SMEs and innovative start-ups will gain: Access to knowledge (provision of a holistic portfolio of support services, including market, technology and investment training/ information as well as tailored coaching support); Access to technology (through three large scale demonstrators, acting as enablers for the development of new EO-based products/services); Access to capital (an innovative selection and funding scheme to ensure selection of high-potential ideas); Access to market (incl. cross-border and cross-sectoral matchmaking, investment readiness, export promotion). By providing access to these resources, PARSEC will concretely contribute to the establishment of new value chains bustling with innovative SMEs that can translate the large public investments in the Copernicus programme and numerous sector specific initiatives (related to food, water, energy, climate change, biodiversity, etc.) into applications and services meeting user needs and market demands, for the benefit of European economy and society.


Technology harvest & transfer for an Open Internet initiative

The objective of the TETRA project is to develop and implement a series of business-support activities targeted at 'R&I Actions' and their third parties funded under the topic H2020-ICT-24-2018-2019 to help turn their research results into marketable products and services and prepare them for success in the market place. The operational objectives are: 1.	To identify and engage relevant R&I Actions' and their third parties funded under open internet initiative (WP2) by  o	Creating and pitching the TETRA value proposition to them o	Identifying their market potential, as well as challenges and barriers  o	Conducting individual analysis and proposing targeted grow programmes o	Creating a dedicated pool of mentors  o	Creating a dedicated supporting package 2.	To assist these projects in acquiring the competences needed to bring their innovation to the market exploitation of social innovations (WP3) through a capacity building programme, addressing: o	IP advisory, training and linkage to national IP programmes  o	Managerial and entrepreneurial skills  o	Soft skills (design thinking, collaboration, team management, etc.) o	NGI culture and proposition o	Usability, acceptability and integration elements  o	Tech-transfer services to digital innovation hubs  (DIHs) o	Training on new markets, sales and marketing model models 3.	To develop vital ecosystem enabling these projects in scaling their activities (WP4) through: o	Investment readiness  o	Brokering industry relations consisting of: o	Mentoring and coaching including o	Facilitating access to Public Contracts  4.	To assess the impacts of the supporting activities provided and their contribution towards the accomplishment of NGI-Open Internet’s objectives (WP5)


Nano-satellites based Global Infrastructure to Enable IoT/M2M Networks - GIoT  (Global IoT)

The global Internet of Things (IoT) market is expected to sky rocket in upcoming years by reaching up 200 bn connected devices in 2020 compared to 15 bn in 2015 and the total market value is expected to reach 1.48 Tn Eur. However, just mostly populated areas are covered with such services and approximately 80% of the globe is without connectivity. Exiting satellite based solutions are either expensive, hardly accessible for new operators and not tailored for newest applications and operations.  Consortium consisting of NanoAvionics nano-satellite bus provider, Atnwerp Space inter-satellite link subsystem provider for continuous connectivity and KSAT responsible for ground stations and communication with fleet of satellites will approach this challenge by providing integrated nano-satellite based infrastructure for real time communication for IoT/M2M operators. This infrastructure “constellation as a service” will provide at least 10 times cheaper IoT/M2M services, real time data exchange and significantly reduce number of barriers to enter for new IoT/M2M operators. The targeted applications are fleet management, agriculture, asset tracking, pipelines monitoring etc.  During the project, the nano-satellite based infrastructure will be developed from TRL 6 to TRL 8 together with piloting customer and after operations in orbit it will be prepared for scale-up with other companies which have signed 2 letters of support and 3 Piloting agreements. The estimated impact for participating companies is creation of additional over 190 million Eur in 5 years after project implementation.


Scaling up Public Energy Efficiency Investments via Standardising Citizen Financing Schemes

The energy transition causes significant challenges in the building sector, which demand profound changes not only on the economic perspective, such as implementing innovative financial models to overcome financial barriers, but also fostering cooperation between all actors involved, paying particular attention to citizens and communities. It is essential to advance the business cases for energy efficiency measures and to increase support for respective projects, by standardising citizen financing in investment programs. There is therefore a need to consider the role of different actors (public authorities, financial institutions, project developers) and the interactions with innovative citizen models, particularly at the regional/national scale.   The main objective of CitizEE is to support European public authorities to scale up investments for energy efficiency in the building sector through attracting citizen private investments. By integrating tailored and widely adopted crowdfunding and cooperative financing schemes with adequate available or to be developed Public Financing Instruments (PFIs), CitizEE will enable to set up large-scale community energy efficiency programs while strengthening know-how of regional/national key stakeholders.   The ambition is to put in place a sound enabling legal, financial and operational environment to attract citizen private investments coupled with Public Financing Instruments (PFIs) aimed at: (i)mitigating performance & credit risks, (ii) closing financing gaps, (iii)enlarging  citizen access financing, (iv) reducing transaction costs (v) enhancing capacity of local crowdfunding operators and cooperatives and (vi) stimulating the required investment towards higher renovation rates and thus a more efficient building stock.


