In vitro diagnostic (IVD) technologies have revolutionized healthcare, yet remain confined to the laboratories. As witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, this traditional centralized approach was not sufficient to prevent and manage viral outbreak because it massively failed to deliver quick and cost-effective diagnosis. The ongoing pandemic further emphasizes the growing need to urgently bring lab-quality diagnosis to the hands of end users (i.e. point-of-care, POC). Despite high expectations from Lab-on-Chip technologies, they failed so far to disrupt the IVD market due to their complexity of integration/operation, high cost, off-chip sample preparation, poor scalability, to mention only a few. The FORTIFIEDx consortium aims to revolutionize the POC IVD field by making use of novel multifunctional biocompatible polymers and their (micro)structuring with mass fabrication technology to develop for the first time a true sample-to-result POC test. We will develop a FORTIFIEDx microfluidic-based patch capable of both biofluids (self-)sampling via hollow microneedles and immediate analysis of this sample on the very same patch in a completely self-powered manner. Two unmet clinical needs, posing epidemic/pandemic treats to both the developed and developing world, are selected: (1) sexually transmitted diseases, in particular simultaneous diagnosis of HIV and Syphilis, to enable timely diagnosis of patients not always able to reach centralized settings due to stigma or financial difficulties and (2) viral haemorrhagic fever, in particular Ebola and Lassa viruses, to battle their highly contagious and deadly outbreaks. To tackle this challenging aim, the interdisciplinary and experienced FORTIFIEDx consortium (2 universities, 5 research institutes and 2 SMEs from 6 countries) will combine insights from material science, engineering and microfabrication, microfluidic technology development, bioassay development, clinical validation and life cycle assessment.

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) technologies have revolutionized healthcare, yet remain confined to the laboratories. This traditional approach massively failed to manage viral outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic because it lacked quick and cost-effective diagnosis. Moreover, an urgent need was evident for bringing quantitative lab-quality diagnosis to the hands of end users (i.e., point-of-care, POC). Despite high expectations from Lab-on-Chip technologies, they failed so far to disrupt the IVD market due to their complexity, high cost, off-chip sample preparation, poor scalability, to mention a few. The DECIPHER consortium aims to revolutionize the POC IVD field by developing innovative microfluidic-based DECIPHER patch capable of both biofluids (self-)sampling via hollow microneedles (HMNs) and immediate analysis of this sample on the very same patch in a completely self-powered manner, producing quantitative result to be read out with a re-purposed glucose meter. Ebola and Lassa viruses are selected as relevant model systems because they are highly contagious with human-to-human transmission, high mortality rate and no vaccine/treatment available, thus having meaningful potential for new pandemic threats. To offer such a genuine sample-to-result quantitative POC solution, the DECIPHER value chain, from lab to market, will cover: (1) investigation of high-throughput manufacturing processes with (2) novel polymers, innovations in the fields of (3) microfluidics, (4) HMNs and (5) quantitative molecular bioassays, (6) DECIPHER patch analytical and clinical validation (both retrospective and prospective), as well as (7) AI-based models, (8) socio-economic/systems analysis and (9) life cycle assessment of DECIPHER patch. This true interdisciplinarity will be represented by highly experienced DECIPHER consortium with partners from 3 universities, 5 research institutes, 1 SME, 1 large company and 1 non-governmental organization from 6 countries.

Metal halide perovskite solar cells have moved into the focus of energy materials research through impressive power conversion efficiencies. However, the most efficient perovskite absorbers contain toxic lead. Tin halide perovskites have emerged as a highly promising alternative and efficiencies up to 14.6% have been already reported, but to become a highly efficient thin film technology, further increasing their efficiency and stability, as well as fast and homogeneous large area perovskite crystallization compatible with roll-to-roll processes are still major hurdles. These challenges are tackled within SMARTLINE-PV by the development of a fast, robust and scalable plasma assisted crystallization technology leading to high quality tin perovskite films. The benefits lie in the high speed of the process, the low temperatures involved and in the precise control of perovskite nucleation and growth by a combination of the precursor chemistry and the plasma conditions. Moreover, (i) tailored interlayers will be applied to further improve the solar cell efficiency and stability and (ii) novel device concepts to fabricate flexible tin perovskite solar cell modules with selectable colour will be implemented. The lead-free thin film PV technology developed in SMARTLINE-PV will achieve efficiencies of 25%, with significant reduction of energy consumption and manufacturing costs compared to other thin film technologies, which typically involve high temperature steps. For the SMARTLINE-PV consortium, these advancements will lead to a plethora of new opportunities to strengthen the European photovoltaics industry in many sectors including the important building-integrated (BI) PV market. Ecodesign, circularity and social acceptance will play important roles in the whole development process in which a TRL progression of tin perovskite solar cells to TRL 5 is foreseen, which will be validated by the fabrication of BIPV-demonstrators and their operation in real-life conditions.

Nano enabled components are essential key parts for microfluidic applications - mostly in form of nano-enabled surfaces (NES) and nano-enabled membranes (NEMs). However, crucial challenges hinder the transfer of NES and NEMs into commercial microfluidic devices. Current production technologies (e.g. injection moulding) don’t allow large volume upscaling of complex nano-patterned surfaces and the produced microfluidic components need to be handled in single pieces in all subsequent processes. Therefore, subsequent backend processing (nano-coatings, printing of nano-based inks, lamination of NEMs) demands for complex single peace handling operations. This restricts upscaling potential and process throughput. The proposed project NextGenMicrofluidics addresses this challenge with a platform for production of NES and NEMs based microfluidics on large area polymer foils. This approach enables upscaling to high throughput of 1 million devices per year and more. The polymer foil technology is complemented with classic technologies of injection moulding and wafer based glass and silicon processing. These core facilities are combined with essential backend processing steps like high resolution biomolecule printing with the worldwide first roll-to-roll microarray spotter, printing of nano-enabled inks, as well as coating and lamination processes. These unique facilities will be combined and upgraded to a platform for testing of upscaling of microfluidic use cases from TRL4 to TRL7. The services comprise device simulation, mastering of nanostructures, nanomaterial development, material testing, rapid prototyping, device testing, nano-safety assessment and support in regulatory and standardization issues. The platform will be opened for additional use cases from outside of the consortium, and is therefore called Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). The operation of such use cases will form the basis for self-sufficient operation of the platform after the project duration of 4 years