CARMA aims to co-create, through a user-centred iterative methodology involving a complementary set of end-users and SSH experts, a groundbreaking, modular and intuitive platform offering a complementary set of semi-autonomous and autonomous UGVs capable of working in symbiosis with humans to support and supplement first responders and assist citizen in a wide range of disaster situations, including those with very low visibility. The project will build on the most advanced research results, including those from the INTREPID project, in the field of disaster robotics making them autonomous thanks to novel 3D radar-based environment mapping and analysis combined with Artificial Intelligence for enhanced path and mission planning as well as victim and threat detection. Symbiotic operations and natural robot/human interaction will be made possible by exploiting Generative Adversarial Networks for collaborative tasks, Natural Language Processing, and eXtended Reality technologies. The project will evaluate the effectiveness and acceptance of the proposed platform in the frame of four ambitious pilots in complementary operational environments. Coordinated by a large European industrial leader in the crisis management market, the consortium includes world-class research centres in the domain of AI and Social Robotics, robotics manufacturers, professional and volunteer first responders, as well as local authorities. It is complemented by an international Advisory Board and an Open Community to ensure openness and diversity. Social, ethical and legal constraints will be carefully considered during the project’s lifetime. In order to prepare the ground for broad adoption and successful exploitation of the project’s results, CARMA will implement an ambitious communication and dissemination plan, an engaging training curriculum, and produce a white book proposing recommendations for doctrine changes to involve the proposed solution in crisis management operations

periASTY envisions fostering the integration of peri-urban areas’ transition towards climate neutrality by advancing and developing mobility, energy, industry, and governance-related net zero technologies and business models. A suite of innovations, the periInnovations, is designed to host technological and non-technological solutions. The periInnovations suite offers four groups of innovations: 1. periMOBILITY aims to reduce car dependency in peri-urban areas (active modes, multimodality, mobility services); 2. periENERGY concentrates efforts on reducing emissions and promoting sustainable energy sources (energy system demand, energy charging hubs, renewable local energy communities); 3. periINDUSTRY focuses on reducing GHG emissions, improving efficiency in industrial operations, and promoting a circular economy and reuse (urban mining, circular economy, local green deals, waste management); 4. periGOVERNANCE supports governance, planning, and decision-making (governance framework for functional urban areas (FUA) digital twins, AI-based data warehouse) and builds capacity among local authorities and stakeholders on implementing climate-neutral concepts, integrated planning, and attracting investments/funding (periSKILLS Academy). The periInnovations are integrated into real-life mobility, energy, and industry services, operations, and infrastructure, allowing the demonstration of the co-designed concepts in nine diverse Living Labs across peri-urban areas: Dublin, Limassol, Ljubljana, Marseille, Guimarães, Helmond, Kalamata, Sofia, and Sisslerfeld (Switzerland). periASTY is more than just a consortium; it is a transformative, Europe-wide initiative dedicated to accelerating the transition of peri-urban areas towards climate neutrality. By integrating sustainable mobility, energy, and industrial solutions, periASTY directly supports the objectives of the Green Deal, Mission Climate-Neutral, Smart Cities, and other EU partnerships for 2030.

Many challenges arise in the immediate aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. First responders must deal with pressing and dramatic challenges in a chaotic, dynamic, and dangerous environment while locating and rescuing victims and neutralising threats. They must make urgent decisions, but the zone can be large, complex, hostile, with many areas unsafe to explore. The lack of reliable information and the deep uncertainty present serious obstacles to a quick and effective response. INTREPID aims to create a unique platform, seamlessly integrating Intelligence Amplification and eXtended Reality concepts, with unprecedented Smart Cybernetic Assistants and innovative deep indoor Networking and Positioning capabilities, to improve and accelerate the exploration and assessment of disaster zones. The project will validate its effectiveness, in iterative and complementary pilots, to support the rescue operations in areas that are complex or dangerous to explore. Always first on scene, first responders will be able to immediately start operations without having to wait for specialized teams or for the zone to be fully secured. When these teams arrive, first responders have already used INTREPID to provide them with reliable information and effective assistance. The result is an immediate and targeted response that will allow faster, more effective and safer operations. The consortium consists of world-class research centres and SMEs, coordinated by an industrial with a leading position in the security market. It will follow a user-centric methodology involving many first responders, and an international Advisory Board and Open User Group ensuring diversity. Social, ethical and legal constraints will be carefully considered during the project’s lifetime. The project will design and implement a training curriculum and an innovative evaluation framework along with an ambitious communication and dissemination plan, preparing the ground for successful exploitation.

