PJ22:Validation and Demonstration Engineering

The aim of SESAR2020.PJ22 is to address one of the Transversal Activities, specifically Validation & Demonstration Engineering. In SESAR 1, the application of an engineering methodology defining the process for development of verification and validation platforms, was optionally mandated to the primary projects, leading to a different level of information available across the Programme. The delivery of information to SJU did not always reach the necessary consistency and quality, e.g. preventing the understanding of coverage and traceability of operational requirements vs. technical requirements. SE data were typically captured via Word templates requiring significant effort to extract the information with not homogeneous level of details thus insufficient to guarantee the usability and significance for the SESAR Community. In SESAR 2020 there is a demand to improve consistently the situation and PJ22 will provide a System Engineering Data Management Framework (SE-DMF), aiming to support all SESAR Solutions with a (web based) platform for Requirements Management to capture data in a structured way ensuring consistency, coherence and coverage at Programme level. PJ22 will develop an efficient approach based on a data-centric, data-driven rather than document-based paradigm.  SE-DMF will be set up as a service and run in a secured IaaS infrastructure to enable cost reduction, high level of ROI, ease of use and scalability. The project will support the SESAR Solution Maturity Lifecycle and Gates. Another challenge is to identify a set of strategic validation tools and interoperability solutions to improve the SESAR 2020 validation process. Maintaining and improving the development methodologies for the SESAR solution and VLSD projects together with managing the catalogue of the V&V and Demonstration Platforms and associated documentation describing their current capabilities and their planned evolution is under the scope of the project.


POLICIJOS DEPARTAMENTAS PRIE LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS VIDAUS REIKALU MINISTERIJOS

DARLENE aims to investigate means by which AR can be deployed in real time to aid in LEA decision-making by employing AR capabilities and combining them with powerful ML algorithms, sensor information fusion techniques, 3D reconstruction, wearable technology and personalized context-aware recommendations. Hence DARLENE will offer European LEAs a proactive security solution which will provide an IoT level of Situational Awareness, detection and recognition, combining cutting edge technology and public security in all security verticals.  It will enable LEAs to reduce and prevent crime, and to more quickly respond to crimes already in progress, by enabling them to sort through massive volumes of data to predict, anticipate and prevent criminal activities, make better informed tactical decisions and provide enhanced protection services for European citizens. DARLENE will therefore develop practical and beneficial policing applications through the use of affordable, light-weight and inconspicuous AR glasses. Such applications will capitalize on cutting edge research that will combine with AR Technology to create innovative methods for combating crime and even terrorist acts. To align technology development with actual security needs and requirements, DARLENE will build a community of LEAs organization and security stakeholders that will guide the development process and evaluate the entire DARLENE ecosystem. In this regard, DARLENE foresees extensive demonstration and training activities for LEAs while the entire solution will be demonstrated and validated in realistic scenarios during the pilot phase of the project, thus paving the way to its field deployment and commercial uptake.

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


Copernicus Academy Hub for Knowledge, Innovation and Outreach

The overall objective of CopHub.AC is to create a knowledge and innovation hub with several nodes (secretariat, research briefs, knowledge landscape, outreach, sustainability) to focus and link ongoing R&D activities in Copernicus-relevant academic fields, and to sustain the innovation process from academia to businesses on the highest possible scientific and technical level, with a clear commitment to a full thematic and geographic coverage for a Europe-wide boost in space uptake.   The CopHub.AC consortium led by PLUS / Z_GIS will provide the following objectives: i) foster the enlargement of the Copernicus Academy ecosystem through a well-orchestrated set of tools and structures; ii) reinforce the R&I capacities of Copernicus Academies and channel their outputs within an improved format of research briefs; iii) inform industry, educational networks, authorities and the citizen about Copernicus and its societal benefits. iv) promote capacity building of and connectivity with the Copernicus Relays Network; v) promote the long-term impact and sustainability of the Copernicus Academy network through the establishment of a secretariat, a monitoring process and a forward looking roadmap.  A duration of 24 months is envisaged. During the second year, the EC will be provided with recommendations for the continuation of the activities under long-term funding.

Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEIT)


VIESOJI ISTAIGA LIETUVOS INOVACIJU CENTRAS

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCING INNOVATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY SERVICES FOR LITHUNIAN SMEs

The aim of SME Coach LT 2018 is to increase effectiveness and efficiency of investment in R&D and Innovation by enhancing innovation management capacity of the Lithuanian beneficiaries of the funding schemes SME Instrument, Fast Track to Innovation ( FTI) and Future and emerging technologies (FET Open) under H2020 and SMEs with significant innovation activities and a high potential for internationalisation.   Specifically, the project will support beneficiaries of the SME instrument in identifying project-specific barriers and weaknesses and gaps in their innovation capacities that hinder realization of growth opportunities and point to suitable coaches to address the identified weaknesses. The Key Account Manager will support SMEs SME Instrument beneficiaries in identifying critical issues and gaps with regards to their innovation idea and guide them to relevant lead coach who will support the company throughout their innovation journey. To identify SMEs challenges, the Key account Manager will use a holistic and dynamic business innovation model, supported by Business Innovation Roadmap Tool, available under Creative Commons License from smE-MPOWER network. The second specific objective aims at SMEs that have significant innovation activities and a high potential but lagging innovation management capacities. To assess the performance of their innovation management system, we will use IMP3rove Academy’s diagnostic tool or similar tools. Further action plan will be developed.  In supporting SMEs we will use action- based (and case-driven) learning approach to addressing identified gaps in the innovation system. smE-MPOWER tools will help support the coaching process.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA KAUNO MOKSLO IR TECHNOLOGIJU PARKAS

Value chain innovations in emerging Health Tech, Smart City and Greentech industries addressing the challenges of smart urban environment

URBAN TECH will support the acceleration of competitive success of European SMEs through market launch of new or significantly improved products and services with higher value (with higher quality, increased access, eco-innovative, resource efficient and internationally scalable). In long term perspective (strategic objective), URBAN TECH will innovate and increase the competitiveness of European Health Tech, Smart City and Greentech industries globally. Value proposition:  •	Offering innovative solutions to cross-sectoral and cross-border challenges, either public or private. •	Bringing together different stakeholders of the industry value-chain to cooperate and innovate together. •	Supporting SMEs and start-ups in scaling their solutions and products globally. Advanced partnership of cluster and innovation support organisations from 9 countries, entrepreneurial and innovation support measures providers to SMEs and start-ups, mediators between the societal stakeholders needs and solution providers. Partners’ network bringing together 3 500 start-ups and SMEs and wider outreach to 20 000. The core outputs of the project: • 300 clustered challenges from 9 countries and beyond • Online Open Space, based on Virtual Library of Challenges structured around Health Tech, Greentech and Smart City industries • 320 collaborative innovation ideas for solutions by SMEs selected for industry hackathons through Open Call • 16 international industry hackathons, resulting in 80 cross-border and cross-sectoral innovation projects selected for incubation and 1st stage of support (in total, max up to 10 350 €) • ~30 projects selected for 2nd stage support (20-30 k €) for large scale testing and demonstration to deliver minimal viable products (MPVs) • 20 projects selected for Going Global stage support (up to 14 k €) • 20 tested and demonstrated products, partnerships and further public & private funding attracted through project business development and going global support in 3-5 years


Supercomputing Expertise for SmAll and Medium Enterprise Network

Network of HPC Competence Centres for SMEs


Citizen Science for Urban Environment and Health

Scientific evidence about the negative health effects of urban environmental exposures is mounting. Yet key scientific gaps exist. Surveys show that citizens are increasingly concerned about the consequences of these exposures on their own health, and are engaged in data collection and activism efforts around problems such as urban mobility and air and noise pollution. These concerns, along with the availability of affordable crowd-sensing and data processing technologies that allow citizens to measure environmental and health parameters, make environmental epidemiology studies an ideal, yet underexplored opportunity to develop citizen science projects. Enabling collaboration between researchers and citizens to generate solid, unbiased scientific evidence of local relevance can reduce existing information gaps. It can empower people to contribute to novel and bottom-up research agendas, interventions and co-creation of public policies. The aim of the Citizen Science Project on Urban Environment and Health (CitieS-Health) is to develop an effective citizen science model at the maximum collaboration level. The project will develop citizen science projects in five diverse European cities (Barcelona, Kaunas, Ljubljana, Amsterdam, Lucca), assessing urban air and noise pollution, wood burning, urban design and mobility at local levels. An innovative aspect of CitieS-Health is studying the link between these exposures and health impacts. Citizens will participate in defining research questions, designing and implementing studies, and analysing, interpreting and communicating results. The projects will inform the first open toolkit for the development and promotion of citizen science projects in urban environment and health. The project will also co-design a set of governance principles and procedures to allow participants control over project data and outcomes, and will contribute indicators to assess the project's impacts on different sectors.

