AI and big data are fundamentally interwoven into our societies, culture and indeed into our expectations and conceptions of democratic governance and exchange. They can also, however, contribute to an environment for citizens that is distinctly anti-democratic. KT4D will harness the benefits of an understanding of these as knowledge technologies to foster more inclusive civic participation in democracy. To achieve this, we will develop and validate tools, guidelines and a Digital Democracy Lab demonstrators platform. These results will be validated across three user needs scenarios: 1) building capacity for citizens and citizen-facing Civil Society Organisations (CSOs); 2) creating regulatory tools and services for Policy and CSOs; and 3) improving awareness of how to design ethically and mindfully for democracy principles in academic and industrial software development. Our work is underpinned by the understanding that to fully address the social and fundamental rights costs of AI and big data, we need more than just technological fixes, we need more than just technological fixes, we need to address the underlying cultural influences and barriers. Most importantly, we understand the threats to democracy of AI and big data not only through the nature of what they do, but via the cultural disruptions they create with power dynamics they shift, their tendency toward opacity, and the speed at which they change. KT4D’s ambitious and disruptive results will drive transformation in how democracy and civic participation are facilitated in the face of rapidly changing knowledge technologies, enabling actors across society to capitalise on the many benefits these technologies can bring in terms of community empowerment, social integration, individual agency, and trust in both institutions and technological instruments, while confidently mitigating potential ethical, legal and cultural risks.

NOTIONES is a Latin lemma meaning “notions, ideas, investigations, cognisance” and therefore refers to “being informed”. The Call requires (a) to build a network of practitioners from security and intelligence services of EU MS & AC that has the objective (b) to support the needs of the security and intelligence services of the MS & AC for future security research programming. To address these requirements, NOTIONES consortium includes: (a) 15 practitioners from military, civil, financial, judiciary, local, national and international polices, coming from 9 EU MS and 6 AC. These practitioners, together with the other consortium members, grant a complete coverage of the 4 EU main areas: West Europe (PT, ES, UK, FR, IT, DE, AT), North Europe (FI, DK, SE, EE, LV), Middle Europe (PO, SK, UK), Middle East (IL, TR, GE, BG, BA, MK) for a total of 21 countries; (b) experts in security research programming. The NOTIONES’ S&T Coordinator is one of the 50 members of ESRAB and of the 64 members of ESRIF, the two Committees charged by the EC to outline its funding policy related to security research programming. In addition to that, the NOTIONES’ consortium includes 5 partners of PYTHIA and SOLOMON (Z&P, EXPSYS, ICSA, BDI, LESO), the two projects outlining the EDA/EC future defence research programming. The monitoring of technologies and the definition of requirements and recommendations for their industrialization will provide a great advantage to practitioners in the fields of intelligence and security. Through an iterative cycle, the output recommendations will be synthesized into specifications that can be provided to industry and academy across Europe, providing tangible benefits to those organisations engaged in intelligence and security. The results of the NOTIONES project, which has a lifetime of five years, will be presented to the broad intelligence community in workshops and conferences and will contribute to the definition of further security and intelligence research

Digital transformation of democracy has become an irreversible process. Yet, digital democracy platforms bear risks and challenges. INNOVADE's ambitious and disruptive results will drive transformation in how democracy and civic participation are facilitated by advanced digital technologies, while ensuring equal participation irrespective of socio-economic background and other factors. By fostering a thriving digitally enhanced public sphere, INNOVADE contributes to policymakers, citizens and researchers' better understanding of digital democracy dynamics. Leveraging existing knowledge, INNOVADE investigates recent developments in e-participation solutions. Through historical analysis and transnational cooperation, INNOVADE delves into the wide and long-term impacts and provide scalable and replicable solutions for e-participation. To advance digital democracy, INNOVADE will a) build an interdisciplinary knowledge base on digital democracy to improve knowledge on the current state of the art, future trends, and emerging next practices; b) help decisionmakers better understand frameworks, structures and settings required for inclusive digital governance; c) provide a toolkit that allows governments to make informed decisions on how to advance the transition to optimum digital democracies; d) build a “Digital Democracy App” in conformance with the principles of data protection, data security, and ethics; and finally e) develop a conceptual framework, platform and the educational materials needed for democratising access to digital tools for citizens across different backgrounds. The project’s co-operation with public administrations, citizens, civil society, and the private sector will ensure dialogue and foster impact. Over the longer term, the project will contribute to strengthening democratic governance, improving the accountability, transparency, efficacy, and trustworthiness of governments, and expanding active and inclusive citizenship.

