BLOSSOM introduces a systemic approach that links public authorities (cities-regions) with private partners (e.g., banks, insurance companies and venture capitals) to cope with the disconnections and gaps related to the adoption of bankable transformative adaptation and mitigation measures. Starting from the Communities of Practice, we will set up Living Labs, i.e. collaborative environments in which citizens, experts and other stakeholders will have the possibility to test and hone the methodology and the technologies. Innovative financing and investing schemes will be tested and assessed for the adoption of the most promising bankable solutions. BLOSSOM will follow already proven co-creation/design processes (including local communities), as well as the adoption and further adjustment of technologies that use data and collective intelligence to perform ex-ante simulation on-going and ex-post assessment in collaborative environments (digital twins and dashboards). By using AI-based tools a draft business model including a visual chart with elements describing the value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and financial elements of each investing scheme will be generated, also identifying the best exploitation form based on the nature of the results and ownership structure (e.g., creation of spin-offs, products producing and selling, licensing of products/services, patenting, etc.). Once the best business model has been selected, a preliminary Business Plan will be developed with the industrial partners being the main contributors. The bankable solutions will be demonstrated in our Front Runner Cities (Birmingham, Lisbon and Kielce), which will test the methodology and make it available for replication up to the planning stage in the Replicating case studies (Regions of West-Vlaanderen and Alentejo, and cities of Parma and Aarhus.

Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are PV elements used to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building envelope, increasingly being incorporated into the construction of new buildings as a source of electrical power. The advantage of integrated PV over common non-integrated systems is that the initial cost can be offset by reducing the amount spent on building materials and labour that would normally be used. These advantages make BIPV one of the fastest growing segments of the PV industry. BIPV is considered to be the optimal method of installing renewable energy systems in urban, built-up areas where undeveloped land is scarce and expensive. Their widespread use is expected to become the backbone of the zero energy building European target for 2020. Despite technical promise, social barriers to widespread use have been identified (conservative culture of the building industry & integration with high-density urban design) and there is a disparity between the technological progress made and the professionals’ knowledge and skills (architects, engineers) being responsible for the integration of BIPV. PV can be included in buildings only if the professionals involved have sufficient knowledge of the technology and appropriate design tools. High level of technical knowledge and skills is required for BIPV planning. The project aims at developing an innovative and multidisciplinary, high quality course for BIPV in order to provide the necessary skills for the future BIPV professionals. This will be implemented at the postgraduate level and will be part of several Master programmes in Sustainable Energy. Innovation (through the utilization of ICT, VLE, remote labs), sustainability (partnership between academia, industry and other stakeholders) as well as significant impact for academic institutions, industry and other stakeholders will be the main outcomes. Project activities: 1. Identification of framework and requirements. 2. Development of high-quality didactic content on BIPV for higher education. 3. Development of virtual learning environment and course adaptation. 4. Deployment of remote labs. 5. Pilot testing of the course and refinement. 6. Awareness raising of the job prospects offered within the renewable energy sector in the field of BIPV. 7. Increase of awareness, sensitivity, and promotion of BIPV technologies among key target groups within the local economy. The consortium consists of: • A higher education institution in the Netherlands with extensive experience in the field of PV and BIPV. • A higher education institution in Cyprus with extensive experience in the field of PV and BIPV. • A higher education institution in Austria with extensive experience in the field of PV and BIPV. • A large enterprise in Cyprus with a worldwide presence and expertise in project & quality management, advisory services in the field of renewables, human capital development and training. • An expert company in Germany with high level experience in engineering, research, training capacity and dissemination projects in the renewable energy sector. Tangible & intangible outcomes: 1. Development of appropriate and up to date educational material for BIPV. 2. The creation of a Virtual Learning Platform & Remote Labs for BIPV education and training. 3. Accreditation (in parallel but beyond the scope of the project) The impact of the project is anticipated to be large and multi-dimensional. Higher education institutions will be able to incorporate the newly developed course component in their existing Master’s Programmes in Sustainable Energy thus enriching and improving the existing curriculum. They will be able to attract more students as they will be given new learning opportunities & experiences. They will satisfy the needs of the relevant industry, establish closer links with the relevant stakeholders, provide opportunities for closer interaction and satisfy the needs for quality education and learning. Moreover, they will receive worldwide recognition by academia and the industry as institutions with a focus on BIPV. They will be in a better position to develop and adopt a full Master’s Programme on BIPV as the market develops with the further uptake of the technology. On the longer term, improved visibility and recognition for these institutions offering such a high quality, innovative course and through open access of the material such excellence is expected to improve university ranking. Improvement, innovation and modernization of education in the countries involved and beyond the partnership is ensured, since the deliverables will be openly available to any HE institution interested in incorporating it into their Master’s Programmes. Stronger relations will be formed with economic actors in the PV and the wider business world and PV enterprises will be able to recruit well-educated and trained professionals (engineers, planners, architects, designers).