Integrate society in science and innovation


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.


Flexible robots for intelligent automation of precision agriculture operations

Agricultural robotics solutions can integrate a variety of robots for a variety of monitoring and targeted intervention tasks, to increase farm productivity, efficiency and sustainability through support of automated precision farming operations. Despite the rising farmer investment in farm/agricultural robots, most deployable robotic systems are meant to automate only specific tasks. The wide variety of tasks that need to be fulfilled in a single precision agriculture operation or mission makes it extremely unprofitable to address its automation with task-specific robots. These challenges result in a lack of flexibility of current heterogeneous multi-robot systems that poses low returns on investment and high risks for farmers. In order to become cost-effective, heterogeneous multi-robot systems needs to become more flexible by employing more versatile (e.g. multi-task) robots which collaborate to accomplish complex missions; ensuring scalable human oversight and intervention through adaptive mission control mechanisms (e.g. without information overload /overwhelming effort from the farmer); allowing the farmer to profit from robotics operational data. FlexiGroBots proposes a Platform for developing heterogeneous multi-robot systems and applications which allows for i) more versatility by using the same robots for different observation and intervention tasks, in different missions, throughout the crop life cycle, ii) more cooperation between heterogeneous (ground and aerial) robots to accomplish more complex missions; iii) more valuable data to generate accurate insights into the fields, crops and robotics operations by combining data from IoT sensors, satellites and data collected by the robots; iv) more autonomy for real-time adaptation of mission plans as well as robot behaviour at the crop level, given operational conditions and real-time insights; v) more precision to carry out specific tasks in a very localized way, gaining accuracy and lowering costs.


Researchers' Night: It's Your Friday to Discover!

The LT2016 Researchers’ Night projects for 2016 and 2017 will take place in major Lithuanian cities, i.e. Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai and Moletai, as well as in rural areas. The project aims to enhance public recognition of researchers and their work through bringing scientists and public closer to one another and thus increasing an understanding of the impact of researchers' work on citizen's daily life as well as encouraging young people to choose careers in science and research. Both events will offer a broad range of varied activities addressing all categories of the public at large, regardless of age and scientific background, i.e. notably: Meetings and activities together with researchers; Lectures, discussions; Visits to open laboratories; Real life observations and experiments; European corners; Various contests, games, exhibitions, movie and online broadcast watching. All the activities planned will actively involve researchers and will offer a balanced combination of "serious" activities and funny ones to be attractive for the general public. Activities will be hosted in labs, lecture halls, meeting places, cafes, while in the rural areas they will take place in schools or public spaces. Some activities conducted in the main sites will be broadcasted online. Common concept for the Night in 2016 and 2017 will be Learning about Technology Futures. Therefore activities of Researchers’ Night projects in 2016 will be organised with focus on Virtual Reality thus building foundations for the Night in 2017 which will focus of "science futurity" or Futures of technologies. Both events will be finalised with the grand event unifying different fields - music, science and cinema. We expect at least 500.000 people made aware of the Researchers' Night and its objectives through the awareness campaign and 11.500 direct attendees to the various events planned in 2016 as well as in 2017.


BALTIJOS PAZANGIU TECHNOLOGIJU INSTITUTAS

imPROved Maritime awarENess by means of AI and BD mEthods

Maritime Domain Awareness is the combination of activities, events and threats in the maritime environment that could have impact on marine activities and EU territory. During the past decades, advances in Information and Communication Technologies have provided better means to monitor and analyse vessel activity. Today private and public source of data such the Automatic Identification System or space related data can be combined with Vessel Traffic Services, Vessel Traffic Management Systems and Vessel Traffic Monitoring & Information Systems data enabling the development of value added information resulted by the combination of such data. European waters are navigated daily by some 12,000 vessels, which share their positions to avoid collisions, generating a huge number of positional messages every month. It is important that this overabundance of information will not overwhelm the marine operator in charge for decision-making. The challenge is twofold: on one side encourage the exchange of heterogeneous data among administration valorising the CISE network currently in place, on the other exploit at the best these datasets by means of automated processing in a way to minimise false alert that might results by an incorrect processing or interpretation of the results. PROMENADE will improve solutions for the vessel tracking, behaviour analysis and automatic anomaly detection by means of the application Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data (BD) technologies, and to promote collaborative exchange of information between maritime surveillance authorities, shortening the time to market and assuring the compliance with legal and ethical regulations.  An open, service-based toolkit implementing “state of art” AI / BD techniques also benefiting of HPC (High Performance Computing) platform is the core activity of the project. The project’s developments will be demonstrated and evaluated in 3 operational scenarios and 1 simulated defined by Border Guards Authorities.


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)


Spin Transport in Interacting Spin-Orbit Coupled Systems

The physics of charge and spin transport is the basis of current consumer devices. Recent discoveries in solid-state physics have highlighted the importance of the coupling of the electron’s motion to its spin for transport phenomena. However, our understanding of transport with this so-called spin-orbit coupling has been largely limited to non-interacting systems, even though the first experimental systems with well-controlled spin-orbit coupling and interactions are already available.  Here, we aim to provide a theoretical description of these novel interacting spin-orbit coupled systems. More concretely, we will derive equations describing the motion of spin and mass, and solve these equations. We will investigate spin transport in the uncharted regime where the inter-particle interactions compete with spin-orbit coupling. In particular, we will quantify the robustness of the familiar transport phenomena (e.g., the spin Hall effect) in the presence of interactions.  The group of Prof. Juzeliunas is at the forefront of spin-orbit coupling physics. The group of Prof. Stringari is one of the leading groups in the world when it comes to collective excitations of the many-body system. Combining their expertise with my quantum transport proficiency will allow to obtain, for the first time, a transport theory of interacting quantum gases with spin-orbit coupling, and provide its predictions as a collective excitation spectrum, which is directly accessible by ultracold-atom experiments. A successful accomplishment of this aim will open up the possibility to push spin-dependent transport phenomena to new regimes.


MOKSLO INOVACIJU IR TECHNOLOGIJU AGENTURA

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.


