Membrane separation processes can be applied to many capture processes from Pre-Combustion ( CO2-H2 / CO2-CH4 separation) to Post-Combustion (CO2-N2) and Oxyfuel (O2-N2) and are generally endowed with high flexibility and potentially low operative costs with respect to other capture methods. However the current materials are still lacking of separation performance and durability suitable for an efficient and economically feasible exploitation of such technology. The Project NANOMEMC2 aims in overcoming the current limitation focusing on the development of innovative CO2 selective membranes with high flux and selectivity suitable for application to both Pre and Post-combustion Capture processes. To that aim nanocomposite or mixed matrix membranes will be considered with particular focus on facilitated transport mechanisms promoted by carrier attached to the polymer or the filler. Graphene based nanosheets and cellulose nanofibres will be studied in detail considering their possible modification to improve polymer compatibility and affinity with CO2. A new generation of Facilitated Transport Mixed Matrix ( FTMM) membranes for CCS applications will be developed with increased CO2 flux and selectivity beyond the current target for industrial deployment of carbon capture membrane technologies

<< Objectives >>This project is about to facilitate the transition of IT career changers from IT-education to their first new job. Although graduates of IT bootcamps have a high placement rate, people with placement barriers remain without jobs. A promising solution is an extensive IT-company network as well as a strong alumni community. By sharing of best practices, research and testing of measure the organisations will write guidelines through which educational institutions can easily expand their networks.<< Implementation >>Two coding schools, from Germany and from Greece, will exchange their experiences and good practice approaches job integration of bootcamp-alumni through networks. They will also do intensive research (interviews, online research) and test different measures in the field of community and network building. ​​The learnings and the results will be written down in a practical guideline, which will then be shared in an European online Event for programming schools to benefit from the project.<< Results >>The result will be a practical guideline on “How to create a company network and an alumni community? - best practices from coding schools”

<< Objectives >>A European hackathon with a subsequent incubator project phase is being carried out by three European programming schools. The aim of the project is that learners work in international teams on innovative and digital solutions for real challenges of the adult education sector. And to learn further future skills in the field of entrepreneurship - practical experience, training and coaching. The focus is also on cooperation between European programming schools.<< Implementation >>An international online hackathon will be organized and carried out with learners from each project partner. Then three winning teams receive online coaching in entrepreneurial skills for three months and develop their ideas further. The findings and the process of such a project are collected in an appealing and clear manual in order to be available to other organizations. Finally, a large online / hybrid final event is organized.<< Results >>The developed coaching concepts and workshop contents become part of the coding schools curricula and thus promote further learners in the long term. The manual serves both as a good documentation for the project partners and as a suggestion for other organizations for such a project and training of entrepreneurial skills in the field of IT.

The transition to a biobased economy puts strong challenges on researchers and industry to develop sustainable processes. 2G biofuel plants use waste streams as substrates, but themselves generate a new waste stream of lignin-rich sludge that is left after saccharification of the carbohydrates. This waste stream is expected to exponentially increase with an increasing number of 2G bioethanol plants being built, according to a report of the International Energy Agency. FALCON aims to convert this lignin-rich industrial waste of 2G biofuel plants to higher value products, in particular shipping fuels, fuel additives and chemical building blocks. This would be the next consecutive step in turning waste to products, thus minimizing waste and simultaneously providing new alternatives for fossil resource based processes. The FALCON process is based on enzymatic and mild chemical conversion of the lignin waste stream, providing a more environmentally friendly approach to the production of fuels and chemical building blocks. FALCON takes full advantage of the lessons learned over the last 150 years in the petrochemical industry with respect to design of the processes. This implies an initial treatment at the 2G bioethanol plant, converting the waste to a lignin oil that can be more easily transported and also directly used as a low sulphur shipping fuel. It will be further converted into fuel additives and chemical building blocks in centralized facilities. To achieve this, FALCON has formed a consortium of industry (3), SME (4) and academics (2) covering the whole value chain from a 2G biofuel plant delivering the lignin waste to enzyme producers, chemists and process engineers to depolymerize the lignin to oil. End-users are a fuel and chemicals producer and a ship engine developer. This unique combination of expertise and infrastructure will ensure the development of three new value chains with a strong emphasis on the economical sustainability.