The overarching aim of the EURYDICE project is to increase students' employability in the field of renewable energies, on the basis of closer collaboration between university and industry. Industry often complains that practical experience of the graduates is missing. This lack can be found on all the layers of the education system in South Africa: vocational training, diploma studies, bachelor and master degrees as well as doctoral studies.Within this project we focus on renewable energies with the overall goal to enhance employability. The energy generation landscape in South Africa is undergoing a fundamental transition, as the vision of the energy strategy is to contribute to an affordable energy for all. Closing the gap between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges) studies and diploma study by the definition of industrial experience requirements for University of Technology (UoT) diploma students. This leads to an increased preparedness and “studyability” of UoT diploma students. Industrial stakeholders will be integrated into the process. The project will develop an “Industrial Portal” as working tool. Increasing industrial experience in UoT bachelor education by the integration of practical experience into the curriculum. Within the project offered Fast-Track Acceleration program for graduates, enables students for a fast employment or starting a new enterprise in the field. To increase industry cooperation in post graduate education “OpenLabs” and “MobileLabs” are developed within the project. It is intended that industry brings industrial problems into the “Labs”, which will then be solved by the students.Workshops and summer schools guarantee that best-practices in defining and implementing the measures are being used, that input of all relevant stakeholders (i.e. South African students) is been taken into account.

e-SAFE defines and develops a market-ready deep renovation system for non-historic buildings, whose ability to uptake the EU market relies on the combination of decarbonization goals with earthquake safety (where applicable), indoor comfort, reduced implementation time and cost, affordable financial options, reduced occupants’ disturbance, increased aesthetic and functional attractiveness. This is reached through an iterative process based on a multidisciplinary methodology, where traditional modelling and experimental research are integrated with tools for promoting financial feasibility, knowledge co-production, mutual learning and public engagement. The result is a new deep renovation system that benefits from the full integration between technological innovation and process-based innovation. From a technological standpoint, e-SAFE integrates TRL5-6 technologies within a TRL8-9 upscaled framework, deployed and validated through 3 large scale pilot projects. The output is an abacus of innovative, tailorable, integrated solutions for energy-efficient deep renovation, with recyclable bio-materials and increased seismic resistance. The e-SAFE technical systems also enhance indoor comfort while significantly reducing primary energy demand. Market uptake and public interest in deep renovation are than pursued via 3 process-based innovations: 1) a co-design protocol for future e-SAFE exploiters, to fully engage their customers in the finalization of renovation design, assisted by a newly developed ICT-based decision making tool; 2) an original dedicated value chain, where e-SAFE-related royalties are used by a new one-stop-shop financing entity for broadening deep renovation opportunities by providing to potential clients tailored financial solutions; 3) the generation of a public engagement protocol that makes every e-SAFE-based project an occasion to raise public awareness on the importance of decarbonization and seismic safety, while enhancing market opportunities.

CRETE VALLEY aims to create a Renewable Energy Valley 'Living Lab' (REV-Lab) in Crete. It is envisioned as a decentralised renewable energy system that combines leading-edge ICT technologies, interoperable and open digital solutions (including data sovereignty), social innovation processes, and sound business models that are easy to adopt. CRETE VALLEY will demonstrate a digitalised, distributed, renewable, low carbon landscape that is affordable for all and fully covers the local energy needs on an annual basis, utilizing multiple renewable energy carriers and leveraging energy storage technologies. The REV-Lab will integrate four Community Energy Labs (CELs) located in distinct sites across CRETE VALLEY, conceived as Innovation Hubs. An integrated social, technological & business approach will be deployed, providing: A Social Science Framework for REV-Labs & CELs, innovative multi-level governance models & social-driven mechanisms for involving citizens in the co-design, implementation and exploitation of RES; AI-based market segmentation algorithms, MCDA methods and consensus analysis for REV configuration; Interactive tools for REV planning (REV Readiness Assessment & computation, Augmented Reality applications, decision support tool); Energy Data Space compliant digital backbone for consumer and REV-level data-driven ‘activation’; P2P DLT/Blockchain digital marketplace for tokenised energy and non-energy assets valuation and reciprocal compensation; Data-driven operational analysis, advanced AI/ML tools and flexibility modelling services for optimal operation & resilience of the local energy grid; System-of-system Dig. Twin for multiple carrier grid management & operation; Data-driven services and apps for energy efficiency and activation performance management towards energy autonomy; Enabling RES technologies to increase the power production; REV Business Sandbox and blueprints for REV-Lab setup, upscaling and replication (including 4 Follower Communities).