High Performance Alexandrite Crystals and Coatings for High Power Space Applications

Space-based earth observation missions are an essential building block gaining the data to understand our planet. In particular, space missions which are enhanced by laser-based instruments enable new ways of monitoring the atmosphere or the planet’s surface. The availability of space-qualified TRL 6 high performance coated Alexandrite laser crystals within Europe is a major enabling technology for future earth observation space missions. For this reason, the GALACTIC project aims for the creation of the complete supply chain solely by European industry for high performance, high quality, high power, coated Alexandrite laser crystals. For this goal, two industrial partners and a research institute team up to combine their complementing expertise and reach this ambitious goal. Optomaterials S.r.l. (Italy) as expert in single crystal growth will advance Alexandrite crystal growth and machining techniques to produce high-quality Alexandrite laser crystals. Altechna Coatings (Lithuania) will contribute its expertise on high performance optical coatings and characterization methods to develop space-compliant, highly durable optical coatings specifically tailored for Alexandrite pulsed laser operation. Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (Germany) as a research institute with strong experience in the development of laser sources for space applications will develop demonstrator laser systems based on the newly developed Alexandrite crystals proving their superior lasing performance. The combined forces of these outstanding partners will enable a detailed TRL 6 qualification of the coated Alexandrite crystals within the GALACTIC project making these crystals a new purely European product to be utilized in future space missions by the space industry. The development will by accompanied by strategic dissemination activities promoting the activities of GALACTIC to a broad audience.


ADVanced Inspection of Complex StructurEs

ADVISE aims to advance the ultrasonic inspection of complex structured materials, for which conventional ultrasonic techniques suffer from severe performance limitations due to the micro and/or macro-structure. The project relies on a multi-pronged strategy:  - Model-assisted inspection enhancement tools allow the iterative optimisation of customised transducers and associated excitation signals, to specify the most appropriate inspection approach. - Novel in-situ characterisation techniques acquire specific information about the structure to be inspected; then model-assisted optimisation tools fine-tune the inspection parameters in the field. - Model-assisted diagnostic tools take a-priori, model-predicted and in-situ obtained information into account to fully exploit the information contained in full matrix capture (FMC) acquisitions, using adaptive imaging methods, backscatter filtering and inversion strategies. The main output of the project is thus a step change improvement in performance in terms of inspectable depth, defect detection and characterisation accuracy. For austeno-ferritic cast components, an increase of the inspectable depth of 70 to 85 mm is aimed for. Equally importantly, the in-situ characterisation for specific inspections will provide the confidence needed to make safe decisions from measured indications without the significant conservatism that is needed in many cases currently.  ADVISE brings together leading experts and key stakeholders with long-term commitments to this subject, covering construction, operation, and all aspects of in-service inspection. They will collaborate for new nuclear power constructions, maintenance of ageing power stations and safe operation of plants at end of life, addressing both Western European and Russian designs. An Industrial Advisory Board will play a major role throughout the project to guarantee a focus on the key issues and thereby ensure rapid deployment of the ADVISE developed techniques and tools.


PJ20 W2 “Master Planning” project is the continuation of the SESAR2020 Wave 1 PJ20 ATM Master Plan Maintenance project (AMPLE).  Within the Single European Sky technological pillar, the European ATM Master Plan (ATM MP) is the long-term roadmap to guide and connect ATM Research and Innovation and Deployment in building the future European ATM System. The ATM MP Editions are approved by the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU) Administrative Board and the European Commission.  They set out Performance Ambitions and a Vision for European ATM, aligned with ICAO GANP.  The ATM MP is composed of three Levels; it can be consulted in the ATM MP Public Portal www.atmmasterplan.eu.  By EU Regulation 409/2013, the ATM MP is the essential instrument allowing all European ATM civil and military stakeholders - Airspace users, Air Navigation Service providers, Airports, Network Manager, Airborne and Ground industry, SESAR Deployment Manager, Standardisation bodies and Professional Staff organisations - to share and further develop this common Vision for the future European ATM and setting forth the SESAR solutions which after successful research may be elicited to compose future Common Projects for operationally seamless and cost effective deployment.  The ATM MP needs to be a living plan, kept abreast of evolutions of the European ATM performance, progresses of the SESAR solutions research results and of deployment. The duty of SESAR2020 PJ20 W2 Master Planning like its predecessor in SESAR2020 Wave 1, is to ensure the maintenance, update and alignment of the ATM MP three Levels as a Common Support Activity of the SESAR2020 Programme.  Under the leadership of EUROCONTROL, through facilitated access to information rich performance based civil-military ATM data, PJ20 will bring together contributions of 24 SESAR2020 members, ensuring the broad ATM representativeness required from air navigation service providers, airports, airborne and ground industry and Network Manager.


Sustainable network for Independent Technical EXpertise of radioactive waste disposal - Interactions and Implementation

The coordination action SITEX-II aims at implementing in practice the activities along with the interaction modes issued by the FP7 program SITEX project (2012-2013), in view of developing an Expertise function network. This network is expected to ensure a sustainable capability of developing and coordinating joint and harmonized activities related to the independent technical expertise in the field of safety of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. SITEX-II tasks include: – the definition of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) based on the common R&D orientations defined by SITEX (2012-2013), the definition of the ToR for the implementation of specific topics from the SRA, and the interaction with IGD-TP and other external entities mandated to implement research on radioactive waste disposal regarding the potential setting up of an European Joint Programming on radioactive waste disposal; – the production of a guidance on the technical review of the safety case at its different phases of development, fostering a common understanding on the interpretation and proper implementation of safety requirements for developing, operating and closing a geological repository and on the verification of compliance with these requirements; – the development of a training module for generalist experts involved in the safety case review process, including the implementation a pilot training session; – the commitment of CS in the definition of the SRA mentioned above, considering the expectations and technical questions to be considered when developing R&D for the purpose of Expertise function. Close interactions between experts conducting the review work will allow enhancing the safety culture of CS and more globally, proposing governance patterns with CS in the framework of geological disposal;  – the preparation of the “administrative” framework for a sustainable network, by addressing the legal, organisational and management aspects.


The Arqus European University Alliance brings together seven longstanding prestigious comprehensive research-intensive universities who share extensive experience in joint projects and a similar profile as internationalized institutions with deep regional engagement.  Through this project, Arqus aims to enhance the research and innovation dimension of the Alliance’s activities and to address current global societal challenges through intensified joint research characterised by the pursuit of excellence, openness, transparency and effective engagement with society.   Based on analysis of existing strengths, prior cooperation and shared strategic research interests, the Alliance will focus on the fields of Artificial Intelligence/Digital Transformation and Green Deal/Climate Change as transversal priority areas for enhanced research collaboration, characterised by their interdisciplinarity.   The project is organised around three major challenges, all intended to foster a context to nurture sustainable strengthened collaboration. The first addresses Joint Science and Innovation, through building an Arqus research community, and designing a roadmap for transformation(al) excellence. The second centres on New Perspectives on Research, seeking to strengthen human capital through alternative approaches to assessment and recognition, and to re-thinking transfer, with special reference to the Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts. The third, Open to Society, focusses on the culture change brought by Open and Citizen Science.   Arqus Research & Innovation aims to complement and build on efforts already underway to foster scientific cooperation within the European University consortium, and to seek synergies between the education, research and innovation dimensions of Arqus.

Science with and for Society - Cross-theme


Integrated approach to first time innovators – assisting SMEs in transition of their potential to actual innovation

The main aim of Innovators2B is to enhance the agencies’ management efficiency in the field of first time innovators’ service. Three innovation agencies involved in the project will work using twinning+ methodology in order to create valuable Design Options Paper regarding first time innovators engagement into process of implementing innovation. 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 an effective approach to identify and convince “potentially innovative companies” to engage in innovation process with the use of external support. It involves designing the whole support process from the identification of the target group, marketing channels, attractive offer, diagnostics of individual needs, consequent support delivery and follow up of the process till successful result.  The results of the project will be communicated to regional and national authorities as the topic of monitoring SMEs needs 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.


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.


