VITAL aims to generate fundamental knowledge and expertise that will underpin future European activities to substitute existing synthetic thermoplastics with those from bio-based sources and in so doing, enable the European the polymer processing sector to achieve a paradigm shift towards bio-based alternatives for cleaner, more climate neutral industrial value chains. This will be achieved through the development of thermoplastic foaming processes, combined with smart digital control approaches, that will enable bio-based thermoplastics to be processed both on traditional processing equipment (for foam injection moulding and bead foaming) as well as developing a globally unique 3D printing approach for foamed thermoplastics. These processing technologies represent three 'value-chains'. In addition, bio-based thermoplastic mechanical recycling developments will underpin progression of engineering applications towards a 'Circularity by Design' approach. The knowledge produced will be widely disseminated through various conduits, including a Learning Factory that aims to give access to pilot scale industrial lines for each of the 3 value chains in order to reduce the risk for industry for adoption of the technologies. VITAL brings together a world-leading consortium consisting of industrial processors and equipment manufacturers along with end-user partners from the automotive, electronics and marine sectors and leading research and technologies organisations from across Europe. The 6 use cases in VITAL combine to address the expected outcomes, and create pathways to mitigate ~75,000 tonnes CO2 eq/year from fossil-based materials through a conversion to bio-based materials. The consortium along with the Advisory board will provide a multiplier effect to broaden these impacts with further applications and uses. VITAL's disruptive approaches will help industrial adoption by addressing the cost-challenges of bio-based materials by optimising processing and material use.

REVOLUTION focusses on overcoming the challenges hindering the use of recycled materials, but more broadly, restricting the widespread adoption of circular economy principles in the automotive industry. Forthcoming ELV directives are expected to recognise the potential for plastics to enable a circular flow of materials in the automotive sector. Implementing minimum post-consumer recyclate (PCR) targets in any new plastic components in vehicles are currently being discussed. These targets will disrupt the automotive industry. Currently PCR (closed-loop recycling) forms ~2% of the total plastics demanded across the automotive sector, and are not used in high-value or high-performing areas. REVOLUTION is proposing a disruptive innovation that will bring open-loop recycling to the forefront of automotive injection moulding. The variability of PCR causes a big problem for an industry where failure rates on 1 per million are accepted. REVOLUTION will use machine learning and artificial intelligence to optimise the input of recycled materials and injection moulding process to deliver high-quality parts. The AI-Platform will use data from three areas of the production process to predict part quality when using recycled materials. REVOLUTION will develop this platform, and develop a range of recycled formulations, including self-reinforced materials to deliver innovative components that offer light weighing, superior performance and distinctive end of life advantages for future EVs. REVOLUTION brings together leading organisations from European strong-hold industries such as automotive, chemicals and plastics. The automotive industry is represented by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles through Tofas, CRF and Tier 1s Farplas and MAIER. LyondellBasell, Clariant and Altuglas provide strong representation of the European excellence in plastics and chemicals. These are joined by leading research organisations and SMEs to bring a solution to market that addresses the entire value chain.

Smart Manufacturing is believed to play a critical role in maintaining the competitiveness of organisations, by supporting them at different levels such as process optimisation, resource efficiency, predictive maintenance and quality control. Nevertheless, AI technologies which are currently and rapidly penetrating industrial sectors at those levels remain essentially narrow AI systems. This is due to the lack of self-adaptiveness in the AIs capability to assimilate and interpret new information outside of its predefined programmed parameters. This mean that AI systems are tailored for solving specific tasks on a specific predefined setting and changes in the underlying setting usually requires system adaption ranging from fine-grained parameter adaptations to fully-fledged re-design and re-development of AI systems. TEAMING_AI project aims at a human AI teaming framework that integrates the strengths of both, the flexibility of human intelligence and scale-up capability of machine intelligence. Human AI teaming is equally motivated to meet the increased need for flexibility in the maintenance and further evolution of AI systems, driven by the increasing personalization of products and service, as well as tackling the barriers of user acceptance and ethical challenges involved in the collaborative environments where artificial intelligence will be used, in order AI can be considered as “teammate” rather than as a threat. The TEAMING.AI project will be run over 36 months with a work plan divided into 9 Work Packages. Work Packages from 1 to 5 are devoted to the development of new technology to enhance the interaction between human and machine. Furthermore, Work Packages 6 and 7 wrap the development of 3 use case scenarios. Finally, two final Work Packages (8 and 9) will work respectively on the dissemination, exploitation of results and coordination of the project in a transversally way to the above mentioned WPs.

The CREDIT project will address current challenges in circular remanufacturing by adopting a human-centred innovation approach, focusing on the digitalisation of assets (A), creating multi-layered Digital Twins (B), and developing an open-source-based distributed ICT platform (C), allowing seamless data management and complex DT implementation. Additionally, a range of remanufacturing-enabling digital services (D), including AI-based decision support systems, DLT-based traceability and quality control, predictive maintenance, and general support tools for remanufacturing operations, such as Augmented Reality, will be integrated. Alongside these technologies and tools, a comprehensive upskilling and education methodology (E) will be developed to ensure the appropriate level of maturity at the factory site. Five diverse business cases in the white goods, telecommunications, aerospace, toolmaking and automotive sectors have been designed based on their relevance and potential for broad impact. These use cases will be co-created with stakeholders in line with the social innovation methodology to ensure that the specific objectives and technologies are aligned with end users' needs. By providing an operational environment, these use cases will serve as the foundation for achieving the final TRL7 and demonstrating the platform's adaptability and potential for deployment in various industrial sectors. This will be consolidated through a scaled replicability study. The project's far-reaching impact will touch a wide set of target groups, leading to a more sustainable, efficient, and socially responsible future for the manufacturing industry. CREDIT will generate economic benefits such as increased efficiency, reduced production costs, and enhanced competitiveness while addressing environmental concerns by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and minimizing raw material consumption, in line with the EU’s green manufacturing and sustainability targets.

The Talent Pass initiative is designed to: - strengthen the innovation ecosystem towards a borderless research, innovation (R&I) and technology market by addressing the critical need for geographically balanced talent circulation and increased cross-sectorial interoperability, as outlined in Action 4 of the ERA Policy Agenda (2022-2024); - cultivate and support cross-sectorial partnerships between academic and non-academic organizations that operate in areas of proven scientific excellence, particularly within the realm of the circular economy. The Talent Pass project aims to: - significantly enhance talent mobility and expertise development within circular economy, particularly focusing on researchers, innovators, and other R&I academic/non-academic talents from widening countries; - build a critical mass of competent researchers having the necessary high-quality knowledge, skills, and tools to drive forward innovation and sustainability in the circular economy; - improving access to excellence by consolidating an interdisciplinary network of highly skilled human resources and enhance the efficient utilization and valorization of complementary research capacities, infrastructure and results, aligning with the Horizon Europe Work Program (2023-24) - WIDERA and the Circular Economy Action Plan for a Cleaner and More Competitive Europe (2020); - bridge the gap between research and application and effectively translate advancements in circular economy into real-world solutions, by fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Talent Pass will subsequently focus on strengthening the research capabilities of WC institutions, ensuring they are on par with leading European entities. This will be achieved through strategic use of research resources (human, know-how and infrastructure) to foster capacity-building initiatives and targeted training and secondment programs addressing current and future challenges in circular economy.