Residential Building Energy Renovations with On-Bill Financing

Ren-on-Bill’s overall objective is to scale up investments towards deep energy renovations (ER) of residential buildings by promoting the development and implementation of On-Bill Financing schemes, based on the cooperation between energy utilities and financial institutions.  On-Bill Financing (OBF) is a method of financing ER investments that draws on utility bills as repayment vehicle. OBF has been in use for more than 30 years, and it is especially widespread in the USA and Canada, where it significantly drives the building renovation market, with over 1 billion $ investments reached by 2013. Compared to traditional loans, default rates have been found to be lower, thus making OBF a lower risk instrument for investors. In Europe, although a few attempts have been made, OBF has not yet had a significant impact on the residential energy efficiency building renovation market.  In detail, the project will:  - Analyse and define the residential building ER and OBF market context to enable replication of suitable OBF schemes across Europe;  - Engage key stakeholders (in particular energy utilities, financial institutions, representatives of the final user and ER market side) through national stakeholder platforms;  - Develop tools to structure the residential sector’s ER financing demand allowing allows utilities and financial institutions to assess ER investments based on a transparent methodology and to bundle investments accordingly;  - Develop suitable utility business models for the deployment of deep energy renovation OBF schemes for residential buildings in Europe;  - Implement selected OBF business models at the 3 Ren-on-Bill partner utilities through a collaboration for strategic development of pilot on-bill financing schemes;  - Exploit the insights gained over the project horizon to support European-wide dissemination of knowledge on OBF schemes towards utilities, financial institutions and policy-makers.


innovation by developing a European Procurer Networking for security research services

The iProcureNet project aims to build an EU network of organisations centred on the procurement of security solutions through the appointed iProcureNet National Contacts (IPNCs), together with a larger community of people composed of individuals and experts interested in procurement. Via the established Network+Community, iProcureNet will facilitate collaboration and dialogue among procurers, enabling: i) coordinated sharing and analysis of procurement trends included in the investment plans, ii) development of common and standardised practices from the technical, legal and financial perspectives, and iii) establishing pathways for joint procurement (JP) of innovative and new to market solutions, research services, and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products in the field of security. iProcureNet will develop the iProcureNet Toolbox including a comprehensive methodology, guidelines and a knowledge database of current procurement practices and processes in Europe; and will create a firm foundation for the set-up of Established Buyers Groups (EBGs) – countries which, using the iProcureNet Toolbox, have found common ground and are ready to procure. Close collaboration with related PCP and PPI actions and the practitioner innovation networks will be a key component of the project. Ultimately, iProcureNet, will aim to create a stepping stone to future collaboration in the form of a future investment plan for collaborative procurement actions, and to develop detailed pro-innovation procurement strategies.  The Network+Community will be supported by i) the iProcureNet Online Platform (IPOP) enabling professional social networking and online dialogue on good practices and procurers’ needs; ii) a sustainable organisational set-up composed of well organised bodies and processes, and iii) appropriate communication and dissemination activities including Annual Conferences, trainings and workshops. The consortium includes 15 partners, out of which 10 are procurement agencies.


