Starting from current best practices and key success factors observed and analysed in innovative value chains and the state of the art in technological and non-technological approaches, CO-FRESH proposes to develop techniques, tools and insights for the re-design of agri-food value chains. Through collaborative and systemic approaches, the tools and formats will be applied in 7 pilot cases representing diverse fruit and vegetables agri-food value chains (including protein crops for food and feed) across Europe. CO-FRESH will use the Intervention Research approach to study models of collective innovation action within and across organisations. The CO-FRESH consortium brings together key actors from pilot agri-food value chains; actors’ associations (farmers, food producers, cooperatives, consumers); experts in technological (including digital) solutions and non-technological (including social, organizational, and institutional) solutions; as well as experts in environmental, social, economic sustainability, and in consumer’s acceptance. The main objective of CO-FRESH is to (re)design and pilot innovative systemic approaches to agri-food value chains to scale up this innovation at European level. These innovative approaches will improve economic, social and environmental performance/efficiency of these value chains, through smart integration of technological, social, organisational, managerial and institutional innovations; all of which serve to make them more sustainable.

The vision of RECLAIM is to demonstrate technologies and strategies to support a new paradigm for refurbishment and re-manufacturing of large industrial equipment in factories, paving the way to a circular economy. Its ultimate goal is to save valuable resources by reusing equipment instead of discarding them. RECLAIM will support legacy industrial infrastructures with advanced technological solutions with built-in capabilities for in-situ repair, self-assessment and optimal re-use strategies. It will establish new concepts and strategies for repair and equipment upgrade and factory layouts’ redesign in order to gain economic benefits to the manufacturing sector. The technological core of RECLAIM is a novel Decision Support Framework that guides the optimal refurbishment and re-manufacturing of electromechanical machines and robotics systems. The framework uses IoT sensors, novel prediction, and process optimisation techniques to offer machine lifetime extension and thus increased productivity. Innovative fog computing and augmented reality techniques are combined with enhanced health monitoring and failure inspection and diagnosis methodologies that enhance the effective use of materials, improve maintenance capabilities and eventually, drastically increase the return of investments (ROI). RECLAIM re-use approach also fosters servicing and upgrading of legacy equipment. For that, European machinery industry will move from an equipment-based business to a value-added business, where equipment servicing and equipment knowledge are main business drivers. RECLAIM solution will be demonstrated in five real industrial environments to evaluate the lifecycle of the industrial equipment and show the feasibility of the approach for integration and scale-up to other industrial sectors. Having RECLAIM technology available, drastically increased efficiency, lifetime extension and high economic benefit will be achieved and a significant step towards 100% re-use will be made.

Renewable Energy Sources Power FOrecasting and SyNchronisation for Smart GriD NEtworks MaNagemenT. Renewable energy sources (RES) play a major role to the EU’s aspiration to transform to a climate-neutral economy. Their integration into the power grid is pivotal to the green transition and to the decarbonisation of the energy sector. However, as the most commonly used RES (solar, wind and hydropower) are also weather-dependent, their power generation capacity varies according to the local microclimatic conditions. This power production variability makes RES difficult to integrate into the power grid and to provide seamless, stable and secure amounts of power. On the other hand, power demand also affects the power grid operation, since there must always be a supply/demand balance in the power grid. Grid power imbalances can cause frequency fluctuations and other unwanted transient phenomena, which can compromise grid stability and operation. For that matter, advanced grid monitoring techniques have been developed, employing phasor measurement units (PMUs) to measure the electrical signals in a precise and synchronised way, based on a reliable timing reference. Yet, currently, no Galileo-based applications on PMU timing exist. In the above framework, RESPONDENT comes to address the challenges of RES power generation forecasting, demand forecasting and smart power grid monitoring and supply/demand balancing. An AI/ML RES power generation forecasting algorithm is proposed, exploiting both Copernicus EO and site-specific weather data, along with renewable energy power conversion models. Furthermore, an AI/ML – multiphysics model for power demand of certain communities is also developed. Lastly, RESPONDENT will build a Galileo-enabled PMU and develop a monitoring module, in order to test and verify the advantages offered from the Galileo timing and synchronization services in smart grid monitoring, power balancing and overall operation.

Fostering a significant Triple Change concerning culture, food value chain, and policy in the food system is crucial for ensuring that sustainable food is desirable and trustworthy for consumers. To address the urgent need for a more sustainable food system that benefits the environment, society, and the economy, CUES (Consumers’ Understanding of Eating Sustainably) sets to foster the Triple Change through co-designing scientific methods and approaches to transmit and present sustainability related information to guide consumer knowledge and behaviour, and to determine the persuasive cues to promote sustainable consumer behaviour most effectively. CUES will develop nine interventions and a series of policy dialogues through a multi-actor participatory approach. This innovative approach goes beyond the state-of-the-art by addressing the complex interplay of factors in the food system and actively involving consumers, food value chain actors, and policymakers. The learning community, communication and behaviour change toolkits developed by CUES aim to remove the bottlenecks in current practice with respect to informing, motivating and engaging consumers, and to reach at least three million consumers, increasing their consumption of sustainable food.