China is a key global actor and a leading economic and technological power. China’s increasing relevance in the geopolitical system, its various specificities, complexities and goals as well as its rapid evolution and new policy directions pose challenge to the EU’s capacity to better understand contemporary China. Furthermore, the European Union needs to get to know and understand China on its own terms: not through the lens of other external sources but from its own European perspective. However, the European level expertise on contemporary China is often fragmented and difficult to access. To overcome this challenge, it is essential to connect established and emerging knowledge nodes as well as gathering, categorising, and mainstreaming their work on a publicly accessible platform. This approach will break down siloes and provide policy-makers, researchers, businesses, and civil society with the necessary knowledge to develop a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects that define contemporary China. Such an approach will also enhance the dissemination of information and facilitate the generation of new knowledge. In this regard, EuroHub4Sino project is built upon four interconnected and interdependent pillars that foresees (a) to develop a state-of-the-art digital platform which was absent in previous projects/initiatives as they had to rely on their own resources in their research/cooperation efforts. This platform will also better serve the wider civil society in mainstreaming independent European knowledge. An inclusive and diverse (b) network will make the most of the digital platform in its (c) collaborative research and communication activities. EuroHub4Sino has (d) developed an innovative and sustainable business model with an aim that this inclusive network and enhanced digital platform will continue working following the end of the project.

<< Background >>The number of underachievers and early school leavers is still high in the EU. Students with fewer opportunities have lower expectations of completing tertiary education (43.4%) than their peers (82.3%) (Council of the EU, 2021). This conclusion calls on member states and the Commission to work together on policies to reduce low-achievement, raise competence levels and prevent unemployment.Mentor+ is focused on designing an intervention of non-formal education, offering the mentoring methodology to engage, connect and empower young people in conflict with the law. The main idea is to use law abiding adults to support juveniles in the process of developing positive attitudes and behaviours. Mentor+ is also focused on digitalisation. We want to develop a mobile application to support the coordination of the mentoring processes. A low-cost solution that brings flexibility and scalability potential to the project results. Adding digital technology and creating an electronic dimension of mentoring it is our priority to have an impact on the logistical part of the mentoring processes: electronic communication enables mentoring relationships to transcend geographical and temporal boundaries, enabling mentoring facilities to be extended to those formerly unable to access them.Evidence shows that there is ample reason for concern in the area of juvenile delinquency (Souverein et al., 2019). Youth within the juvenile justice system (JJS) are among the most vulnerable citizens. Research shows that incarceration does not attend to their needs and it often results in negative behavioural & mental health consequences (e.g. maintain, or evenincrease, levels of engagement in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity) (Lambie & Randell, 2013). Youth within the JJS continue to experience routine violations of their basic rights, including violence and isolation within detention centers (Souverein et al., 2019; UNICEF, 2013). Moreover, the relationship between juvenile delinquency & school dropout,mental health problems, substance abuse, unemployment, illegal lifestyle, a higher risk of intergenerational perpetuation of patterns and internalizing disorders (e.g. depression and anxiety) is backboned by research. An added concern is that research shows that most adults in prison had a past of juvenile delinquency and institutionalization (Farrington, 2003;Ezell & Cohen, 2005). Research in the field of adolescent delinquency shows a positive correlation between mentoring relationships and increased social capital, such as self-esteem, education, and employment achievements (Kelley & Lee, 2018). Longitudinal studies have shown that natural mentors reduce delinquency over time depending upon characteristics of the mentoring relationship. “A key finding is that mattering to others is in fact a vital part of the relationship between natural mentors and delinquency outcomes” (Ibid., 2018).<< Objectives >>1. During 36 months to design & pilot a mentoring programme for justice-involved youth in order to avoid their incarceration/ institutionalization, targeting at least 60 young people in conflict with the law.2. Create a Handbook for the Mentors to support them in mentoring justice-involved Youth (providing guidelines, templates and useful tools to put into motion during the mentoring sessions), piloted by 60 mentors in the different country partners.3. Create and pilot a mobile application, available in 6 different European languages to support mentors and mentees in real time, giving visibility to the added value of the electronic nature of e-mentoring as a mechanism that allows mentoring relationships to transcend geographical and temporal boundaries. The mobile APP will have different group areas: it will have a common room for mentoring coordinators and another common room for mentors. These rooms will give them the space to interact between them and exchange experiences. Also, the APP should allow mentors to contact the mentees to provide online support (chat), and schedule face-to-face meetings.4. During 3 years, to support more than 60 juveniles at risk of deviant behaviour/ in conflict with the law to reintegrate into society and have a life without crime, by offering them the opportunity to contact with a role model (peer mentor).5. Create opportunities for transnational cooperation and exchange of practices between professionals and volunteers working in the juvenile justice system, organising 2 short-term joint training events involving 56 people.