Motivated by the challenges, risks and opportunities that the wide use of AI brings to media, society and politics, AI4Media aspires to become a centre of excellence and a wide network of researchers across Europe and beyond, with a focus on delivering the next generation of core AI advances to serve the key sector of Media, to make sure that the European values of ethical and trustworthy AI are embedded in future AI deployments, and to reimagine AI as a crucial beneficial enabling technology in the service of Society and Media. The AI4Media consortium, comprising 30 leading partners in the areas of AI and media (9 universities, 9 research centres, 12 industrial partners) and 35 associate members, will establish the networking infrastructure to bring together the currently fragmented European AI landscape in the field of media, and foster deeper and long-running interactions between academia and industry, including Digital Innovation Hubs. It will also shape a research agenda for media AI research, and implement research and innovation both with respect to cutting-edge technologies at the core of AI research, and within specific fields of media-related AI. AI4Media will provide a targeted funding framework through open calls, to speed up the uptake of innovations developed within the network. A PhD programme will further enhance links to the industry and the fostering and exchange of talent, while providing motivation to prevent brain drain, and a set of use cases will be developed by the network to demonstrate the impact of the achieved advances in the media sector. The Excellence Centre that is established during the AI4Media project, and the ecosystem that will grow around it, will provide a long-term basis for the support of AI excellence in Europe, long after the project end, with the aim of ensuring that Ethical AI guided by European values assumes a global leading role in the field of Media.

BioGov.net project engages 10 experienced partners to mobilize local resources and stakeholders in eight EU states (Estonia, Italy, Netherland, Greece, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Portugal and Germany). The project aims strategically to support the establishment of innovative governance models in bioeconomy to achieve better-informed decision-making processes, social engagement of all actors and uptake of sustainable innovations in bioeconomy. With the specific objective to provide validated guidelines for bioeconomy training and mentoring based on case studies from 8 EU regions, BioGov.net undertakes to: - identify and assess from the perspective of using the good practices and successful case studies for novel training framework, - complete an assessment based on regional capacities, opportunities, barriers and potentials; - define regional needs and expectations, local feedstock availabilities and use, governance barriers, social and economic landscape; - identify needs for skills required by the novel business models and related social measures to enable consumers, industry and public bodies to switch to socially and environmentally responsible behaviour within their spheres (e.g. regulatory measures, corporate responsibility initiatives, education and training). The methodology of the project ensures the synergies between respective parties, transparency of actions and inclusiveness of all actors, incl the socially vulnerable groups. Based on the collected materials, analyses and Quintuple Innovation Helix approach, the project develops guidelines for the setup of the modern and inclusive training and mentoring frameworks and programmes in specific European regions targeting the local bio-systems, regulators and policies for building the bridge between knowledge, skills, bioeconomy and good governance.

The aim of Robotics4EU is to ensure a more widespread adoption of (AI-based) robots in healthcare, inspection and maintenance of infrastructure, agri-food, and agile production. It will be reached through the implementation of the responsible robotics principles among the robotics community that results in societal acceptance of the robotics solutions in application areas. Robotics4EU will create and empower the EU-wide responsible robotics community representing robotics innovators from companies and academia in the fields of healthcare, inspection and maintenance of infrastructure, agri-food, and agile production as well as citizens/users and policy/decision makers by rising awareness about non-technological aspects of robotics (ethics, legal, socioeconomic, data, privacy, gender) by organising community building and co-creation events bringing together robotics community and citizens, advocating for the responsible robotics among all stakeholder groups, incl. policy makers, developing a responsible robotics maturity assessment model and bringing the project results to the standardization bodies. Robotics4EU will implement the following set of activities: 1) assessing the needs and developing a responsible robotics maturity assessment model that is a practical tool for the robotics developers and helps them to strategically plan and the uptake of the legal, societal and ethical aspects of robotics; 2) empowering the robotics community by organising capacity building events in healthcare, agri-food, agile production and infrastructure; 3) assessing robotics ideas and applications provided by the industry with end-users (via online consultation and co-creation workshops); 4) reaching out to the policy makers by compiling a responsible robotics advocacy report, organising a high-level policy debate and transferring the results to the standardization bodies.

Languages are part of our shared Cultural Heritage and gateways to European multicultural identity. Within this framework, Endangered Intangible Heritage and Language (EIHL) communities hold unique traditional knowledge that supports a distinct sense of place-making and long traditions of cultural and heritage sustainability within some of the most vulnerable ecosystems. Although digital technologies provide a uniquely powerful opportunity to revitilise EIHL, previous efforts have predominantly concentrated on preserving grammatical/lexical aspects. There remains untapped potential in exploring the integrated use of immersive technologies and participatory storytelling for linguistic heritage revitalisation through active community engagement. REVIVE will identify and evaluate the role of digital innovation, creativity and interactive narratives in promoting understanding and engagement with EIHL, fostering social integration and cross-cultural fertilisation among marginalised European communities. The project will be based on two concrete case studies and cultural contexts: Cornish (UK), and Griko (Italy). Taking advantage of XR (Extended Reality) technologies, REVIVE will produce the first EU online digital scaffolder - so called REVIVE(S) - comprising a) an online repository (and showcase) of old material testimonies collected by locals and new XR digital narratives and b) onsite temporary exhibitions, made of micro and macro outputs born out of REVIVE(S) and setup in selected communities’ venues. These activities will inform policy recommendations, best practice guidelines, and toolkits for EIHL revitalisation, aligning with REVIVE's main goal: demonstrating that citizen participation, multidisciplinarity, and the creative connotation of digital innovation are crucial and effective means for consolidating and promoting multilingualism and EIHL in Europe.

AI:Liner will enhance the asset management life cycle of sewer networks by designing, developing and validating a suite of cutting-edge technological and digital solutions. The project delivers a modular and interoperable end-to-end asset management tool chain that optimizes planning, operations, maintenance, investment, and reduces costs and risks of unexpected failures. It leverages the momentum of European utilities' digitalization efforts, building on the increasing availability of CCTV inspection data, AI-based fault detection, and recent advances in in-situ monitoring techniques to support the climate-neutral and resilient transformation of Europe's sewer infrastructure. AI:Liner empowers utilities and municipalities to identify intervention needs, enabling strategic decisions on when and where to inspect and rehabilitate sewers with the most appropriate technology, ultimately promoting the adoption of repair and rehabilitation techniques over the traditional excavation required for renewal. AI:Liner promotes the acceptance, trustworthiness and accountability of data-driven solutions, fostering a culture of trust, transparency and responsible use of data among European utilities and municipalities. By bringing together an interdisciplinary consortium that leverages expertise in infrastructure management, digitalization, and social sciences and humanities, AI:Liner enhances the digital skills of the utility workforce and integrates AI ethical principles at the core of technology development, ensuring the sustainable, responsible, and unbiased use of AI. AI:Liner strives to accelerate the digital and green transitions of the water and infrastructure sector, aiding European utilities in delivering high-quality services, maintaining affordable costs, and preserving infrastructure for future generations.