The LEONIDAS action was submitted for the first time in the last MSCA-ITN 2017 call. According to the Evaluation Summary Report the overall score we obtained was of 94.2%. Not even one weakness was highlighted (only strengths were reported) and the scores for each evaluated part were as follows: Criterion 1–Excellence, Score: 4.70; Criterion 2–Impact, Score: 4.80; Criterion 3-Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, Score: 4.60. In spite of this very positive evaluation, the project was not financed (threshold to go was 96.2%). Clearly, a financial support such as the MRSEI, devoted to improving the quality of the rebuttal of our proposal in 2018, may represent the key to obtain the grant. We aim at creating an European research ITN network for the training of young scientists in the research field of quantum photonics based on silicon devices. We will provide to the PhDs an overview over silicon devices from the fundamental issues of Si purification and growth, ending up at the pinnacle of the modern communication era: quantum computation and information processing. The use of a silicon platform, and the involvement of industrial members, are strategic assets of the ITN: the implementation of the research program will lead to new science and new applications of tremendous relevance in semiconductor physics, devices and applications. LEONIDAS will train 15 PhD in the field of Si-based nano-structures, photonics and electronics towards the implementation of quantum devices. The trainees will be exposed to ideas, methods and issues relevant to the largest world-wide semiconductor market, offering them a wide spectrum of choices in their careers in academia and in the private company sectors (e.g. photovoltaics, transistors, cameras, detectors, mobiles etc.). Nano-photonics for solid-state quantum information requires great challenges in the fabrication and understanding of efficient quantum emitters with tailored properties, in the development of new scientific equipment enabling advanced experiments and devices at the single/multiple quantum level. For widespread nano-photonics and quantum information applications, semiconductor devices need to be engineered with full freedom and easily integrated in existing platforms and technologies. A main requirement is the implementation of new devices in a silicon platform, with different architectures and tunable optical, electrical and spin properties. These requirements are met by the control over sample purity, high quality of ion implantation and by all the widespread expertise in Si-based micro- and nano-structures. Despite a growing demand of innovative applications in this strongly multi-disciplinary research area, besides mutual collaborations on sub-fields, there are no research networks covering the entire topic. Our aim is to bring together European groups with a recognized expertise in growth, microscopy, spectroscopy, theory and device fabrication, so to cover the full chain of research in the field of quantum information processing, from basic materials science to practical devices. The input to LEONIDAS of non-academic members is crucial for the achievement of the proposed objectives, as well as for the enhancement of the training environment. In this way we will create a research and training action aiming at studying the ion implantation methods, deeply understanding the involved physics targeting well defined fundamental and technological goals. The LEONIDAS proposal timely matches all the 6 key-activities suggested by the “Quantum Manifesto” proposal (QUROPE) ensuring that the trained researchers will be uniquely well-placed to contribute to the development of new quantum devices in silicon. Our action will strongly enhance existing collaborations among consortium Partners, now covering only specific aspects of the whole chain of research.

The current climate change scenario predicts that global warming will have a dramatic impact on the Mediterranean basin, posing additional threats to the sustainability of current farming systems. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased food insecurity. BENEFIT-Med will promote the use of orphan legumes by implementing innovative/sustainable priming treatments to improve seed germination under water/heat stress, fundamental to address increased productivity/food security by stakeholders. The final outcomes are a sustainable priming treatment to improve germination of climate-ready crops (Trigonella foenum-graecum L., trigonella; Lathyrus sativus L., grass pea; Pisum sativum var. arvense, forage pea) from high-quality seeds and directions on their cropping. Such main goal will be met by the following specific objectives: i) set up a cartography of vulnerable mediterranean sites and a Database to integrate available information on orphan legumes with knowledge gathered by BENEFIT-Med; ii) develop tailored ‘on-farm’ seed priming to improve seed germination under stress conditions along with a sustainable, circular process for implementation of inoculant its production in locus; iv) validate effect of priming on agronomic performance and yield stability in open-field trials set in Tunisia, and Morocco ; v) valorise the importance and properties of local legumes; vi) quantify the impact of climate change and variability on existing and new farming systems; vii) estimate the life cycle of the new farming system; viii) establish a multi-stakeholder platform to promote the new farming system at multiple levels, through a participatory model, with focus on specific training/capacity building activities. BENEFIT-Med is a multidisciplinary project resulting from the synergic integration of eleven Partners: University of Pavia (Italy), University of Sfax (Tunisia), Agricultural University of Athens (Greece), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l’Environnement (France), Associação BLC3-Campus de Tecnologia e Inovação (Portugal), Benaki Phytopatological Institute (Greece), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology-Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (Germany), Institute Hassan II of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (Morocco), University of Casablanca (Morocco),University FerhatAbbas-Setif 1 (Algeria), AGROLAND SA (Greece). BENEFIT-Med meets the objective of the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) call, “Section 2, Call: Multi-topic 2021, Topic: 2.2.1 (RIA) Up-scaling field practices based on agroecology principles to increase ecosystem services and biodiversity, to adapt the small farming systems to climate change and to increase farmers incomes”, by addressing the specific challenges of the call from the perspective of seed quality, proxy of crop performance, so far poorly explored in orphan legumes. The new cropping system will be made of climate-ready orphan legumes developed from high-quality seeds tailored through a multidisciplinary strategy that combines basic seed technology (priming) with state-of-the-art knowledge on the seed repair response that positively correlates with seed vigour. Biopriming will be carried with plant growth promoting bacteria, able to secrete high levels of a natural super-absorbent anionic biopolymer, poly-γ-glutamate (PGA). This new seed formulation, based on natural microorganisms, will further enhance resilience in orphan legumes, permanently enhance soil properties, reduce irrigation, chemicals and fertilizers demand. The performance of this new farming system will be assessed looking at climate parameters and through socio-economic and ecological indicators, essential parameters for the engagement of relevant stakeholders, such as farmers’ associations and local governance, and in promoting technology transfer to local farmers.