The overall aim of RODIN is to coordinate activities within the different PAA Innovation Actions and support them by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their activities, and improve their cross-PAA collaboration. Main objectives of the project are to: •	Disseminate best practice in the operation of robotics DIH networks •	Gather information from DIH networks on their composition, service offers, assets and infrastructure relevant to applying robotics in the PAA •	Develop collaboration with and between the DIH networks, developing links to key stakeholders in robotics and technology •	Deliver communication and outreach activities to external stakeholders and policy makers •	Establish a resource to share information with DIH IAs •	Assess the performance of DIH networks and provide feedback to the consortia to improve and enhance their operation •	Coordinate access to, and development of, platforms, pilots and demonstrators •	Enable industry-led standards development •	Assess the access to finance for SMEs and the role DIH networks play in developing synergy between national, regional and European funding mechanisms •	Develop means of extending the networks across Europe  •	Develop strategy around the future development of DIHs in robotics  All objectives will be achieved by the proposed activities detailed in the work packages. RODIN also establishes and manages the Working Group that: •	sets the basis for cooperation with the IAs •	feeds back assessments of their performance and operation to the IAs •	delivers best practice information to the IAs •	develops models of sustainability for robotic DIH networks RODIN fully addresses the CSA called for under DT-ICT-02-2018 b): Robotics – Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH). It addresses the need to support and cooperate with the four Digital Innovation Hub networks under DT-ICT-01-2018 a) to coordinate activities and develop synergy between the four Priority Area DIH networks thereby creating a network of networks.


VILNIAUS GEDIMINO TECHNIKOS UNIVERSITETAS

Artificial Intelligence for Digitizing Industry

Europe has a lack of intellectual property in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into digital applications. This is critical since the automatization reached saturated levels and AI in digitisation is an accepted approach for the upcoming transformation of the European industry. The potential of AI in economy and society is by far not enough exploited. Potential users of AI are not sufficiently supported to facilitate the integration of AI into their applications. Enabling of performance, industry and humanity by AI for digitising industry is the key to push the AI revolution in Europe and step into the digital age.  Existing services providing state of the art machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence solutions are currently available in the cloud. In this project, we aim to transfer machine learning and AI from the cloud to the edge in manufacturing, mobility and robotics.  To achieve these targets we connect factories, processes, and devices within digitised industry by utilizing ML and AI for human machine collaboration, change detection, and detection of abnormalities. Hence, we gain knowledge by using existing data and arrange them into a processable representation or collect new data. We use this knowledge to change the semantics and the logical layer with a distributed system intelligence for e.g. quality control, production optimization.  In AI4DI, we define a 7-key-target-approach to evaluate the relevance of AI methods within digitised industry. Each key target represents a field of activity and the corresponding target at the same time, dividing systems into heterogenous and homogenous systems, and evolving a common AI method understanding for these systems as well as for human machine collaboration. Furthermore, we investigate, develop and apply AI tools for change detection and distributed system intelligence, and develop hardware and software modules as internet of things (IoT) devices for sensing, actuating, and connectivity processing.


For the EU economy to grow sustainably it needs to re-industrialise, leveraging innovation and digital intelligence. Blockchain Innovation Spaces (Block.IS) envisions to build an open and collaborative cross-border, cross-sectoral innovation ecosystem that fosters the use of this cutting-edge technology in three vital sectors for the European economy: agrifood, logistics and finance. Block.IS will bring together (connect) actors (with an emphasis on SMEs and clusters) from these three heavily interconnected sectors, with SMEs/ innovators, to catalyse their cooperation towards innovation-driven and mutual growth (boost).  The catalysation is aimed at networking the members of the ecosystem, raising understanding of the benefits of blockchain technology and stimulating the creation of new blockchain-based solutions - Cluster Missions and Clusters-Innovators Assembly.  Block.IS will support innovators (SMEs) all the way from ideation to commercialisation offering them tailored business and technical support as well as direct funding, through a novel funnel approach - Innovate > Experiment > Commercialise acceleration programme.  As such, the project will directly foster and strengthen competitiveness of digital SMEs (that will develop the solutions) and of the clusters and SMEs of the three verticals which will use them to offer added value to their customers. The Block.IS consortium is a fusion between: Tech founders and SMEs community (F6S), sector-oriented clusters and sectoral associations (VOICT, FEDACOVA, IT-Log, DSME, FTS), international innovation and Tech-transfer specialists (INO, IDI, CIVITTA, SYN) and Blockchain tech experts (INTRA, TNO); with an outreach of >1,017,000 SME. Block.IS invests 81% of the EC budget in SMEs and 51% through Open Calls (€2,800,000)


