To prevent the worst outcomes of climate change and increase Europe’s energy independence, urgent and massive efforts are required to transform Europe’s energy production to renewable and secure sources. Photovoltaics (PV) has emerged as a key technology in these efforts with projected annual growth rates of 30-35% over the next years. A strong base of PV industry across the entire value chain is, therefore, of strategic importance for Europe to support this strong market growth. Since the currently dominating silicon (Si) PV technology is approaching its efficiency limit, PEPPERONI aims to 'spice up' cost-efficient industrial Si cells with a thin perovskite top cell in a monolithic tandem device. This technology promises the best ratio of performance over manufacturing costs and therefore enables to push solar module efficiencies beyond the limit of Si at lowest CO2 footprint. The key objective of PEPPERONI is to enable large-scale production of such tandem PV modules in Europe by (i) demonstrating 26%-efficient modules on industrial scale; (ii) developing fabrication processes for high-volume manufacturing; (iii) extending the operational stability of tandems to meet market expectations (>30 yr); and (iv) removing any human health or environmental risk. To reach these objectives, PEPPERONI capitalises on the world-leading tandem PV expertise of a strong and complementary consortium: 4 equipment suppliers, 2 material suppliers, 1 service provider, 9 R&D institutes and universities that hold tandem efficiency world records, and one of the world's largest PV module manufacturers: PEPPERONI coordinator Q CELLS. When joining forces, their excellence puts PEPPERONI in the unique position to set up a tandem pilot line in Europe by 2026. This will establish a robust and competitive European innovation base and PV supply chain, putting all involved partners well on track towards GW-scale production of solar modules in Europe by 2030.

The ECIU University Research Institute for Smart European Regions (SMART-ER) is a research, innovation and education alliance, enabling all member universities to jointly address complex societal challenges under the UN SDG11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable). SMART-ER, organized as a virtual research institute, designs and implements research, value-captures and delivers solutions to SDG11 challenges, identified by the ECIU University Erasmus+ project. SMART-ER, together with stakeholder groups at a local and international level, showcases and works according to a shared R&I Agenda, focused on social needs, and its implementation plan. SMART-ER will align and bring together research capacities, both scientific and management capacities, bring together researchers and share a common vision, creating a virtual research institute as an example of how to overcome the limits of each single institution. It means, in fact, to implement a new model of doing research and innovation without walls, because: • is a way to leave behind the ivory tower, promoting dialogue with society • it will overcome the limitations of disciplines, sectors and countries • it will be mainly based on setting a virtual collaborative environment All partners will join efforts to develop and test transformative approaches focused on R&I that are so needed: • Mapping relevant information regarding ECIU University resources and infrastructures, practices and actors needed to move to the second phase • Developing the internal plans, procedures, training contents and platforms that will allow the creation and the operability of the SMART-ER • A capacity building programme (Seed Programme and SMART-ER Academy) and citizen science initiatives that will be used as a testbed to put into practice all built mechanisms and structures • Validating the pilots and procedures • Producing guidelines and toolkits for tested models replication and practices of reference

In Europe, and globally, substantial numbers of young people are at risk of social exclusion, and there is therefore a pressing need to develop more knowledge and innovation to create more inclusive and youth-friendly societies. Citizen social science might contribute to these needs, but the actual outcomes of citizen social science and its innovative potential is uncertain. YOUCOUNT will therefore, through cocreative youth citizen social science (Y-CSS) including youths in the age of 15- 29 years as citizen scientists, produce new knowledge of positive drivers for social inclusion of youth at risk of exclusion, and cocreate innovations and policy-making. Moreover, to provide evidence of the actual outcomes of Y-CSS through hands on citizen science activities. The project includes four substudies: 1) Development of a framework for Y-CSS together with a transdisciplinary consortium and multilevel platform of key experts and stakeholders in a European and international setting. 2) Implementation of a multiple case study of Y-CSS projects in nine countries across Europe where over 900 young citizen scientists and nine local living labs will cocreate innovations together. 3) Mixed-methods evaluation of the outcomes and impact of the Y-CSS activities, and a multi-criteria assessment of the costs and benefits of Y-CSS, and 4) Creation of social and scientific impact through widespread scaling up and continuity. These activities will lead to robust knowledge and scientifically reasoned measures to promote Y-CSS and social change. The project will support dissemination and education in Y- CSS, and make synergies with other CS related projects and initiatives, in particularly with citizen social science.