JPIAMR- ANTIMICROBIAL TRANSMISSION INTERVENTIONS

In the past 90 years since their discovery, antibiotics have saved millions of lives from bacterial diseases. However, emerging resistance to antimicrobials now threatens many advances achieved in modern medicine. AMR is a critical global health issue tightly linked with the One Health concept, which recognises that human and animal health are inextricably linked, and that diseases are transmitted from humans to animals and vice versa. One Health also encompasses the environment as another link between humans and animals and a potential source and reservoir of AMR. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern and threatens the future treatment and health of humans and animals. In addition, AMR limits our ability to achieve several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The global challenge to address AMR goes beyond the production of new antibiotics and therapies. Reducing demand for new antibiotics through public awareness, infection prevention and control, prudent and rational use of antibiotics for humans and animals, as well as effective diagnosis and surveillance of antibiotic-resistant infections and monitoring antibiotic use, are crucial when dealing with this problem globally. The transmission and spread of AMR in and between One Health compartments is complex, which emphasises the need for comprehensive interventions to reverse the trend of increasing human and animal infections resistant to treatment. The ERA-NET Cofund JPIAMR-ACTION will tackle this central challenge by supporting research and innovation for the development and testing of strategies and methodologies to reduce the transmission and spread of AMR within a full One Health spectrum. The JPIAMR-ACTION co-funded call and other activities will be instrumental in producing new innovative approaches, and advancing existing actions towards the development of new and improved interventions to inhibit or limit the development of AMR in humans, animals and the environment.

Health, demographic change and wellbeing


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.


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.


Single-cell temporal tracking of epigenetic DNA marks

Over the past decade, epigenetic phenomena have taken centre stage in our understanding of gene regulation, cellular differentiation and human disease. DNA methylation is a prevalent epigenetic modification in mammals, which is brought about by enzymatic transfer of methyl groups from the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) cofactor by three known DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). The most dramatic epigenomic reprogramming in mammalian development occurs after fertilization, whereby a global loss of DNA methylation is followed by massive reinstatement of new methylation patterns, different for each cell type. Although DNA methylation has been extensively investigated, key mechanistic aspects of these fascinating events remain obscure. The goal of this proposal is to bridge the gap in our understanding of how the genomic methylation patterns are established and how they govern cell plasticity and variability during differentiation and development. These questions could only be answered by precise determination of where and when methylation marks are deposited by the individual DNMTs, and how these methylation marks affect gene expression. To achieve this ambitious goal, we will metabolically engineer mouse cells to permit SAM analog-based chemical pulse-tagging of their methylation sites in vivo. We will then advance profiling of DNA modifications to the single cell level via innovative integration of microdroplet-based barcoding, precise genomic mapping and super-resolution imaging. Using this unique experimental system we will determine, with unprecedented detail and throughput, the dynamics and variability of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns during differentiation of mouse embryonic cells to neural and other lineages. This project will give a comprehensive, time-resolved view of the roles that the DNMTs play in mammalian development, which will open new horizons in epigenomic research and will advance our understanding of human development and disease.


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.


Developing a feasibility study for the future commercialization of BranchyDOSE – an innovative accurate and simple brachytherapy measurements tool

High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy represents the increasingly popular internal radiation therapy method commonly used as an effective treatment for cervical, prostate, breast, skin cancer and tumors. While HDR brachytherapy is relatively fast, safe and highly beneficial, its results are often corrupted by human error. It is essential to measure the radiation dose delivered to ensure a safe and effective delivery of the treatment plan. The most accurate way of measurement is by comparing dosimetry results with the mathematic modeling results. Nonetheless, the use of dosimeters is not a standardized procedure so this is done only in hospitals and cancer clinics providing high-quality healthcare services. In turn, healthcare practitioners rely on modeling methods alone. Miscalculation and mistakes in dose calculation algorithms cause inaccuracy in treatment plan, which results in a continuously flawed treatment. This can induce insufficient amount of radiation, over radiation, secondary cancer and radiation burns. The widespread use of dosimeters would prevent these missteps as the treatment plan could be adjusted according to real dose measurements. Nonetheless, the currently available dosimetry solutions are inefficient and not fit to be used in everyday medical procedures (time consuming, expensive, complex). Sesi Partneriai, an innovative science SME, has developed an advanced material dosimeter system (TRL6) that is tailored to be used in everyday medical procedures – it is fast, easy to use and retains extremely high accuracy and reliability. With this solution the company seeks to standardize the use of dosimeters in HDR brachytherapy and further develop a universal dosimeter system that could be used in a wide range of radiotherapy procedures. The feasibility study will provide an essential stepping-stone towards these goals by allowing Sesi Partneriai to develop a comprehensive business plan ensuring perfect product market fit and smooth commercialization.


Understanding microbiomes of the ruminant holobiont

Sustainability of ruminant production is of concern to society because of its implications for the environment, the economy and food security. Microbiomes associated with the host play a key role in health, welfare and environmental efficiency in ruminant production systems. However, despite the information already available, we lack the insights to precisely link the causes and mechanisms of microbial influence on ruminant phenotypes. This is because the interconnection and communication between the animal and its different microbiomes have never been studied in a deep, integrated way.  The goal of the project is to elucidate the role of ruminant-associated microbiomes and their interplay with the host in early life and throughout fundamental life events. HoloRuminant will use a holistic multi-omics approach to characterise the acquisition and evolution of microbiomes from different body sites, their inheritability and their influence on the host’s resistance to disease and environmental efficiency of production. Specifically we will: determine microbiomes’ functions by combining multi-level information for microbes, host and their interaction; define microbiomes’ roles during challenging life periods such as perinatal, weaning, and after exposure to pathogens; and evaluate the effect of ruminant microbiomes on critical phenotypes for sustainable production, health and welfare. This will allow the identification of novel microbial markers for monitoring, predicting and selecting phenotypes of interest. By engaging actors from the livestock value chain, we will evaluate the socio-economic impact and acceptability of the innovations proposed among stakeholders and the public. HoloRuminant will provide highly innovative, standardized methodologies that will radically advance our understanding of the ruminant holobiont. This knowledge and the tools created will allow the use of microbiome-based diagnostics and solutions for improving ruminant sustainabilty.

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


Cultural Opposition: Understanding the Cultural Heritage of Dissent in the Former Socialist Countries

The project proposes both to create an electronic registry of representative online and offline, private and public collections of cultural opposition in all former socialist countries in Europe and to study the origins, uses and changing roles of these collections in their social, political and cultural contexts. We seek to further an understanding of how these (private and public, alternative and mainstream) collections work, what functions they serve in their respective societies, and how they represent their holdings to the public. The project will examine the legal and political circumstances that determined the collections before 1989 and the conditions that shape them in the post-socialist period. The analyses of the collections will identify various types of cultural opposition.  Objectives include: 1. an online registry and a transnational database of collections in the original languages and English that will be accessible to European archival platforms and networks; 2. descriptions of and guides to the collections to enhance the quality of research and provide guidance on the role of the EU in this respect; 3. country reports on the collections and proposals concerning methods of preserving cultural heritage, and a handbook on various types of cultural opposition represented by the collections; 4. online curriculum development and digital content for educational purposes; 5. a documentary film festival, traveling and online exhibitions and local media events based on selected collections; 6. a set of recommendations concerning how to exhibit the cultural opposition movements of former socialist countries for the House of European History.  This project will highlight the positive aspects of the former cultural opposition movements, such as democratic participation, autonomy and cultural plurality, and will remind us of an important pan-European truth: that civic courage can produce genuine cultural values even under authoritarian rule.

Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective Societies


European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases

As recognized by the Council Recommendation 2009/C 151/02, rare diseases (RD) are a prime example of a research area that can strongly profit from coordination on a European and international scale. RD research should be improved to overcome fragmentation, leading to efficacious use of data and resources, faster scientific progress and competitiveness, and most importantly to decrease unnecessary hardship and prolonged suffering of RD patients. In the specific context of the massive generation, need for reuse and efficient interpretation of data, introduction of omics into care practice and the structuration of RD care centers in European Reference Networks, it appears crucial and timely to maximize the potential of already funded tools and programmes by supporting them further, scaling up, linking, and most importantly, adapting them to the needs of end-users through implementation tests in real settings. Such a concerted effort is necessary to develop a sustainable ecosystem allowing a virtuous circle between RD care, research and medical innovation. To achieve this goal, the European Joint Programme on RD (EJP RD) has two major objectives: (i) To improve the integration, the efficacy, the production and the social impact of research on RD through the development, demonstration and promotion of Europe/world-wide sharing of research and clinical data, materials, processes, knowledge and know-how; (ii) To implement and further develop an efficient model of financial support for all types of research on RD (fundamental, clinical, epidemiological, social, economic, health service) coupled with accelerated exploitation of research results for benefit of patients. To this end, the EJP RD actions will be organized within four major Pillars assisted by the central coordination: (P1): Funding of research; (P2): Coordinated access to data and services; (P3) Capacity building; (P4): Accelerated translation of research projects and improvement outcomes of clinical studies.


LIETUVOS KIBERNETINIU NUSIKALTIMU KOMPETENCIJU IR TYRIMU CENTRAS

Global Response Against Child Exploitation

The use of the Internet to distribute CSEM is an abhorrent crime. Referrals from Online Service Providers are key to fighting CSE. OSPs, detection technologies and users reporting suspicious material are improving. However, this leads to an increase in the sheer volume of referrals coupled with the increase in the distribution of CSEM online that is pushing MS LEAs to their limits and affecting their their capacity to prevent harm to infants and children, rescue those in immediate danger, and investigate and prosecute perpetrators. The NCMEC process has improved LEA capability. But, a typical CSE case contains 1-3 TBs of video, 1–10 million images. Limited human resources, manual analysis and the 4,000% increase in referrals since 2014 obligates a new approach. GRACE will apply proven techniques in ML to the referral and analysis process while embracing the very technical, ethical and legal challenges unique to fighting CSE. GRACE will leverage resources already in place at EUROPOL and its 9 MS LEAs and attempt to provide results early, frequently and flexibly, prioritising easy wins in the research plan (e.g. deduplication). By applying Federated Learning approach to the challenge of optimising analysis and information flow, GRACE will enable cooperation between LEAs in improving their own capabilities and harness experiential knowledge. The results of GRACE will be handed back to EUROPOL and MS LEAs for unrestricted use in their missions, helping to ensure their future technological autonomy.


LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS ZEMES UKIO MINISTERIJA

European Research Area on Sustainable Animal Production Systems

This proposal seeks funding under the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-2015 to establish an ERA-NET for joint European research coordination on Sustainable Animal Production (SusAn). The scope for this ERA-NET has been developed under the SCAR Collaborative Working Group on Sustainable Animal Production (CWG-SAP).  Funding organisations from 22 European countries initially seek to support one co-funded call followed by other joint activities including the development of a Common Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda on Sustainable Animal Production.  The animal production sector forms an important part of Europe’s (agricultural) economy and plays an essential role in the provision of Europe`s citizens with high quality animal products. Like other agriculture sectors, animal production faces many challenges from projected increases in global demand for food, climate change, competition for natural resources and economic volatility. The European animal production landscape is very complex, consisting of different species farmed within a wide range of different extensive, semi-intensive and intensive production systems using multiple resources to produce a diverse range of animal products and other services. Partners in this ERA-NET believe, however, that these challenges and complexities can be effectively addressed through joint European research within a framework which supports the three pillars of sustainability - economy, environment and society - and targets opportunities for innovative research spanning all areas of animal production such as health and welfare, feeding and nutrition, reproduction, breeding and genetics, housing, nutrient management and economics. Partners in ERA-NET SusAn endorse scientific excellence and recommend an integrated, interdisciplinary, cross-cutting and multi-actor approach to research and knowledge exchange which reflects the complexity of the research requirements for sustainable European animal production.


VALSTYBINIS MOKSLINIU TYRIMU INSTITUTAS FIZINIU IR TECHNOLOGIJOS MOKSLU CENTRAS

Terahertz Photonics for Communications, Space, Security, Radio-Astronomy, and Material Science

The overarching objective of TERAOPTICS is to provide high-level training in the field of THz Photonics to a new generation of high achieving early stage researchers to provide them an inspiring research program and intellectual, scientific, technical and transferable skills trainings to enhance their career opportunities in academia and industry and to create the new generation of excellent, creative and risk-taking researchers and engineers. This goal will be achieved by a unique, internationally renowned, interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial network of academic and non-academic beneficiaries and partners providing both formal (workshop-style) and informal (hands-on) research training in a most stimulating professional environment, non-academic placements and scientific conferences.


LIETUVOS SVEIKATOS MOKSLU UNIVERSITETO LIGONINE KAUNO KLINIKOS

Predicting the Impact of Monoclonal Antibodies & Vaccines on Antimicrobial Resistance

Antibiotic resistance (AMR), a major threat to human health, is increasing in all bacteria through antibiotic-induced selection, cross-species transfer of genetic mobile elements harbouring resistance genes, global transport and environmental waste. With an almost empty antibiotic pipeline, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines are increasingly recognized as important tools against AMR. Yet, available resources cannot finance all potential interventions, and choices need to be made according to costs of mAbs and vaccines, impact on the burden of AMR and prevention of its economic consequences. The PrIMAVeRa consortium will develop a web-based platform that combines advanced mathematical models with a comprehensive epidemiological repository. Systematic reviews will generate data to inform the model structure and parametrisation and select the most appropriate models for determining the AMR burden by pathogen, infection and target population. Deterministic continuous time models (ordinary differential equations [ODE]) and stochastic discrete time individual-based models with multiple modules will cover all relevant aspects of AMR, while Bayesian approaches will be used for cost-effectiveness analysis. The models will be calibrated in 8 EU countries based on the data coming from health information systems. The PrIMAVeRa consortium comprises a prominent collection of European research groups with expertise in AMR, vaccines, mAbs, mathematical and economical modelling. The proposal builds on established research collaborations and existing research infrastructures from EU- and IMI-funded research projects, such as EPI-Net (COMBACTE-MAGNET) and CLIN-Net and LAB-Net (COMBACTE-NET). The major deliverable will be an open access web-based user interface that will allow the wider scientific community to freely access and apply the models. This platform will also help healthcare authorities to make data-driven decisions on which vaccines and mAbs should be prioritised.


Abstract The HERA Joint Research Programme Uses of the Past (HERA JRP UP) consortium will establish a 3rd joint transnational programme for multi-disciplinary research into a topic at the heart of the reflective society: ”Uses of the Past”. The innovative projects funded will fundamentally link past(s), present and future(s) creating valuable new knowledge that gives insights into the forces shaping the social, cultural and political transformation in Europe today.  The HERA JRP UP will also pursue additional activities aiming at international capacity-building in humanities research, promoting embedding of humanities researchers in Horizon 2020, and will explore and prepare new joint actions.  Twenty-four organisations from 23 countries have pooled a substantial amount of their humanities research funding (21 M EUR) for this HERA JRP, thus increasing the efficiency and impact of public funding. The HERA JRP UP involves the launch of a joint Call for Proposals and a commonly-agreed two-stage evaluation process involving an independent, international Review Panel. The consortium expects to fund 21 transnational humanities centred projects of ~1.2 M EUR each. EC support is awarded to the level of 33% of the joint call budget. The HERA JRP UP consortium will actively support knowledge exchange activities and stimulate wider dissemination about the valuable contributions of new humanities research.   With this large transnational JRP and its associated activities the HERA JRP UP will mobilise the intellectual energies and collaborative potential of a wide range of humanities disciplines, and further develop the knowledge base of the European Research Area by sharing and debating interpretations of the human past and its relation to the present and future. While this proposal is for the delivery of the “Uses of the Past” programme, the wider vision of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and impact-rich humanities sector across Europe is at the forefront of our collective endeavour.


