TERRASAFE is a pioneering initiative envisaging to empower local communities in southern Europe and northern Africa to successfully face the escalating challenges of desertification through the adoption of nature-based, social and technological innovations. TERRASAFE’s vision will be operationalized in 5 pilot areas that share a high vulnerability to desertification but, simultaneously, represent the 4 main types of desertification (vegetation decline, soil degradation, water scarcity, and depopulation) and strongly contrast in socio–cultural-ecological circumstances. This vision is supported by a transdisciplinary consortium, ranging from universities to SMEs commercially exploiting innovations. TERRASAFE’s vision is implemented through a multi-actor approach covering all WPs, in particular by setting up 5 partnerships in the 5 pilot areas. In a co-creation process, these partnerships will then (i) define their visions on building desertification resilience and plan their ensuing TERRASAFE work; (ii) map and analyze past and ongoing desertification, identifying hotspots; (iii) evaluate and demonstrate innovations at these hotspots, comparing them with current and traditional/organic practices; (iv) elaborate policy recommendation for the wider uptake of the TERRASAFE-certified innovations, both within and beyond the pilot areas, taking into account lessons learnt from past and ongoing policies against desertification; (v) share their TERRASAFE’s experience with the other areas, other desertification-prone communities and the general public. The consortium will support the partnerships by providing not only harmonized frameworks for each activity but also advice on adapting these frameworks to their specific needs. Finally, the SMEs will provide a wide offer of innovations that they will tailor towards the respective desertification hotspots, in close collaboration with the partnerships.

The main goal of the SeaTecHub project is to strengthen Croatian and Cyprus place-based innovation ecosystems and improve access to excellence for R&I actors by cross-border collaboration on a common strategy and alongside value adding chains within the area of eco-innovative technologies for healthy and productive seas, focusing on sectors 1. Aquaculture and fisheries, 2. Smart ports, 3. Maritime security and protection, 4. Research and Education, and 5. Maritime technologies, which are aligned with Croatian and Cypriot Smart Specialization Strategies and have been identified as emerging and established sectors in the EU Blue Economy Report 2021 . The objectives of the SeaTecHub project are: 1) to facilitate long-term cross border and inter-sectoral collaboration to advance eco-innovative technologies for healthy and productive seas, 2) to perform joint research work to close knowledge gaps, consolidate and reinforce quadruple-helix linkages, and validate strategy and action and investment plans (AIPs), 3) to implement a set of mutual learning and skills development measures, and 4) to raise visibility of Croatian-Cyprus innovation ecosystems by implementing strategic measures in the form of organizing networking, knowledge and experience transfer events. These objectives will be reached through a set of measures that include a) development of the strategy and AIPs and their digitalization through an innovative platform utilizing blockchain-based tokenization, b) R&I projects selected considering cross-border and cross-sectoral needs within, c) conceptual design and pre-planning for pilots and demonstrators, and d) a set of accompanying measures and outreach activities. The SeaTecHub consortium covers the quadruple helix of Croatian and Cyprus ecosystems: 2 research organizations, 4 public authorities, 5 business actors, and 3 NGOs. Strong willingness to actively participate has also been expressed by 49 institutions who have provided Letter of Support.

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SEALIVE aims at demonstrating innovative circular strategies for bio-based plastics in land and sea applications. The project will be driven by economically and technically sustainable business models based on materials with advanced properties, design for circularity techniques and end-of-life solutions. It will establish a partnership of raw material providers, convertors, end users, recyclers, policy experts, certification organizations and NGOs to demonstrate solutions within a shared vision for circular plastic strategies. Solutions for reusable, recyclable and biodegradable bio-based plastics to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds will be demonstrated in four pilot territories: Cyprus, Ireland, France and Denmark (or Non-European site). Innovative formulations based on PHAs, PLA and starch materials with advanced properties will be developed following recycling, biodegradability (marine and land) and composting standards. Design for circularity techniques (recyclable multi-layer single packaging materials, digital materials for traceability) and End-of-life solutions (high precision NIR-based mechanical recycling, controlled biodegradation/composting in natural and industrial conditions) will be upscaled at TRL6. Solutions will be applied to 8 end-applications with high potential for pollution reduction of soils and water media: rigid food containers, flexible packaging, agricultural films, fish crates, fishing nets and aquaculture mesh bags. Pre-normative research will be carried out to improve current standards for biodegradation, composting and recycling with regards to eco-toxicity, safety and influence of plastic ageing. Policy recommendations at EU and global level will be provided in order to build a common framework enabling pollution reduction of land and sea via sustainable bio-based plastics solutions.

<< Objectives >>The Green Enough Project aims to raise ecological behaviour of persons with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities by creating an adapted educational program for the professionals working with them combined with an AR application that will aid professionals to educate their beneficiaries on independent eco-friendly daily living supported by an easily accessible and adapted app on their devices. The curriculum and training developed will be certified according to EU quality standards.<< Implementation >>The objectives of the Green Enough Project will be reached through the following activities: -Research concerning ecological behaviour and disability, existing tools and methodologies -Curriculum development -AR application development and use, including an authoring tool -Certification scheme to adapt and results to EU quality standards -Piloting activities to ensure the impact of the training on the ecological behaviour of the participants -Dissemination activities<< Results >>These activities are going to lead to the development of: -A Handbook for professionals -Training material adapted to the needs of persons with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities that is going to be tested and evaluated during the piloting activities -An Augmented Reality Mobile Application with an accompanied authoring tool -An Easy-to-read guide for the Augmented Reality Application