Photovoltaics is a major pillar in tackling climate change, one of the biggest current threats to humankind. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) could significantly contribute to this, as organic solar cells can be manufactured in efficient and low-cost roll-to-roll processes and are already reaching power conversion efficiencies above 19%. However, in order to have a large impact, the long-term stability OPV has to be improved to obtain lifetimes of many years. Therefore, OPVStability aims to develop (i) an in-depth understanding of the degradation mechanisms and stability-promoting factors of organic photovoltaic materials and solar cells, (ii) tools to predict the lifetime of organic solar cells and to identify stable structural motifs as well as device architectures and (iii) innovative strategies to significantly enhance the stability of efficient OPV of the next generation. OPVStability combines partners from academia and industry with a strong background in OPV and/or specialized scientific methods including theoretical calculations and simulations, experimental degradation studies on single materials, materials combinations and interfaces, accelerated aging and outdoor stability measurements, advanced synchrotron-based analytics, high-throughput experiments and machine learning approaches. Within OPVStability, ten PhD-students work on this timely and interdisciplinary research project accompanied with an excellent training program comprising scientific skills as well as a comprehensive set of soft and transferable skills.

R2π examines the shift from the broad concept of a Circular Economy (CE) to one of a Circular Economy Business Models (CEBM), by tackling both market failure (business, consumers) and policy failure (conflicts, assumptions, unintended consequence). Its innovation lies in having a strong business-focus, examining stimuli beyond environmental goals (including ICT and eco-innovation), and in examining the role of policy innovation (including the use of policy nudges and of "Policy Packages"). R2π unfolds in diverse contexts with a strong emphasis on involvement and exchange. The research design employs mixed-methods, with a strong emphasis on case studies but also including desktop research, feasibility assessments (including surveys where applicable), policy formulation & stakeholder involvement. The ultimate goal of the project is to see the widespread implementation of the CE based on successful Business Models to ensure sustained economic development, to minimize environmental impact and to maximize social welfare. The goal of the R²π project is therefore to develop sustainable business models that would facilitate the circular economy and to propose "Policy Package" that will support these business models. The R2Pi Consortium consists of 14 partners from 9 Member states and associated countries. The wide range of expertise, knowledge, tools and connections existing among the consortium members will be leveraged to develop innovative practical tools and procedural guidelines that may be widely and systematically applied across many different business sectors in diverse regions and countries, across the spectrum from large established EU countries to newer and smaller member states.. Through these innovative business models and "Policy Packages", the European economy will move into a more sustainable, resource efficient and resilient economic track. R²π will position Europe as a world leader in advancing the circular economy model.

"The main objective of the EastMed project has been the development and delivery of an open HEI-level Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in accordance with ECTS/ESG in order to focus on the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, with such MOOC, entitled as ""EU and the Eastern Mediterranean: Prospects and Challenges"" giving an emphasis to the concurrent refugee crisis and energy security. The Eastern Mediterranean region presents political and economic challenges that have recently relaunched the debate on Euro-Mediterranean integration and cooperation. In this context, the EastMed MOOC aims at promoting the development of new modes of teaching through exploitation of new technologies within the scope of learning about the Eastern Mediterranean.EastMed MOOC's design, development and delivery has been feasible through the exploitation of international partnerships between University of Piraeus, University of Cyprus, Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, with all partners contributing to the Intellectual Outputs for the development of new training methodologies and tools addressing the specific needs of the target group. The MOOC delivery was first pilot-tested and then took place in two rounds, with Eastmed MOOC having been taught on the basis of the design and development of four (4) Modules in total, with at least 400 undergraduate students having participated to it during project's lifetime. Specifically, the implementation of of the EastMed MOOC includes the following six (6) Intellectual Outputs:(1) IO1 - Current Situation Analysis & Needs Assessment(2) IO2 - Design and Development of the EastMed Course(3) IO3 - EastMed Moodle Platform and website(4) IO4 - EastMed educational material and digital content (OER)(5) IO5 - Delivery of the EastMed MOOC(6) IO6 - EastMed Policy RecommendationsThe aim of the MOOC has been to raise awareness among students and future scholars on the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean area and to educate on relevant policy matters, targeting audience interested in studying in-depth the specificities of the Eastern Mediterranean, thus gaining a deep understanding of the concurrent challenges and prospects of the region, in enhancing their knowledge in regional politics based on ECTS/ credits, in upgrading their digital competences by attending a MOOC and in participating in a transnational project overcoming geographical or cultural obstacles.The impact of the EastMed project has been the following:(a) The project has created a broad network of interested parties, spanning from the local to the international level. All geographical levels have been benefited from the promotion of the MOOC's concept through networking, synergies and exchange of best practices.(b) It has presented an opportunity for the EU, national and regional levels to improve their knowledge on the region's dynamics and on the potential of digital, innovative methodologies in Higher Education, by also offering an opportunity for a better understanding of the EU's neighborhood through exchange of views and multiculturalism.(c) The EastMed MOOC has advanced overall the MOOC practice, expanding it to more Social Sciences subjects.(d) The project, as an example of a regional project of international reach and as a tool of internationalization, has promoted agreements on scientific cooperation between academic institutions and participation in international programs for mobility, research and training."