Multiphoton Microscopy and Ultrafast Spectroscopy: Imaging meets Quantum

In the quest to decipher the chain of life from molecules to cells, the biophysical questions being asked increasingly demand techniques that are capable of identifying specific biomolecules in their native environment at the smallest possible scale, and measuring their interactions quantitatively without perturbing the system under observation. Laser-based optical microscopy is a key technology to drive this progress in the 21st century. Still, many challenges remain in particular toward i) achieving imaging with biomolecular specificity without the artefacts from sample staining, ii) quantitative imaging, and iii) single molecule sensitivity. Progress toward biomolecular specificity at very high temporal resolution has been brought by the development of ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, able to address the importance of quantum coherences with the potential to unravel the fundamental machinery of Nature. Yet, measuring quantum phenomena with an optical microscope is technically challenging, and far from real-world biological applications. MUSIQ is designed as an innovative research and training network, where we will recruit 15 Early Stage Researchers to work toward the central ambitious goal of developing the next-generation optical microscopy exploiting quantum coherent nonlinear phenomena. The network brings together a unique team of 7 world-leading academics and 6 high tech companies at the forefront of optical microscopy and ultrafast laser technology developments merged with fundamental understanding of coherent light-matter interaction phenomena, development of quantitative image analysis tools, and biomedical/pharmaceutical real-world applications. MUSIQ will establish an intersectoral training and research programme at the physics/chemistry/life science interface with partners from 9 European countries, aimed at creating the next generation of skilled well-connected scientists that will pioneer the ‘quantum microscopes of tomorrow’.


Smart grid competence hub for boosting research, innovation and educational capacities for energy transition

SMAGRINET engages 9 organizations from 6 countries: 6 high-level energy education and research institutions (2 involving their SSH institutes), an electricity industries union, strategic planning, an innovation management and RRI consultancy and a professional communications agency.  Strategic objective of SMAGRINET is to develop a generation of researchers and engineers who are equipped to develop, improve and deploy new energy technologies in order to meet the challenges of the energy transition. Direct objective: to create smart grid competence hub for enhancing the capacities of the European universities in energy research, innovation and education and engage with industry, cities, regions and other key societal actors. Operational objective: to update, develop and implement a capacity building programme for boosting the research, innovation and education for energy transition. The objectives will be achieved by implementing a set of 6 WPs with the following main outputs:  •	Operation of the competence hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing, defining and validating the matrix of key challenges and cases in the smart grid area to be addressed by the capacity building programmes; •	A set of 3 challenge and case-based modules (prosumers, connections, price and society) for master students (MA, MSc or ME) involving SSH and industry, complemented by simulation session and international mobility to the enterprises; 240 master students educated in the 2 rounds of piloting;  •	3 short-term (3 months) blended learning programmes addressing the urgent skills needs with 720 participants (240 from each target group) in the 2 rounds of piloting; •	Online trainers´ methodological manuals, 50 trainers trained as part of the train the trainers' pilot ready for replicating the modules and/or blended learning programmes; •	Dissemination and communication programme reaching out at least to 100 energy communities, 5.000 related stakeholders and 100.000 general public.


Integrated, Fail-Operational, Cognitive Perception, Planning and Control Systems for Highly Automated Vehicles

NewControl will develop virtualized platforms for vehicular subsystems that are essential to highly automated driving (realizing functions such as perception, cognition and control), so as to enable mobility-as-a-service for next generation highly automated vehicles.  Its overarching goal is to provide an industrially calibrated trajectory towards increased user-acceptance of automated control functions, through an approach that is centered on the premise of safety by design.   Newcontrol will deliver: 1.             Fail-operational platform for robust holistic perception through a combination of Lidar, Radar, and sensor fusion 2.             Generalized virtual platform for stable and efficient control of propulsion systems 3.             Cost- and power-efficient, high-performance embedded compute-platforms for in-vehicle perception, cognition, and control 4.             Robust approaches for implementing, verifying, and certifying automated control for safety-critical applications  Several (12) demonstrators will be built to showcase the project’s findings and their capability to facilitate perception, cognition and control of next generation highly automated vehicles.  The developments in NewControl will facilitate significant cost reductions for essential modules necessary for future automated vehicles. Concomitantly, these developments will improve the safety and reliability of automated systems to levels necessary for mass-market deployment. These innovations will leverage the expertise of industrial (OEMs, Tier-1, Tier-2 and technology providers) and research partners along the complete semiconductor, automotive, and aviation value chains, providing Europe with a competitive edge in a growing market.   Importantly, NewControl's innovations will improve the market penetration of safety-centric automation systems, contributing directly to the European goal of zero road fatalities by 2050.