Starting from current best practices and key success factors observed and analysed in innovative value chains and the state of the art in technological and non-technological approaches, CO-FRESH proposes to develop techniques, tools and insights for the re-design of agri-food value chains. Through collaborative and systemic approaches, the tools and formats will be applied in 7 pilot cases representing diverse fruit and vegetables agri-food value chains (including protein crops for food and feed) across Europe. CO-FRESH will use the Intervention Research approach to study models of collective innovation action within and across organisations. The CO-FRESH consortium brings together key actors from pilot agri-food value chains; actors’ associations (farmers, food producers, cooperatives, consumers); experts in technological (including digital) solutions and non-technological (including social, organizational, and institutional) solutions; as well as experts in environmental, social, economic sustainability, and in consumer’s acceptance. The main objective of CO-FRESH is to (re)design and pilot innovative systemic approaches to agri-food value chains to scale up this innovation at European level. These innovative approaches will improve economic, social and environmental performance/efficiency of these value chains, through smart integration of technological, social, organisational, managerial and institutional innovations; all of which serve to make them more sustainable.

The Creative and Cultural Industries are considered as one of the most promising fields of economic activity in EU but also a promising sector to significant job creation. They can act as important drivers of innovation. Long-term structural changes in our societies towards a knowledge-based economy have led to new forms of non-technological innovation in which “culture-based creativity” plays a key role.The rationale of the project is that in recent years many projects have been implemented to improve basic business and management skills of artists/creatives but no one has focused on specific technical skills to be improved with a cross-sectoral approach. In addition, the majority of existing initiatives are targeted to start-ups and not to entrepreneurs who need to consolidate their businesses.The overall objective of the project is to develop specific training tools which will support people working in CCI to improve their competences and skills required to reinforce the competitive advantage of CC sectors by maintaining a virtuous cycle of creative talent, artistic expressions, entrepreneurship and investment. The specific objectives are to:- develop 1 transnational training model divided in 5 macro-area, 1 for each expertise which has been identified as essential to unlock the potential of CCI: 1) Creative and artistic; 2) Technical and engineering; 3) Market and business; 4) Managerial and financial; 5) Process and networking.- test the models both on trainers/VET providers and cultural and creatives businesses.The objectives will be reached through a set of well-defined activities which will be implemented in 30 months by 6 partners coming from 5 different countries (Croatia, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Greece):- Setting up of 5 working groups with the aim to elaborate detailed training models on 5 identified thematic areas:- 1 International training for internal staff and trainers to transfer the knowledge among partners on training materials related to 5 thematic areas;- 1 International training to test the models and improve the knowledge of people working in CCI;- Development of a handbook to support SMEs and self-employed in CCI to manage their business;- Development of an online learning platform targeted to entrepreneurs in CCI;- Implementation of dissemination activities and 5 multiplier events to actively involve the participation of stakeholders.The direct target of project activities will be businesses operating in the Cultural and Creative sector who will benefit from training activities and intellectual outputs, and also the staff from participating organisations who will improve their knowledge and expertise in assisting the companies working in CCI sector to transform their business models from “project-by-project basis” to “maintainable creative entrepreneurship”.

The Organic fruit sector is highly dependent on inputs, particularly in terms of plant protection. Climate change is increasing impacts and risks to organic fruit production. Large market demand is expanding for organic fruits but the current commercial cultivars (cvs) range previously selected in high input paradigm are, for most of them, not adapted to organic production. InnOBreed proposes to mobilise Innovative Solutions (ISs): social innovations, new ideotypes, new methods for screening robust cvs and genitors with larger genetic bases for fostering organic fruit breeding. These ISs will be targeted and developed on participative, multi-actor and multi-trait based approaches and then applied for evaluating underutilized Fruit Tree Genetic Resources (FTGR), pre-breeding and advanced material. InnOBreeds scope encompasses many Rosaceous species but also citrus and grape. InnOBreed aims to improve the whole Fruit chain through the implementation of an Organic Variety Testing Network of actors. It deals with (i)identification and definition of current lock-in in organic fruit farming systems (OFS),(ii) co-designing new ideotypes fitting with local OFS,(iii)identification of performant IS already available, (iv)development of new climate change ISs but also for fruit quality, pests and diseases tolerance, low input fitness and robustness, and their application by FTGR curators,(v) ISs validation process and implementation by several public-private case-studies in different regions for evaluating their efficiency , and (vi)checking sustainability and consistency with actual regulations before being disseminated for maximizing IS impacts on the value chain.InnOBreed is deeply connected with running initiatives, programmes and resources involved in OFS, organic fruit participative and classical breeding, fostering FTGR uses by fruit-chain, scientists and stakeholders. Particular attention will be paid to embed the relevant stakeholders at national and European levels.

The project aims to enhance the professional profile of African VET teachers and trainers in the field of agriculture and rural development by offering online, face to face and work based learning opportunities. In order to do so, SEED4AFRICA will support the establishment of an international network of VET – Vocational Education and Training – providers in three different countries (Italy, Belgium and Spain) and four Sub-Saharan countries (Nigeria, Benin, Kenya and South Africa) with the potential to furtherly extend within the EU, as well as in the whole southern African region. Project activities will promote the enhancement of VET quality and attractiveness, with a specific focus on smart, digital and sustainable farming, in particular by:- adapting and transferring the results of three good practices financed by the Erasmus+ programme for the design of innovative training approaches and materials in agricultural education, namely: SEED - Smart Entrepreneurial Education and training in Digital farming; PONICS VET - Hydroponics Agricultural Technician; LiveAdapt - Solutions for the adaptation of Extensive Livestock to Climate Change.- enhancing communication and cooperation among VET providers, at local and international level, exchanging good practices, initiatives and tools, also with the organization of job shadowing and technical visits for African VET teachers and technical staff in the schools of the ENNE National Networks represented in the project;- innovating the provision of VET programmes encouraging the collaboration between educational institutions, public authorities and private companies, especially through the conduction of contest based initiatives, such as hackathons and innovation bootcamps, where mixed teams of VET students and Agriculture stakeholders will co-design digital and entrepreneurial solutions for societal challenges linked to the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.

<< Objectives >>The TWIN 4.0 main aim is to boost the capacity of manufacturing SMEs for twin transition by equipping them with comprehensive training and thus raise their awareness on the need of this transition.The specific objectives are to:+enable manufacturing SMEs to adopt a sustainable approach towards digitalisation;+create prerequisites for boosting green, digital skills & competencies of manufacturing SMEs’ staff;+strengthen VET–business collaboration with regards to supporting twin transition;<< Implementation >>The project implementation phase is structured in five work packages (WPs): project management; dissemination and exploitation and three WPs focused on the development of the project core results. Each of the result-oriented WPs follows identical stages: 1)Planning stage2)Research and Development stage3)Validation of quality through testing with target groups4)Refinement & Finalization<< Results >>The project objectives are directly linked to the 3 main results that TWIN 4.0 project will aim to produce, as follows:R1: TWIN 4.0 environmental impact audit tool R2: TWIN 4.0 transition training course R3: TWIN 4.0 transition guidelines for VET providersThe expected impact of the TWIN 4.0 results application will be raised awareness and boosted capacity for twin transition of the manufacturing industry.