In 2016, a consortium of 7 European entities presented the TELETURF project within the European Union's call for proposals entitled ERASMUS+ for education, training, youth and sport, which was finally approved and financed.The project, with an estimated duration of two years, had as its main objective the improvement of the safety and quality conditions of the artificial turf sports fields, as well as extending their useful life, all of this through the improvement of their maintenance. The aim was to achieve this objective through the creation of a free online course in four languages (English, French, Dutch and Spanish), the main and core intellectual product of our project.With this project it was estimated that an economic saving of 750M€ per year could be produced at European level through the reduction of the cost of renovation of artificial turf surfaces. It should be remembered that the level of maintenance and its quality also influence other factors such as the playability, safety or aesthetics of the playing field, making them accessible to schools, sports organisations, local communities and citizens. The latter is important to achieve as the promotion of healthy living through physical activity and sport is one of the recommendations of the HEPA 2014-2017 Sports Work Plan.Likewise, there are associated benefits that are not negligible: the reduction of polluting emissions and energy savings by reducing production due to the extension of the useful life of the fields; or improve the professionalization of workers in the economic sector of maintenance of sports facilities. These benefits are in accordance with the main European policies.The 7 entities that have developed this project are:Researchers - Suppliers:- Valencia Biomechanical Institute (IBV)- ISA-Sport (Netherlands)- CESPEVAL (Company specializing in maintenance of fields)End users:- Association of European Capitals of Sport (Belgium)- Municipality of Marseille (France)- GEPACV - Fundación Deportiva Municipal de Valencia (which also plays the executive role in the project)The project was structured in six different work packages:- Project management. All the control tasks of the project, including the elaboration of a Quality Plan and a Final Quality Report.- Development, integration and adaptation of curricular contents. Through quantitative work methodology (surveys) and qualitative work (interviews and discussion groups), reports were elaborated with the learning requirements and preferences, basic tools to develop the contents.- Implementation and validation of the pilot course. Once the contents were developed in English and Spanish, they were implemented in an online pilot course, with the participation of students from several European countries, whose feedback was fundamental.- Implementation of improvements and translation. Once the contributions of the students who finished the pilot course were received, the improvements were implemented in the final version and these definitive contents were translated into English, Spanish, French and Dutch.- Dissemination of the project. Continuous task during the two years of work: preparation of a Dissemination Plan, creation of the corporate image, website and a whole series of complementary actions included in two Dissemination Reports. Also to be highlighted are the multiplier events held in Marseille and Brussels, the latter in the European Parliament.- Exploitation of the Project. Initial and final Exploitation Plan that guarantees the survival of the work carried out in the post-project stage.With the work carried out, we can affirm that the impact achieved is very similar to the ambitious forecasts established at the beginning of this journey. Although it is too early to determine whether the objectives have been met (the improvement in maintenance and all the added advantages it entails can only be evaluated over the years), it is important to point out how well our project has been received by the sectors involved in it. The diffusion made through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces and FAGDE (national association of sports managers) has led to multiple bodies and national managers interested in getting more information about TELETURF and participate in the first editions of the course. The same can be said at an international level: when the results of the project were presented at the European Sports Gala organised by ACES, in front of dozens of consistories from all corners of Europe, the name TELETURF was managed to reach international areas that have already shown their interest in taking advantage of the results obtained.

This project aims at enhancing and reinforcing the role and potential of HEIs in the development of employability in the Mediterranean countries by adopting a transversal entrepreneurial mind-set at the HEIs and by opening and structuring the dialogue between the universities, the enterprises and the policy makers, addressing in this way the four priority actions established by the EC, OECD and ETF report:- Establish inter-ministerial commissions for entrepreneurial learning- Establish a platform for the identification and exchange of good practices - Strengthen co-operation among HEIs and promote links with business to foster entrepreneurship. Teacher networks with interest in entrepreneurship promotion should be encouraged and supported- Establish an accredited Southern Mediterranean entrepreneurship network paying a particular attention to the gender dimension.