Innovative WAter recoverY Solutions through recycling of heat, materials and water across multiple sectors

The European Green Deal, an ambitious growth strategy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), calls for the mobilization of the industry. Indeed, while important steps have been taken in the past, the annual global extraction of materials tripled in the last 50 years and is expected to increase further. The dual transformation, green and digital, place special emphasis on resource and energy intensive sectors. Furthermore, the expected zero pollution action plan for air, water and soil will enforce this transformation. In this changing environment, industry will have to adapt swiftly and decisively but the ease and smoothness of this transition is up for debate. Solutions that increase costs and impede productivity will face substantial resistance. There is a pressing need for new technologies and approaches that complement economic growth and productivity while firstly addressing environmental challenges. iWAYS is a step in this direction, featuring a wide array of technologies that are non-disruptive and applicable in any industry with wastewater and gaseous emissions. While the concept of water and heat recovery have been demonstrated and widely applied, in iWAYS a unique approach is taken, focusing on until now impossible streams to address and building synergies between heat and water reclamation and exploitation. The project also addresses several issues afflicting commercial technologies (such as Reverse Osmosis and Membrane Distillation) through innovative and enabling approaches.


VILNIAUS GEDIMINO TECHNIKOS UNIVERSITETAS

Innovative Technologies for Inspecting Carbodies and for Development of Running Gear

The success of the European rail system to foster the modal shift towards rail requires cost-efficient and reliable long-lasting trains. GEARBODIES contributes to this effort by improving the efficiency of rolling stock maintenance in close collaboration with the ongoing CFM-IP1-01-2019 (PIVOT2).  To achieve the above, GEARBODIES follows a twofold approach: extending overhaul periods and improving maintenance processes. The extension of overhaul periods will be facilitated by developing high-performance and long-lifetime components for running gear. The improvement of maintenance processes will be boosted by developing innovative NDT technologies to optimise inspection processes for lightweight carbody shells. GEARBODIES will design and prototype several elastomer-metal running gear components, suitable for serial production, based on high-performance new elastomer formulations and existing elastomers not yet applied in rolling stock elements. In addition, the project will also explore innovative technologies for the development of low LCC bearings. New lubrication solutions, new materials for races and rollers, novel polymers for cages and the effects of new bearing geometries will be researched, among which the most feasible ones will be integrated in a new bearing design and prototyped. GEARBODIES will develop an innovative modular platform to reduce the inspection time of lightweight carbody shells. The platform will incorporate tailored thermography and ultrasonic inspection systems and will facilitate the automated detection and assessment of defects throughout the thickness of the shell by using a customed software module. GEARBODIES will benefit form a strong multidisciplinary consortium, made of 13 partners from 8 countries, committed to the mentioned actions towards maximisation of the project's impact.


Network for Using BIM to Increase the Energy Performance

The building sector is the largest consumer of energy in Europe,  accounting for nearly 40% of the total consumption (EPBD 2010/31/EU). Furthermore the 2030 European Energy [COM(2014)16Final] and Energy Roadmap 2050 [COM(2011) 885 final], strongly requires more focus on the energy  efficiency on housing sector. Finally, the Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurement, requires that all member states introduce electronic means to exchange information and communication in procurement procedures.  For these reasons we believe that the integrated approach of the Net-UBIEP project, based on Building information Modelling, integrated with energy  performance requirements, will be key to solve all the problems in a more effective and efficient manner. The project proposes BIM Qualification Models integrated with energy competences,  to  widespread a better comprehension of energy issues along all the value chain of building industry so that both existing and new building will have better energy performances.  Public Administrations, Professionals (Engineers /  Architects), Technicians (Installers / Maintainers) and Tenants will be therefore involved in the Net-UBIEP activities. The definition of the BIM Qualification Models will pass through the  identification of specific energy BIM competences for each of the above target needed to implement BIM models during the whole building life cycle.  During the project the “integrated” BIM Qualification Models will be validated by stakeholders thanks to the delivering of  different training activities (Seminars / Classrooms Courses /  E-Learning Courses) addressed to at least six BIM Professional Profiles: BIM Manager, BIM Evaluator, BIM Coordinator, BIM Expert, BIM facility manager, BIM user. Once the schemes will be validated, they will be proposed for standardization to find  a broader acceptance at European and international level through regulatory  organizations (CEN / ISO).


A Pan‐European Network of Robotics DIHs for Agile Production

DIH^2 is a network of 26 DIHs, with a target to reach over 170 DIHs. The sole aim of the network is to spark incremental (cut 50% cost of advance robotics solutions, double the growth of robotics market) and disruptive (maximum productivity & optimum agility) innovations in over 300,000 Manufacturing SMEs and Mid-Caps. It will support SMEs in their Agile Production challenge (50% increase in productivity) and unleash their digitalization potential by enabling robot solutions that are more cost effective at lower lot sizes.  DIH^2 relies on: • A Common Open Platform Reference Architecture for Agile Production (COPRA-AP) -based on Industrial Data Space Reference Architecture Model and FIWARE technologies- to serve the needs of SMEs by means of a continuously growing set of Robotic-based Open Standard Enablers (ROSE-AP). • A marketplace as one-stop-shop for SMEs to access essential services for digital transformation including business modelling, technical support, access to skills and finance. • 2 competitive Open Calls to launch an ambitious Technology Transfer Program with 260 Agility Audits, 26 cross-border Technology Transfer Experiments and 26 ROSE-AP, leveraging over 26M€ of public & private funding in advance robotics solutions for Agile Production. • Members deeply rooted in their regional Smart Specialization Strategy (bringing €5M additional funding on top of EU funds), ensuring ‘working distance’ services for every SME in Europe - whichever the sector, wherever the location, whatever the size. • A Corporate Sponsorship Program from equipment and automation suppliers committed with the network to get access to wider market and latest research in robotics.  DIH^2 will transform this network into a self-sustainable non-profit association with members all over Europe. DIH^2  will demonstrate that public funded research can help SMEs & Mid-Caps achieve digital excellence and global competitiveness through adopting advanced robotics solutions in Agile Production.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA KLAIPEDOS KELEIVINIS TRANSPORTAS

Port Cities can be seen as multidimensional laboratories where challenges connected with urban mobility are more complex due to the dual system of gravity centre: the city, the port, not to mention their shared hinterland.These peculiarities are at once a challenge and an opportunity, as they provide scope for planning, researching and implementing integrated mobility solutions in distinctively complex urban contexts. Civitas PORTIS designs, demonstrates and evaluates integrated sets of sustainable mobility measures in 5 major port cities located on the North Sea (Aberdeen and Antwerp), the Mediterranean Sea (Trieste), the Black Sea (Constanta), and Baltic Sea (Klaipeda). The project also involves a major international follower port city on the East China Sea (Ningbo).  Thanks to the Civitas Initiative, the partner cities expect to prove that more efficient and sustainable mobility is conducive to the establishment of vital and multi-modal hubs for urban, regional, national and International movements of passengers and goods. To do this, they establish integrated living laboratories clustering local measures according to four major aspects of sustainable urban mobility: 1. Governance: to increase port-city collaborative planning and participation, leading to enhanced forms of SUMPs. 2. People: to foster less car-dependent mobility styles, leading to modal shift in favour of collective and more active transport. 3. Transport system: to strengthen the efficiency of road traffic management to/from the port and through the city, and foster the use of clean vehicles. 4.  Goods: to enhance logistics and freight transport, improving the efficiency and coordination of city, port and regional freight movements. Working with port cities, Civitas PORTIS will generate a strong and twofold replication potential: 1) specifically to other port cities, and 2) more generally to cities presenting major transport nodes and attractors for the benefit of the whole CIVITAS Initiative.