Conventional radiation-therapy exposes healthy tissues to radiation, resulting in potential sequelae. Modern hadron-therapy, however, uses energetic ions with unique physical properties exposing a smaller volume of healthy tissues. Such discrepancy warrants extensive comprehension as exposure to densely ionizing radiation with a high Linear Energy Transfer (LET) used in hadron-therapy is different from exposure to conventional radiation-therapy. Optimization of the safety and effectiveness of these very promising treatment options needs an innovative approach combining several radiation-biology concepts, from mathematical modelling, radiation-physics to advanced biological models, especially for healthy tissues exposed and cancer stem cells. However, the tremendous amount of combinations of radiation quality, exposure modalities and tissue biological status such as comorbidity or genetic background does not simplify the building of relevant models and represents a significant challenge. IRAICATS provides an excellent opportunity to train and teach the next generation of scientists in this emerging field of radiation-biology. A partnership of ten leading academic institutions and five major medical facilities (4 european and 1 japanese facilities) will provide an environment of multidisciplinary research into the effects of high-LET carbon ions on cancer stem cells and normal tissues, enabling the training of young researchers in this cutting-edge field. The research will include development of 3D models (organoids) build from cancer or normal tissue (stem or primary cells from salivary gland, thyroid gland, lung, central nervous system, epithelia, heart, cartilage or bone), tissue culture, in vivo monitoring, genetic modification, proteome analysis, mathematical modelling, and high-throughput investigations of relevant molecular mechanisms to identify bio-marker’s in association with preclinical studies. Students will be able to select thesis topics from any of these exciting research areas.

EUROPAM is a research project that proposes comparative spatio-temporal acoustic survey of megafauna biodiversity, and its management at a European scale. EUROPAM is based on innovative scientific instrumentation and algorithms, the Bombyx sonobuoys, to increase the knowledge of anthropogenic impacts on marine life, on a wide scale that allows comparison between locations and type of disturbances, and also between some population segments. It is composed of researchers from many different fields, making the project federative and multi-disciplinary. The ultimate objectives of real-time, high-quality acoustic observations are the efficient management and the generation of long-term statistics. EUROPAM will: (1) develop comparative continuous passive acoustic monitoring in the Mediterranean Sea, the Azores and off-shore Norway; (2) compare marine soundscapes considering quiet marine protected areas vs. areas under strong human pressure; (3) describe marine soundscapes and their natural patterns and dynamics (daily and seasonal) and feed marine soundscape data into repositories; (4) develop protocols to calibrate measurements and provide comparable data across a large range of temporal and spatial scales; and (5) support whale-ship collision risk mitigation procedures. EUROPAM is considering biotic and abiotic ocean soundscapes, and oceanic parameters. In the biotic soundscape. The objective is to quantify anthropogenic noise sources, identify and track marine mammals, while in the abiotic soundscape, the objective is to monitor acoustic features driven by local climate and meteorological events. EUROPAM will identify conservation areas and seasonality of species diversity, compare noisy with quiet areas, and measure noise level changes in relation to wind farm construction and to new offshore industrial activities. The project will monitor sea regions which are expected to be highly impacted by climate change, by industrial development and by increasing marine traffic. It addresses the topics highlighted in Theme 1 of this call, by establishing a comprehensive understanding of effective and resilient ecological networks, while contributing to enhanced species-based protection using state-of-the-art methodology. Also, it will lead to better knowledge of the megafauna in the international marine mammal sanctuary PELAGOS, in Azores and along the Norwegian coast. EUROPAM will bring new types of observatories for marine mammal survey and protection and will participate in novel whale-ship anti-collision mitigation in high trafficked areas like between Italy and France. Thus, it will also assess the costs of biodiversity loss and conservation outcomes in the context of vessel traffic management, highlighted in Themes 2 + 3. It will help to regulate fishery and whale-watching interactions with sea mammals. In the waters of the European Union, it also considers acoustic pollution according to the descriptor 11 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.