The proposed project is built on the successful training and research experience of the leading European research groups working in the field of cavity optomechanics. Our ENT unites a total of 14 leading groups in the field, of which two are major industrial players that utilize MEMS and NEMS - Bosch and IBM. The main goal of the project is to exploit optomechanical interactions in views of novel functionality and possible applications of cavity optomechanical systems that were envisioned by consortium partners during their previous research activities. The possible applications include for instance MEMS sensors based on two-dimensional materials like graphene, quantum limited microwave amplifiers, and low noise optical to microwave frequency photon converters. While the majority of the experiments will firmly reside in the realm of classical, albeit weak, signals or fields, the aspired performance will also allow exploiting schemes in scenarios where quantum nature of the signal is relevant.

MultiDiverse will design a new multidisciplinary highly integrated transnational EMJM in Multilingualism and Cultural Diversity by bringing together expertise from three EU universities and four disciplines in a complementary way. The University of Konstanz together with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Jagiellonian University, and with the input of academic and non-academic stakeholders will jointly design the curriculum and develop common processes and mechanisms related to quality assurance, accreditation, and recognition of degrees and credits. MultiDiverse will have a significant impact on the universities, future students, the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and the society at large. It will enable the universities to develop a new partnership and improve the quality and innovation of their programmes; increase their internationalisation, competitiveness and attractiveness towards talented students; and set up new partnerships with academic and non-academic stakeholders. The innovative aspects of MultiDiverse will contribute to the attractiveness of the EHEA. The EMJM programme will train young talented people with a background in linguistics, education, psychology, or sociology on multilingualism and cultural diversity across disciplines to respond to the labour market needs within the academic and non-academic sectors. Students will obtain high-quality training, will become part of an international network, and will develop key competences that can significantly improve their employability. Training in digital skills and science communication will enable them to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of multilingualism and cultural diversity at national and local levels. This can lead to better understanding of multilingualism and cultural diversity by policymakers as well as the general public and can result in better understanding and implementation of policies on multilingualism and cultural diversity in Europe and beyond.

Clear evidence supports associations between endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure and impaired neurodevelopment. Yet, current hazard assessment of EDCs does not address developmental neurotoxicity. This is due to lack of scientific knowledge on how endocrine disruption is linked to developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Thus there is an urgent need for novel testing and screening tools to address ED-induced DNT, based on new scientific knowledge. This calls for rapid advances in basic research as well as in the development of screening and testing tools close to the end-users. ENDpoiNTs will address this need by i) integrating advanced expertise in the EDC and DNT fields, two so far rather independent toxicology communities, and ii) continuous interaction with European and international key stakeholders. By combining state-of-the-art in silico and in vitro tools, innovative experimental designs and technologies, and advanced biostatistics on human epidemiological and biomonitoring data, ENDpoiNTs will 1) Generate the necessary scientific insights on the correlative and causal links between endocrine disruption and DNT; 2) Develop predictive in silico tools for chemical screening using machine learning and combination of evidence; 3) Develop and validate in vitro tools for chemical screening and testing that address sex- and species differences; 4) Develop novel molecular endpoints for existing animal-based test guidelines by integrating in vitro, in vivo, and human omics data with behavioural outcomes; 5) Ensure human relevance by linking experimental and epidemiological evidence; 6) Develop an integrated testing approach based on the developed in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays and molecular markers; 7) Ensure regulatory relevance by developing strategies for implementation of these tools and endpoints into regulatory frameworks. In this way, ENDpoiNTs will meet the scientific, regulatory, and societal needs for improved hazard and risk assessment of EDCs

Pre- and post-marketing data on drug side effects show that neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity are frequently missed or underestimated during pre-clinical testing. Neuro- and cardiotoxicity caused by pollutants including pesticides and industrial chemicals are equally difficult to assess. This results in suffering of individuals and in a considerable burden to society. One of the main reasons is that currently available testing approaches have several shortcomings, including sensitivity, human-relevance and suitability for non-invasive long-term recording. This project will develop a revolutionary and fully non-invasive technology to record in-vitro electrical signals from human neuronal and cardiac cells. High spatial resolution, combined with parallel recording of electrical signal coordination and propagation among thousands of neurons or cardiomyocytes, will allow the assessment and quantification of subtle disturbances by toxicants from the drug, pesticides and industrial chemicals sectors. The full non-invasiveness will enable, for the first time, the long-term functional in-vitro monitoring of biologically relevant cellular models, paving the way toward the reliable assessment of chronic toxicities. The novel biosensing technique (VICE) will emerge from the efforts of nanotechnology developers in close collaboration with toxicologists and specialists in surface functionalization and electrophysiological data acquisition. With its joint expertise, the consortium will continuously refine the VICE biosensor with innovative functionalities while thoroughly testing it in toxicology and pharmacologicy experiments. This will not only lead to a revolutionary approach to monitor functions of heart and brain cells, but also ensure the direct applicability to relevant questions in safety sciences and pharmacology. Ultimately, the project will elicit the future development of a whole new class of biosensors based on the groundbreaking concept of VICE.