The main economic, technological and environmental challenges of small mining include reducing high investment costs, reducing generation of waste and large tailings, identifying and addressing environmental impacts, and improving flexibility, automation and safety of operations. However, at the moment, there is no quick-fix available to reduce the environmental impact from mines, and it is neither realistic to expect production solutions very distant from today’s technologies. Considering that the present mining technology is based on rock blasting and mobile mining equipment for loading and transportation, the major challenge is to generate a new sustainable systemic solution that affects positively the relevant mining value chain. SLIM aims to develop a cost-effective and sustainable selective low impact mining solution based on non-linear rock mass fragmentation by blasting models, airborne particulate matter, vibration affections and nitrate leaching mitigation actions for exploitation of small mineral deposits (including those with chemically complex ore-forming phases) through a new generation of explosives and an advanced automatic blast design software based on improved rock mass characterisation and fragmentation models for optimum fragmentation and minimum rock damage and far-field vibrations. SLIM consortium is led by UPM (es), with LTU (se), MUL (at) and TUG (at) as Research Insitutions, 3GSM (at - Rock fragmentation and blasting software), MAXAM (es - Explosives), ORGIVA (es - Fluorite mine) and ERZBERG (at - Iron mine) and ARNO (es - Quarry) as validators in relevant environment. BRGM (fr), INVESTORNET (dk), MINPOL (at), and ZABALA (es) complement the Environmental and Economic assessments, the Communication and Dissemination activities and Social Awareness actions. SLIM addresses the following issue: a) Sustainable selective low impact mining (2016), it has a planned duration of 48 months and a budget of €6,979,200 requesting €6,979,200 of EU funding.

Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs) are a group of common autoimmune diseases that include clinically heterogeneous disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Despite their clinical heterogeneity, IMIDs share a significant number of features at the molecular and cellular levels. Recently developed therapies targeting common key molecules of the immune system like anti-TNF agents, have collectively resulted in a significant improvement in the management of IMIDs. Still, the complete control of the chronic inflammatory process is rarely attained, and too many patients experience a poor response, if at all. This inefficacy has become a major economic burden and severely impacts on the wellbeing of many European citizens. The DocTIS projects aims to profoundly change this trend by identifying highly effective combinatorial therapies as well as the group of patients where this response will be optimal. Using the standardized samples from one of the world’s largest biobanks specialized in IMIDs, new molecular data will be generated using advanced high-throughput technologies including single cell RNA-seq. Systems biology methods will be applied to this unique clinical and molecular data to model the response to targeted therapies and predict what drug combinations will act synergistically and on which types of patients. After validation in a preclinical stage, the optimal combinatorial therapy will be tested in a group of patients with a positive biomarker profile. Using a basket trial, a new type of clinical trial design that incorporates molecular marker information, the DocTIS project will provide proof of concept of the utility of combinatorial therapy and personalized medicine for the effective control of disease activity in IMIDs.

The transition to renewable energy, particularly through the widespread adoption of distributed solar PV systems, is hindered by significant technical, social, financial, and regulatory barriers. Key challenges include energy poverty and inequality, especially in Mediterranean regions where inefficient housing and rental systems exacerbate the issue. Limited awareness, bureaucratic hurdles, and inadequate financial incentives further slow adoption, while integrating decentralized renewable energy into existing communities remains complex. Unlocking the full potential of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) requires clear benefits, accessible financial tools, and innovative technologies to enhance the efficiency and longevity of PV systems. SOCIAREM will accelerate the adoption and profitability of PV systems within RECs by overcoming these barriers through an innovative, implementable solution integrated with collective self-consumption schemes. The project will develop advanced tools tailored to diverse socio-economic and geographical contexts, enhancing efficiency, minimizing energy losses, and maximizing renewable energy use. Blockchain-enabled platforms will facilitate secure, decentralized peer-to-peer energy sharing, improving energy autonomy and resilience. Inclusive social data spaces will ensure fair energy distribution while safeguarding privacy, addressing energy vulnerability, and promoting social equity. Citizen engagement will be fostered through gamification and educational tools, ensuring participation across different cultural and behavioural profiles. A consortium of universities, R&D centres, and companies will drive SOCIAREM’s development, ensuring strong scientific and market expertise. The project’s solutions will be tested in four European RECs—Switzerland, Cyprus, Portugal, and Italy—while incorporating insights from Egypt. By reaching TRL7, SOCIAREM will validate its tools’ effectiveness, providing a scalable and sustainable model for RECs.

The main objective of RBDCOV project is to test the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of a new vaccine against different variants of COVID-19 based on the outstanding data generated using a recombinant protein developed by the consortium partners. Two different clinical trials will be run during the project duration to test the variants recombinant RBD protein vaccine, codifying for Beta and Alpha SARS-Cov-2 variants in paediatric population and in immunocompromised adults. The aim of the project is to focus not only on the current SARS-CoV-2 variants but also in the emerging ones as Beta and Alpha variants. Thus, a continuous monitoring of the new emerging variants will be performed throughout the project to ensure that the platform is prepared to cope with the disease. The platform used for the generation of the vaccines is adaptable to variants and will be ready to include in the design any other potential variant that could appear in short, medium and large term. Preclinical data are already available. The core of RBDCOV consortium has been in close contact to the corresponding agencies and considering Reflection paper on the regulatory requirements for vaccines intended to provide protection against variant strain(s) of SARS-CoV-2, preclinical data supporting the first vaccine candidate can be extrapolated for the vaccines against the new emerging variants. This create a unique opportunity for RBDCOV consortium to generate the first RBD recombinant vaccine to be approved in Europe. This vaccine will be manufactured by an European technological company that will change actual paradigms and allow the really change to One health concept, based on the close relationship between the animal world and the onset of certain infections in humans.

The overall objective of the project is to boost green and digital transition of European manufacturing SMEs through the uptake of advanced technologies and social innovation. To that end, MANTRA will create and demonstrate an effective and highly scalable European-wide capacity building and demonstration programme to provide SMEs with the required assistance, network of partners and experts, and financial support to elaborate and implement tailored transformation journeys leading to sustainable business models and, more competitive and resilience SMEs. This innovation support ecosystem will be built on the capacities of a strong consortium and of available EU support networks and SME support initiatives.