Plastic waste outlive us on this planet as they take centuries to break down. Endocrine disruption, land, air and water pollution are only some of the adverse effects of plastic waste on public and environmental health. Still, 70% of plastic waste collected in Europe is landfilled or incinerated. The overall objective of SURPASS project is to lead by example the transition towards more Safe, Sustainable and Recyclable by Design (SSRbD) polymeric materials. The SURPASS consortium of 14 partners consisting of research and technology organizations and industries will: 1. Develop SSRbD alternatives with no potentially hazardous additives through industrially relevant case-studies (TRL3-5) targeting the three sectors representing 70% of the European plastic demand: - Building: bio-sourced polyurethane resins with enhanced vitrimer properties to replace insulating PVC for window frames (? 40% C-Footprint reduction) - Transport: lightweight, therefore less energy-consuming epoxy-vitrimer (? 30% C-Footprint reduction), as alternative to metal for the train structure, anticipating emerging use of non-recyclable composites. - Packaging: MultiNanoLayered films involving no compatibilizers to replace currently non-recyclable multi-layers films (? 60% C-Footprint reduction). 2. Optimize reprocessing technologies adapted to the new SSRbD systems to support achievement of ambitious recyclability targets. 3. Develop a scoring-based assessment that will guide material designers, formulators and recyclers to design SSRbD polymeric materials, operating over the plastic?s entire life cycle, including hazard, health, environmental and economic assessment. 4. Merge all data and relevant methodologies in a digital infrastructure, offering an open-access user-friendly interface for innovators. SURPASS will in particular address its results to SMEs, representing more than 99% of enterprises, and therefore has an outstanding potential to contribute to the transition towards green economy.

HARVEST will unleash the potential of breakthrough technologies by creating integrated multifunctional systems for Aeronautics via the development of i) Structural composites, comprised of hierarchical carbon fiber (CF) reinforcements and an innovative thermoset 3R (repair, recycle and reprocess) epoxy matrix with ThermoElectric Generation (TEG) and self-repair capabilities, ii) Autonomously TEG -driven integrated systems for on- and off-line structural health monitoring-(SHM) and iii) Wired and low-power wireless SHM data transmission and mining system. The innovative intelligent materials and parts, will be manufactured in purposefully developed pilot lines aiming at reducing production time and costs. CFs yarns or textiles will be coated with nanomaterials using facile & environmentally friendly deposition and doping methods in a Roll-to-Roll (R2R) pilot line targeting dramatically increased TEG performance compared to existing composites, carbon and organic based materials. Innovative TEG-hierarchical composites will be manufactured with new generation 3R thermoset matrix systems enabling out of autoclave manufacturing and self-repair. These will be interfaced with a purposely designed hardware to (i) power inherent functionalities (e.g. strain, damage or UV-exposure sensing), (ii) drive external elements (e.g. piezo electric sensors for SHM) and (iii) transmit sensing signals to a remote panel. The autonomous SHM systems will increase the safety of civil aviation; reduce emissions and maintenance & life cycle costs. The proposed technologies will be finally integrated in two aircraft demonstrator parts, targeting areas with temperature gradients (e.g. engine vs. environment, inside vs. outside fuselage during flight) or where quick heat dissipation is essential (e.g. landing gear after take-off). The location of suitable heat sinks in real structures will be established using advanced numerical tools to identify thermal gradients in operating environment.

The need of using high performance lightweight materials is pushing the aerospace industry to incorporate aluminium alloys in many parts of the aircraft. But all aircraft components, and especially those of landing gears, need to be able to withstand friction and corrosive environments while continuing to operate at optimum levels. Nowadays most landing gear parts made of aluminium alloys are protected against corrosion by surface anodising and multilayer painting. The treatment is usually carried out on Cr(VI) based compounds. To date, there is not any Cr-free accepted protecting treatment for Al 7000 series alloys that fulfils the aeronautics requirements, so, it is necessary to develop an environmentally and Cr-free acceptable alternative process. The main objective of ECOLAND project is to face the research of a suitable REACH compliant anaphoretic electrocoating treatment (including both the optimal pretreatment method and anaphoretic electrocoating application conditions) that can replace the currently used anodising + painting treatment for protection of Al 7000 series alloys in aeronautic applications. This anaphoretic electrocoating will allow a reduction of emissions, saving of coat and improvement of corrosion protection. The following improvements will be aimed from the ECOLAND Cr-free project: • The lifetime of the anaphoretic electrocoating system shall be 25 % longer than the lifetime of traditional. • It is expected a minimum of around 30% cost and 45% energy consumption reduction in manufacturing compared to currently available systems. • Thanks to the new coating systems more complex geometry parts could be coated and so landing gears might be designed lighter than currently ones. • The production time to be shortened in a 55%. • A decrease of the risk of mechanical failure due to the reduction of the alloy exposure time to acids. • VOCs emissions will be reduced in a 50%.

The aim of NanoPilot will be to set-up a flexible and adaptable pilot plant operating under GMP for the production of small batches of polymer-based nanopharmaceuticals, which exhibit significant potential in the field of drug-delivery particularly for the design of second-generation nanopharmaceuticals. Three different processes will be established for the production of three different nanopharmaceuticals selected on the basis of their TRL and positive commercial evaluation: a) topical treatment of ocular pain associated with dry eye syndrome containing short interfering RNA and lactic acid, b) A resuspendable HIV nanovaccine for intranasal vaccination containing 12 peptides in its formulation. c) Hyaluronan based hollow spheres intended for intravesical instillation, for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. State of the art production processes including micro reactors and highly advanced characterization techniques will ensure the quality of the nanodrugs. Existing laboratories suitable for large-scale production of biologics in compliance with GMP, and owned by the coordinator, will be adapted and certified within this project to enable the operability of the pilot plant. NanoPilot consists of nine complementary partners composed by 1 Industry and 2 academia developers of the nanosystems to scale-up. A research Institute expert in nanoparticle characterizacion and already operating in compliance with Good laboratory practices. An SME and an Industry that will develop ad-hoc continuous flow reactors for the optimization of two of the three processes. A consultancy (SME) expert in Quality system implementation and laboratory information management systems. A second consultancy (SME) in charge of the business plan, that will also help the coordinator in dissemination and exploitation activities. Finally, a research centre with a recorded track in nanomedicine, already operating under ISO 9001, and will be in charge of the pilot plant.