Problem: Automated transport technology is developing rapidly for all transport modes, with huge safety potential. However, the transition to full automation brings new risks, such as misuse, overreliance, reduced situational awareness and mode confusion. The driving task changes to a more supervisory role, reducing the task load and potentially leading to degraded performance. Similarly, the automated system may not (yet) function in all situations; it must intelligently assess the strengths and weaknesses of both driver and system and select the best control mode according to the context. Solution: MEDIATOR proposes an intelligent ‘mediating’ support system for road transport, enabling safe, real-time switching between human driver and system. It will constantly evaluate driving context, driver state and vehicle automation status, personalising its technology to the driver’s general competence. Approach: MEDIATOR pursues a paradigm shift away from a view that prioritises either the driver or the automation, instead integrating the best of both. It will use state-of-the-art knowledge, including that from other transport modes, and develop new knowledge about human behaviour and human-machine interaction. It will apply the latest artificial intelligence technology to evaluate driver state, automation status and driving context in real time. It will produce several prototypes in the lab and in actual vehicles, for evaluation in simulation, simulator and on-road studies—as well as several tools for further exploitation. Impact: MEDIATOR will optimise the safety potential of vehicle automation, especially during the transition to full automation. It will reduce future as well as current risks (such as inattention or fatigue). MEDIATOR will facilitate market exploitation by actively involving the automotive industry during the development process. Further, the involvement of experts from other transport modes will maximise the transfer of knowledge to these domains.

Women’s cardiovascular health is an urgent clinical unmet need as reported by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), as cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women still tends to be underestimated by clinicians and women themselves. CVD is under-diagnosed, under-treated and poorly understood, more so in women in the 40-60 age group, when personalised risk assessment and prevention can have a positive impact on their health. In this context, CARAMEL will deliver an innovative personalised prevention model aimed at women 40-60yrs based upon a risk assessment stratification model considering sex and gender specific risk factors and a self-assessment and self-management approach using innovative digital technologies, empowering women to optimise their cardiovascular health. The proposed CVD-Risk Assessment and Stratification scheme will only be possible by the cumulative risk factors analysis, fueled by AI, emerging from a wide number of different data sources, including clinical data from EHR, medical imaging, biomarkers, metabolomics, lifestyle information (sleep, physical activity, diet) from large cohorts and biobanks. A consortium composed by 25 partners and Affiliated Entities coming from 11 countries, composed by 9 clinical entities, 6 research organisations and 10 industry and SMEs will develop, test and validate the personalised prevention program in observational and interventional studies in clinical sites in Colombia, Croatia, Greece, Lithuania and Spain. To that end, engagement of women aged 40-60, will take place from the onset on the co-design and co-creation of the studies and the self-management app ecosystem to be developed. Likewise, Gender in research will be mainstreamed all along the intervention. CARAMEL will also deliver policy recommendation and clinical guidelines supporting the design and update of CVD Plans by health authorities and healthcare providers, considering novel AI based risk models, applicable to women aged 40-60 yrs.