PRIM-ROCK addresses process efficiency through a multifaceted strategy addressing industrial processes from input to output, supported by an ambitious digital framework and transversal supporting activities. In particular, advanced techniques for the pre-processing of the raw material will be deployed to enhance its efficiency according to the requirements of the process, supplemented by simulations and decision support systems to increase the operational limits of flexibility in the feedstock domain. Additionally, the process intensification component of the project will design, develop, and validate innovative and efficient processes, as well as optimizing the existing ones. The aim is to develop a portfolio of technologies to a higher resource efficiency and lower level of GHG emissions of extractive industries. The project will focus on improving the resource efficiency of the calcination and roasting processes, that are commonly used in the mineral and cement industries. To this end, process simulations in collaboration with AI data-driven models will be utilized and a digital twin for each process will be developed. Finally, waste reduction and re-utilization strategies will be investigated targeting to the real-time processes’ adjustment capabilities to feedstock changes and tighter processing control solutions. All these components will be supplemented by transversal supporting activities, such as technoeconomic assessment, LCA, standardization etc. The PRIM-ROCK solutions will be demonstrated in 3 different ASPIRE sectors, namely Minerals (magnesite, laterite), Cement (limestone) and Non-ferrous metals (sphalerite, chalcopyrite). The consortium is composed of 7 SMEs along with 6 RTDs, 3 universities and 5 large enterprises, working together to achieve over 30% resource efficiency enhancement in each use-case, 770ktCO2 averted, productivity increase in the range 9-16% and more that 1,360 new jobs by 2033.

ZEvRA's main objective is to improve the circularity of light-duty EVs throughout their entire value chain, from materials supply and manufacturing to end-of-life (EoL) processes, which aligns with the European Union's goal of achieving zero CO2e emissions by 2035, particularly in the EV value chain. To do so, ZEvRA will develop a Design for Circularity (DfC) methodology and a holistic circularity assessment aimed at improving the production of electric vehicles (EVs) based on the 9Rs. This methodology will be validated by developing zero emission solutions for the most important automotive materials, covering > 84% material mix: steel, three versions of aluminium (wrought, casting, and foam), thermoplastics composites (long and continuous fibre-reinforced), unfiled/short fibre plastics, glass, tyres and Rare Earth Elements (REE). These solutions will be supported by a set of digital tools to support the manufacturing of the use cases, the assessment of circularity, traceability, and the virtual integration of components into a full replicable vehicle. To maximise the outreach of our methodology and zero emission solutions, ZEvRA will develop a dedicated training & upskilling programme for the automotive workforce and academia, together with activities aimed at increasing awareness & acceptability of the proposed zero emission solutions. Lastly, circular business models targeting EoL and logistics aimed at improving the economic feasibility of circularity in EVs are advanced. ZEvRA’s innovations aim to improve zero emission approaches in the life cycle and value chain of at least 59% of European EVs by 2035 through the 5 OEMs and Tier 1’s that are part of the consortium, which includes industry and academia covering the entire automotive value chain.

Today’s Internet is becoming increasingly centralised, slowing innovation and challenging its potential to revolutionise society and the economy in a pluralistic manner. DECODE will develop practical alternatives through the creation, evaluation and demonstration of a distributed and open architecture for managing online identity, personal and other data, and collective governance in a citizen-friendly and privacy-aware fashion. Strong digital rights that makes it possible for data subjects to determine access rights to their information through flexible entitlements and open standard-based agreements regarding data governance (on the model of Creative Commons licenses) will be woven into the technological architecture. DECODE will increase digital sovereignty of European citizens by enabling them to produce, access and control their data and exchange contextualised information in real-time, and in a confidential, and scalable manner. DECODE will develop a modular privacy-aware IoT hub with a free and open source operating system backed by a state of the art blockchain infrastructure supporting smart-contracts and privacy protections. The architecture will be demonstrated through four pilots in Barcelona and Amsterdam, in the field of digital democracy, citizen sensing, and collaborative economy. The pilots will be run with the active involvement of social entrepreneurs, hackers, and makers. Innovators will be able to build solutions on top of the platform through hackathons and open challenges, while ensuring their security, resilience and privacy preserving qualities. This aims to create a decentralised innovation ecosystem that will attract a critical mass able to shift the current centralised data-driven economy towards a decentralised, sustainable and commons-based economy. DECODE puts agency and data control in the hands of citizens, to improve citizens’ well-being and society for the collective benefit of all.

Optogenerapy proposes a new interferon-ß (IFN-ß) drug delivery system to revolutionize Multiple Sclerosis treatment. The aim is to develop and validate a new bio-electronic cell based implant device to be implanted subcutaneously providing controlled drug release during at least 6 months. The cell confinement within a chamber sealed by a porous membrane allows the device to be easily implanted or removed. At the same time, this membrane acts to prevent immune rejection and offers long-term safety in drug release while overcoming the adverse effects of current cellular therapies. Wireless powered optogenetics – light controlling the cellular response of genetically engineered cells – is used to control the production of IFN-ß. Replacing standard intravenous IFN-ß delivery by subcutaneous delivery prevents short and long term side effects and efficiency-losses related to drug peaks and discontinuation, while saving non-adherence costs. It is a low-cost system enabling large scale manufacturing and reduction of time to market up to 30% compared to other cell therapies, combining: - Polymeric biomaterials with strong optical, biocompatibility and barrier requirements, to build the cell chamber and to encapsulate the optoelectronics. - Optoelectronics miniaturization, autonomy and optical performance. - Optimal cellular engineering design, enhanced by computer modelling, for stability and performance of the synthetic optogenetic gene pathway over long-term implantation. - Micro moulding enabling optoelectronics and membrane embedding for safety and minimal invasiveness. The innovation potential is so huge that a proof-of-concept was listed by Scientist Magazine as one of the 2014’s big advances in science. In our top-class consortium, industrial pull meets technological push, ensuring that the preclinically validated prototype obtained at the end responds to market demands. BOSTON SCIENTIFIC, worldwide leader in neuromodulation active implants, has clear exploitation plans and high market penetration potential. 4 research intensive SMEs: TWO, GENEXPLAIN, NEOS and ULTRASION bring specific competences while increasing their own competitiveness.

AERO-TRAIN fills gaps between the infrastructure O&M industry and Industry4.0 with the ambition to keep our invaluable assets operational and safe. The AERO-TRAIN general objectives are, in fact, to reduce the costs associated to O&M operations, while increasing the safety aspects related to the asset management. To achieve its objectives, AERO-TRAIN researches and develops automation technologies based on aerial manipulators and it identifies that the solution lays in the synergy between three main research pillars: Intelligent Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence and Human-Machine Interaction. AERO-TRAIN will focus on developing new approaches for improving the robustness of aerial manipulators under conditions that reflect real application, such as the application of relevant forces for tool manipulation and robust perception in featureless and light challenging environments. Moreover, AERO-TRAIN takes a unique human-centered direction and it addresses the scientific issues related to increasing the maneuverability for remote aerial manipulation by development new immersive technologies, augmented and mixed reality for damage assessment by a remote expert, and collaborative human-machine intelligence for supported evaluation of criticalities. Finally, AERO-TRAIN addresses the lack of skills and competences that are needed in the industry to ensure that the outcome of the project create an impact, by developing a training program where both the academic and non-academic sector contribute to train 15 Early Stage Researchers that are hosted by 9 beneficiaries that are experts in the AERO-TRAIN core technologies, and 7 partner organizations that partners from both industry and academia will complement the framework for the training, advancement and test of the technology.