The global objective of AURA is to lay the foundations for the integration of the new entrants in current and future air traffic environment, developing the required concept of operations and validating U-space services information exchanges with ATM systems. In order to achieve this objective, all relevant stakeholders (drone operators, U-space service providers, data services providers, ATM providers and authorities) will be included during the project development and throughout its lifetime.  AURA project will identify the requirements for U-space information exchange with ATM through SWIM and will validate a set of selected U-space services, developing the service definition for the SWIM candidate services. Secondly, it will  define a novel Collaborative ATM-U-space Concept of Operations (ConOps) for drones in a fully collaborative environment with ATM that go beyond the existing concepts developed for a U-space and will validate these new concepts.   AURA project will contribute to enable the development of Very Low Level (VLL) markets, allowing the introduction of new actors in a safe, harmonized, sustainable and efficient way and compatible with current ATM environment. Also, the project will contribute to avoid the segregation of the airspace and increase the interoperability. AURA will provide inputs for the current regulatory and standardization initiatives regarding U-space with a high involvement of external stakeholders through an Advisory Board.


CoSt redUction and enhanced PERformance of PV systems

SUPER PV is pursuing an ambitious bus realistic goal for innovative PV system cost reduction and consequently significant LCOE reduction (26%-37%) by adopting hybrid approach combining technological innovations and Data Management methods along the PV value chain. To achieve that, key actions will be implemented at three main levels within the PV value chain: PV module innovation level, power electronics innovation level and system integration level. To ensure fast uptake of the project results by industry, state of the art modules (c-Si and flexible CIGS) and power electronics products were utilised for adopting innovations developed by research centres. For cost reduction in system integration and operation, Digitalization and Data Management solutions based on Industry 4.0 approach will be adopted following successful utilization of Building Information Modelling approach in the construction sector. Selected for uptake innovations will be compatible with existing manufacturing technological processes thus reducing impact on Cost of Ownership and ensuring attractiveness of proposed technologies for PV manufacturers.  Prototype SUPER PV systems will be produced in industrial environments and tested in different (including harsh) climate conditions to evaluate cost efficiency and demonstrate competitiveness of the proposed solutions. On the basis of test results, business cases for technologies under consideration will be performed, plans for production and market replication will be prepared. Project activities will be complemented by wide training and dissemination campaign ensuring highest visibility and social impact of the project activities.  By delivering to the market SUPERior PV products, the project will have twofold impact on EU PV sector:  1. Will create conditions for accelerated large scale deployment of PV in Europe for both utility (non-urban) and residential (urban) scenarios and  2. Will help EU PV businesses to regain leadership on world market.


VALSTYBINE VAISTU KONTROLES TARNYBAPRIE LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS SVEIKATOS APSAUGOS MINISTERIJOS

Strengthening training of academia in regulatory sciences and supporting regulatory scientific advice (STARS)

Lack of specific relevant know-how in regulatory science delays the development of new treatment strategies or limits the chances that promising innovations will reach patients. STARS aims to improve the direct regulatory impact of results obtained in medical research. Seventeen European countries are represented in the consortium through their national competent authorities, alongside academic and industry representatives, and associations with relevant experience. The work plan includes the development of a Comprehensive Inventory of existing support activities based on a detailed analysis of the currently established programmes. This analysis is also the basis for development of a Common Strategy to strengthen regulatory sciences and two curricula, the Core Curriculum specifying essential knowledge for the professional training of clinical scientists and the Comprehensive Curriculum defining relevant knowledge for specific post-graduate programmes. Three pilot projects aim (i) to transfer an identified best practice example for training programmes to other EEA countries, (ii) to implement a new support activity addressing a gap in regulatory knowledge of significant relevance and (iii) to implement the Comprehensive Curriculum. STARS will deliver consensual recommendations ensuring sustainable support of academic research and will propose additional support mechanisms based on a comprehensive analysis of needs.  STARS has the objective and the potential to complement, coordinate and harmonise regulatory efforts among Member States and at European level to support academic health research for the benefit of patients. The aim is to reach academic researchers very early in the planning of relevant grant applications. A further aim is to strengthen regulatory knowledge in general by reaching clinical scientists during professional training and qualification.


PDE-based geometric modelling, image processing, and shape reconstruction

Geometric modelling, image processing, and shape reconstruction have huge applications in various sectors and greatly impact on EU’s economy, human health, security, entertainment and others. Existing problems such as big data and heavy manual operations in geometric modelling, incapacity in image processing in continuous domains, and lack of continuity and differentiability in shape reconstruction seriously affect quality, efficiency and capacity. Partial differential equation (PDE) based techniques provide effective solutions to these problems. Current PDE-based modelling cannot achieve both powerful capacity and high computational performance. PDE-based image processing suffers from expensive cost and local minimization. PDE-based shape reconstruction has not been developed.  PDE-GIR will tackle above mentioned problems by developing advanced PDE based techniques, exploiting their applications through exchanges of research and innovation staff, international and intersectoral collaborations, and knowledge transfer. It consists of four work packages. “PaMod” will develop new PDE-based modelling techniques to obtain powerful capacity and high computational performance. “VaMod” will develop new variational models to improve efficiency and quality. “ShaRecons” will combine new PDE-based modelling with variational models to solve the problems of continuity, differentiability, and big data. “M&D” is designed to efficiently manage the project, disseminate research output, and promote the applications of the developed techniques.  The consortium consists of leading experts who have been working at the forefront of geometric modelling, image processing and shape reconstruction for many years. PDE-GIR will combine their strengths to achieve the success of the proposed research. The developed techniques will be applied in academic and non-academic sectors, and integrated into IDF’s services and products to promote technology innovation and realize their commercial value.


ECOPOTENTIAL: IMPROVING FUTURE ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS THROUGH EARTH OBSERVATIONS

Terrestrial and marine ecosystems provide essential services to human societies. Anthropogenic pressures, however, cause serious threat to ecosystems, leading to habitat degradation, increased risk of collapse and loss of ecosystem services. Knowledge-based conservation, management and restoration policies are needed to improve ecosystem benefits in face of increasing pressures. ECOPOTENTIAL makes significant progress beyond the state-of-the-art and creates a unified framework for ecosystem studies and management of protected areas (PA). ECOPOTENTIAL focuses on internationally recognized PAs in Europe and beyond in a wide range of biogeographic regions, and it includes UNESCO, Natura2000 and LTER sites and Large Marine Ecosystems. Best use of Earth Observation (EO) and monitoring data is enabled by new EO open-access ecosystem data services (ECOPERNICUS). Modelling approaches including information from EO data are devised, ecosystem services in current and future conditions are assessed and the requirements of future protected areas are defined. Conceptual approaches based on Essential Variables, Macrosystem Ecology and cross-scale interactions allow for a deeper understanding of the Earth's Critical Zone. Open and interoperable access to data and knowledge is assured by a GEO Ecosystem Virtual Laboratory Platform, fully integrated in GEOSS. Support to transparent and knowledge-based conservation and management policies, able to include information from EO data, is developed. Knowledge gained in the PAs is upscaled to pan-European conditions and used for planning and management of future PAs. A permanent stakeholder consultancy group (GEO Ecosystem Community of Practice) will be created. Capacity building is pursued at all levels. SMEs are involved to create expertise leading to new job opportunities, ensuring long-term continuation of services. In summary, ECOPOTENTIAL uses the most advanced technologies to improve future ecosystem benefits for humankind.

Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials


International cooperation for the development of cost-efficient kesterite/c-Si thin film next generation tandem solar cells

Photovoltaic (PV) is recognized as one of the main renewable energy solutions for fulfilling the targets defined by the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 and the SET Plan. Most of the current commercial PV devices are formed by single junctions, and more complex device concepts allowing a significant increase in device efficiency (well beyond the theoretical limit in the 30%-33% range) are still mostly limited to expensive III-V technologies. INFINITE-CELL proposes extending the very high efficiency tandem device concepts to emerging thin film PV technologies with high potential for reduction of costs and avoiding the use of critical raw materials. Within this context, the aim is to establish and consolidate an International and Intersectoral Cooperation between 6 EC/AC Academic Institutions (IREC, SINTEF AS, CNRS, UAM, IAP-ASM, HZB), 2 European Companies (SUNGA, MET), and 4 non EC/AC Academic Institutions (MASCIR, BSUIR, UM5, UWC), for the development of cost-efficient photovoltaic tandem devices based in the combination of wide band-gap kesterite absorbers (Cu2Zn(Si,Ge,Sn)(S,Se)4) as top cell, and low cost c-Si thin film as bottom cell. Thanks to the combination of the know-how generated in previous and successful FP7 projects (PVICOKEST (269167) and EUROSUNMED (608593)), INFINITE-CELL targets to develop stacked and monolithically integrated kesterite/c-Si thin film devices with efficiencies of 15% and 20% respectively, using only fully sustainable materials and processes.   This will be possible through de definition of a very impacting Research Plan and a very ambitious Plan of Secondments, where 293 PMs will be exchanged among the partners. The seconded researchers will be immersed in an International and Intersectoral environment for the development and improvement of their networking, scientific, writing, effective communication, and time management skills, warranting the consolidation of a high level scientific community in Advanced Tandem Solar Cell.


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.


LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS ENERGETIKOS MINISTERIJOS

Concerted Action supporting the transposition and implementation of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (RES Directive)

The Concerted Action will support the implementation of the renewable energy directive 2009/28/EC. As with the first and second phase, the objectives of CA-RES3 are directly linked to the transposition and implementation of the RES Directive. The third phase of the CA-RES will also provide further opportunities to explore possibilities for common approaches in specific areas of implementation of the RES Directive. The CA-RES3 will achieve the objectives stated above through a series of seven plenary meetings and a joint workshop with the CA EED and the CA EPBD for discussion on the various topics. These meetings will provide a confidential forum for structured discussions and cross-learning between participating countries. This exchange concentrates on key requirements of the RES Directive according to the needs of the participating countries as well as the European Commission. As such, it will contribute to the achievement of the national RES targets set by the Directive. The CA-RES3 will emphasize topics that require common approaches and/or benefit from good practice exchange between participating countries. The CA-RES3 Core Themes will address a number of aspects including support schemes for electricity and heat, integrating RES into electricity networks, the use of RES for heating and cooling and in buildings, disclosure/guarantees of origin, biomass mobilisation and sustainability as well as the use of RES in transport. The confidential character of the CA-RES3 allows participating countries to discuss in confidence how to best implement the RES Directive. Thus, the need for confidentiality will be emphasized towards all participating institutions, and confidentiality agreements will be signed by all participants.


SUSPLACE will train 15 ESRs in sustainable place-shaping by 1) its cutting edge scientific knowledge and methodologies 2) enhancing transferable skills 3) supporting a career development plan and 4) expose ESRs to science, public administration and governance, private businesses, NGOs and citizens initiatives. This will create career prospects for ESRs as an academic, policy-maker or policy-advisor, private business consultant or intermediate between various stakeholders in collaborative sustainable place-shaping projects. SUSPLACE consists of 6 academic beneficiaries and 7 non-academic partners. Training will include training-through research, joint training and events, optional courses, and 'on the job' training during secondments. SUSPLACE supports ESRs to complete a PhD-thesis. SUSPLACE will raise capacities to implement place-specific, integrative solutions via 15 individual research projects, divided along five interconnected research themes: inclusive, resilient and connected places, greening economies, and pathways to sustainability. SUSPLACE will share its outcomes with non-participants via a range of training, communication and dissemination activities. The integrative place-based approach of SUSPLACE will take up the societal challenges formulated in the EU Territorial Agenda 2020, and contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and social innovation, to enhance social cohesion. SUSPLACE will provide insights and means how to fully utilize the potential of places and communities via interdisciplinary research in places and Living Labs. Sustainable place-shaping will strengthen the participation, collaboration, collective agency and leadership of people engaged in these places. Sustainable place-shaping entails a well-balanced: 1) socio-cultural re-appreciation of respective places; 2) ecological re-grounding of practices in place-specific assets and resources; 3) political-economic re-positioning towards markets, technology and policies.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA SOCIALINIU INOVACIJU INSTITUTAS

Enhancing the Responsible and Sustainable Expansion of the Science Shops Ecosystem in Europe

Success of science shops is down to finding a topic that is of particular interest to a particular group of people because they need to engage throughout the science shops research process, participate in the brokering and challenge identification and take responsibility for the outcome of the process. SciShops aims at expanding and further building on the capacity of the science shops ecosystem in Europe and beyond. During the SciShops project timeframe, at least ten new university- and non-university-based science shops are being established in Europe by project partners. The non-university ones are affiliated to different types of organizations, such as SMEs, LEs, NGOs/NPOs and research institutes.  The project partners have extensive networks of science shops which are included in the SciShops Expert and Advisory Board and thus they can uptake first the solutions developed within the project: the SciShops Knowledge Exchange Roadmap, the SciShops Strategy for Community-Based Participatory Research and Science Shops Further Development, SciShops Guide for Establishment and Running of a Science Shop or the SciShops Web platform with its novel twining, matchmaking and awareness features. Through the use of the platform, organizations willing to establish a science shop are able to find a research organization which can support them with research services or they can be twinned with an experienced similar science shop which will help with the establishment and development of the new one.  The SciShops consortium has as a top priority to prove the benefits of starting a science shop for every type of organization, but also the advantages the civil society gains from collaborating with science shops in community-based participatory research. The participatory knowledge transfer and exchange events organized during the project timeline will raise awareness on this win-win concept.


VIESOJI ISTAIGA VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETO LIGONINE SANTAROS KLINIKOS

PanCare studies of the scale-up and implementation of the digital Survivorship Passport to improve people-centred care for childhood cancer survivors

Almost 500,000 former childhood cancer patients (CCS) are now living in Europe. Compared to the general population, CCS represent a vulnerable population as they are at an increased risk of developing health problems, known as late effects, resulting in excess morbidity and mortality. Many survivors are unaware of their personal risk for specific late effects, which reduces their ability to manage their own follow-up care. Similarly, their treating healthcare professionals (HCPs) lack information about care required for CCS and access to treatment data from their childhood cancer. The Survivorship Passport (SurPass) is an innovative, digital tool, developed in previous EU-funded projects, that can be used to overcome these knowledge gaps to improve people-centred long-term survivorship care. Importantly, end users (CCS, HCPs) are integral to the research, represented by three key stakeholder networks (PanCare, SIOP Europe, CCI Europe).  PanCareSurPass will conduct a robust assessment of the implementation of the SurPass by first conducting a pre-implementation study in six countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain) representing three infrastructural scenarios in Europe.  Ethical, structural, organisational, economical, national, local, privacy issues, health systems, and particular national circumstances will be taken into account throughout. An Implementation Strategy will be developed and the SurPass will be updated and validated before use in an implementation study in the six countries. The study will look at a range of outcomes including CCS activation and empowerment, CCS/HCP satisfaction with the tool, feasibility and health economics. Based on the results of the study,  a Prediction Model will be developed to promote and support future implementation of the SurPass across Europe.