<< Implementation >>The project has three main type of participants, namely:(1) Mentoring programme coordinators - that are the professionals/ educators;(2) Mentors - that will be adults with a law-abiding lifestyle (e.g. university students)(3) Mentees - that are the juvenile offenders / or juveniles at risk of being in contact with the law.During the project lifespan we will:develop an evidence-based mentoring programme focused on mentoring with young people in conflict with the law. organise a short-term joint staff training event in Ireland to train 20 programme coordinators from the country partners on how to implement a mentoring programme targeting young people in conflict with the law.create a Handbook for the mentors to better adjust the training sessions according to the needs of each child.design an online mobile platform to manage the mentoring processes & exchange of practices between the different coordinators and mentors across Europe.train 60 mentors from local communities on how to implement a mentoring programme targeting young people in conflict with the law.organise a short-term joint staff training event to train and reward the mentors, where they will have the chance not only to participate in a European experience, but also to exchange practices.organise more than 60 mentoring processes involving children in conflict with the law.organise 6 multiplier events at local level to involve project’s stakeholders.establish a community of practices to support the development of an evidence-based mentoring programme focused on mentoring with young people in conflict with the law, support the strategic evaluation of its results & its dissemination and appropriation beyond the life cycle of the project.<< Results >>Main project resultsPR1: Mentoring-Programme for justice-involved Youth – adapt to European Justice System context already existing portfolios of mentoring programs, designing a step-by-step new guide that can be delivered in any NGO that works with young offenders/ at risk.PR2: Mentors Handbook for mentoring justice-involved YouthPR3: Mentor+ -mobile application to support the mentoring programmesBy the end of the project, more than 60 mentors will be trained, 60 young people will be enrolled in mentoring processes & 1 mobile application, available in 5 different European languages, will be made available free of charge. During the project implementation & after its completion we expect the following outcomes:Mentees (or juveniles that are at risk of being in contact with the law/ or are already in contact with the law) (1) more positive attitudes & behaviours, & therefore to prevent serious, violent & persistent juvenile offending & reoffending by young members.(2) more opportunities for interaction between these juveniles & role models in the community, making them feel more valuable & that THEY MATTER to society (3) improved juveniles’ digital skills(4) more opportunities created to offer these juveniles the space & new perspectives to flourish & develop their full potential, considering that the population in JJS is becoming increasingly (culturally) diverse.Mentors (Volunteers)(1) we expect to improve mentors’ knowledge about JJS & their potential role on changing the mindset of JJS intervention, for an approach more focused on community-based interventions(2) improved mentors’ skills in terms of self-development & resilience(3) improved mentors’ skills in providing constructive feedback to others & interms of coaching skills(4) improved mentors’ skills in terms of learning of up-to-date technical skills to develop innovative approaches to tackle the problem of school-prison pipelineProfessionals & Organisations involved in the project coordination & implementation - during & after the project(1) create new & ongoing opportunities to exchange knowledge, experiences & practices on national & international level. Crosstalk opportunities are expected to have valuable impacts on the quality & flexibility of the project results,(2) staff’ improved skills in hard & soft skills (project management, communication, resilience, empathy, etc.)(3) an increment in the type & level of commitment of the professionals working in the juvenile delinquency field - these professionals are normally very tired & often lack positive results (despite all the effort that was done)(4) equip the professionals with new tools & processes for fostering rehabilitation of juvenile offenders to promote optimal development & prevent recidivism.(5) the establishment of a community of practices within each partner country to maintain & nurture the Mentor+ model.Policy levelTo contribute / support the implementation of the commitments of the 2015 Paris Declaration, namely promoting citizenship education & active citizenship. Also, promoting a European culture of rule of law, fostering tolerance & democratic attitudes, intercultural competences, digital & media literacy & critical thinking. We want to contribute to the European Digital Education Action Plan, developing resources to improve equity, inclusion & success in education of children at risk of dropping out, as well as the Strategy on the Rights of the Child, & the Action Plan on the Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including the Child Guarantee (CoE, 2021). Mentor+ is guided by the European Rules for juvenile offenders subject to sanctions or measures (2008). It is our aim to design & adapt tools that can contribute to support European Justice Systems to follow a multi-disciplinary & multi-agency approach, to ensure a holistic approach towards continuity of the care of such juveniles (principles of community involvement & continuous care).