The project aims to strengthen EU efforts towards achieving climate neutrality and achieving green energy and environmental targets. SeaDream plays a crucial role in making sure marine energy is utilized sustainably and coastal environments are preserved in line with EU policies. The development of a high-resolution water quality data service at sea is at the core of SeaDream's mission. Data such as these are crucial to addressing specific questions regarding maritime renewable energy generation and storage. The project integrates local monitoring data and advanced modeling through the development, testing, and demonstration of novel downstream information services in an operational mode. As a result of this integration, marine activities related to the generation and storage of energy are improved, and environmental objectives are not compromised. By harnessing advanced data and fostering collaboration across sectors, the project aims to contribute significantly to the EU's environmental and energy targets, promoting a path towards climate neutrality. In order to achieve SeaDream's vision, a coordinated research program that thrives on collaboration is implemented. In this program, leading teams from academic and private sectors are seconded within and outside the EU. Collaborations are enhanced by periodic workshops and summer schools that disseminate the latest findings and promote market-relevant knowledge application. It is designed to foster the advancement of knowledge and career development for both experienced and early career researchers and professionals. To ensure this, secondments and training activities are structured to ensure a comprehensive approach to learning and development. Additionally, the SeaDream consortium includes nonacademic partners from various stakeholder groups, which facilitates direct application of project results.

Decades of research into Parkinson's disease (PD) have fallen short in fully comprehending its mechanisms, leaving us without a cure. Current treatments merely alleviate symptoms temporarily, but are unable to impede the progression of the disease. Clearly, PD research has hit a wall, and new approaches are needed. Recent discoveries of the involvement of the peripheral immune system in PD have sparked a groundbreaking proposition by BICEPS: PD must be considered a systemic disease with an immune response involving both brain and periphery. Thus, to revolutionize PD research, we must shift away from the neuro-centric approach of past decades and extend our focus to studying the immune system outside the brain. Furthermore, recent advancements, such as systems biology and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data mining, diagnosis, and drug development, hold significant promise for advancing PD research. Therefore, BICEPS is uniting PD researchers, immunologists, and experts in AI and systems biology from leading European academic institutions, startup companies, and established pharmaceutical firms into a unique consortium. The primary objective is to train a new generation of PD researchers with interdisciplinary expertise in these fields. This ambitious goal will be realized through an intensive training program that encompasses cutting-edge methodologies, encourages innovation, nurtures transferable skills, and provides immersive, hands-on research experiences. Thereby, the BICEPS network aims to shape the future of PD research by adopting a fresh perspective and expediting the development of diagnostics and therapies for PD, with a particular focus on the immune system.

Twelve-member IPANEMA consortium implements competences of participating academic & industry beneficiaries and 3rd country partners to 1) create a knowledge/experience-sharing network of scientists, entrepreneurs & end-users in the multidisciplinary field of biosensors for POCT (point-of care testing); 2) develop innovative bottom-up approaches for fabrication of low-cost POCT devices & implementation of paper-based nucleic acid testing (NAT); 3) pursue applications in 3 important industry sectors – healthcare, agrifood & environmental monitoring. Research & Innovation (R&I) activities will be focused on developing low-cost paper-based isothermal NATs, their integration into microfluidic devices and optimization for use in a) tissue engineering b) agrifood (poultry/plant/fungal) pathogen detection c) detection of toxigenic freshwater Cyanobacteria causing harmful algal blooms. Secondments & trainings will enable researchers to acquire both technical & soft skills needed for converting scientific knowledge & ideas into products & services. Strong involvement of 5 SME partners from France, Serbia, Israel, Portugal & US contributing their proprietary knowledge on revolutionary novel materials for microfluidic devices & DNA extraction kits, domain expertise in agrifood sector, unique portable sensing systems & handheld devices for isoNAT quantification, will help researchers focus their efforts on development of innovative products for real-life use. Several transducing methods (colorimetric, fluorescence, SPR, electrochemical, microwave & magnetic) and smartphone-based read-out methods will be investigated for POCT use. Renowned beneficiaries including academic INRA, WUR, INESC & BIOS together with 3rd country partners: Columbia University, Prokhorov General Physics Institute and Xi'an Jiaotong University, will provide transfer of cutting-edge knowledge and technical expertise in effect yielding good basis for long term collaboration and joint R&I projects.

ZeNCure aims to foster collaborative research and enhance scientific excellence at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade (IMGGE) in Serbia. This ambitious initiative brings together IMGGE with world-renowned research institutions in Germany (MPG), Portugal (CF) and the United Kingdom (UoS) along with an associated partner from Latvia (BGI RFL). The overarching goal is to elevate IMGGE's research profile by strengthening its capabilities in zebrafish (ZF) research, particularly in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs pose a significant global health challenge, accounting for over 74% of all deaths worldwide. These diseases are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the EU has prioritized NCD research under the Cluster 1: Health of Horizon Europe. ZeNCure focuses on the critical role of in vivo models in NCD research, ranging from identifying genetic and environmental risk factors to testing innovative therapeutics. It leverages cutting-edge technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics, to enhance IMGGE's capabilities in this field. ZeNCure is poised to accelerate the professional development of both early-stage and senior researchers, as well as administrative staff. This holistic approach will not only enhance IMGGE's competitiveness in European research funding schemes but also create an inspiring and supportive research environment. ZeNCure represents a transformative endeavor that aims to strengthen scientific collaboration, improve research capabilities, and contribute to the global fight against NCDs. By bridging the gap between IMGGE and leading European research institutions, the project aspires to elevate IMGGE into a competitive and internationally recognized research institution in the Western Balkans, fostering regional integration and convergence with the EU.

Sustainability is one of the most important concepts nowadays, being able to drive activities in several sectors, namely environment preservation, society, and economy. In Analytical Chemistry, the development of sustainable devices was boosted by the introduction of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) whose advantages, however, are not only confined to the concept of sustainability. Indeed, paper as a functional material, confers unprecedented features to μPADs. However, paper-based devices remain exploited as only analytical tools, but have not (yet) been adopted by the Organ-on-Chip (OoC) world. The objective of the present project proposal is to alter this scenario. PHOENIX-OoC, we will radically change the OoC field by making use of paper’s versatile properties, and develop OoC devices using paper in origami configuration used (i) for cell co-cultures with the aim to better simulate different organ tissues, (ii) for (bio)sensors integration with the aim of on site/continuous monitoring of cells status/response to stimuli, and (iii) with the ultimate goal of performing accurate pharmacological studies. The main new idea is the introduction of a technology which can deliver a versatile set of electrochemical devices with new functionalities, in which, it will be possible to create ready-to-use cell culture models for drug screenings, in a custom-made manner. Because, OoC is a complex system with respect to μPADs, partners with different and needed skills have been gathered among the most important European scientists/entities in the field required. PHOENIX-OoC consortium brings together 6 partners, 4 Universities, 1 research organization, and 1 industrial partner (1 SME), 5 from 4 EU (associated)countries (Italy, Sweden, Spain, Serbia), and 1 non-EU member: Switzerland, which are renowned experts in the world on paper-based biosensors, in vitro/vivo studies, modelling, microfluidics, biomaterials, and joint tissue engineering.