Telecommunications and computer vision have evolved as separate scientific areas. This is envisioned to change with the advent of wireless communications with radios characterised by line-of-sight ranges which could benefit from visual data to predict the wireless channel dynamics. Computer vision applications will also become more robust if helped by radio-based imaging. This new joint research field relies on wireless communications, computer vision, sensing and machine learning, and it has a high innovation potential because of the large domain of innovative applications it enables and the relevant know-how available in Europe. However, the full potential of this new area can only be evaluated if adequate Research Infrastructures (RI) and tools are available. The main objective of the CONVERGE project is the development of an innovative toolset aligned with the motto “view-to-communicate and communicate-to-view”. This toolset is a world-first and consists of vision-aided large intelligent surfaces, vision-aided fixed and mobile base stations, a vision-radio simulator and 3D environment modeler, and machine learning algorithms for multimodal data including radio signals, video streams, RF sensing, and traffic traces. This toolset will be deployed into 7 RIs mostly aligned with the ESFRI SLICES-RI and improve their competitiveness. CONVERGE will also provide the scientific community with open datasets of experimental and simulated data obtained with the toolset in the RIs, meet scientific and industrial requirements by addressing relevant 6G verticals, enhance the competitiveness of the involved companies, extend the European influence to world-wide recognised RIs, enable the creation of new RIs, contribute to the development of new environment-friendly tools, and help European Union to address its societal challenges.

We propose a new, systematic approach to engineer the substrate specificity of enzymatic catalysis, a long-standing problem with no general solution, using S1A proteases as a model system. Structural biology has identified mutations that are often necessary but not sufficient to convert specificity. In vitro evolution has solved this problem in a few cases but at the cost of inefficient exploration of sequence space, for lack of a robust rationale to focus mutations and to choose favorable starting points. Our new general approach starts with measuring the catalytic activity of thousands of proteases across the enzyme family towards several substrates, in a cost/time-effective high throughput experiment combining droplet microfluidics and next generation DNA sequencing. Next, we will extract from the data sequences of ‘generalist’ enzymes with broad specificity profiles as favorable starting points for the in vitro evolution of specificity, and focus mutations at specificity-determining residues we have identified via statistical data analysis. From the data we will also infer a generative statistical model of the relation between enzyme sequence and specificity profile, which will predict the specificity of uncharacterized proteases, mutations in known proteases to engineer their specificity, and ultimately sequences of synthetic proteases with tailored specificity profiles. Beyond solving a fundamental problem, our work has direct applications in peptide sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis, and its potential applications extend to green chemistry, biotechnology, the agro- and the pharmaceutical industry.

The 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL) project will establish a European ecosystem for prototype production of Graphene and Related Materials (GRM) based electronics, photonics and sensors. The project will cover the whole value chain including tool manufacturers, chemical and material providers and pilot lines to offer prototyping services to companies, research centers and academics. The 2D-EPL targets to the adoption of GRM integration by commercial semiconductor foundries and integrated device manufacturers through technology transfer and licensing. The project is built on two pillars. In Pillar 1, the 2D-EPL will offer prototyping services for 150 and 200 mm wafers, based on the current state of the art graphene device manufacturing and integration techniques. This will ensure external users and customers are served by the 2D-EPL early in the project and guarantees the inclusion of their input in the development of the final processes by providing the specifications on required device layouts, materials and device performances. In Pillar 2, the consortium will develop a fully automated process flow on 200 and 300 mm wafers, including the growth and vacuum transfer of single crystalline graphene and TMDCs. The knowledge gained in Pillar 2 will be transferred to Pillar 1 to continuously improve the baseline process provided by the 2D-EPL. To ensure sustainability of the 2D-EPL service after the project duration, integration with EUROPRACTICE consortium will be prepared. It provides for the European actors a platform to develop smart integrated systems, from advanced prototype design to small volume production. In addition, for the efficiency of the industrial exploitation, an Industrial Advisory Board consisting mainly of leading European semiconductor manufacturers and foundries will closely track and advise the progress of the 2D-EPL. This approach will enable European players to take the lead in this emerging field of technology.