Quantum technologies is a fast developing scientific and industrial domain with an expected multi-billion Euro market of technological solutions for industries and citizens. It comprises the field of quantum sensing, in which optical lattice clocks (OLCs) are one of the most precise measurement instruments, and quantum computing and simulation, which require the controlled manipulation of quantum objects such as trapped ultra-cold atoms. This project aims at bringing together the fundamental technologies used in these two domains by developing tailored and controllable potentials for lattice clocks, such as high order modes, tweezers, or conveyor belts, potentials able to take advantage of quantum entanglement, and in order to use them to explore and better evaluate the systematic uncertainty of these clocks.

Improving working practices by adopting the latest technologies and best approaches into a commercial organisation benefits the company by providing it with a series of competitive edges. In the areas of pharmaceutical, agrochemical and neuroceuticals synthesis, Flow Chemistry based process manufacturing is a new approach that boosts both efficiency and productivity. Instead of working in large bulky reactors, flow reactors can be engineered as miniaturised high performance units that enable a continuous feed of chemicals to be converted in real-time producing a constant product output stream. Indeed, several reactors can be integrated together to allow multi-step transformations to prepare complex products. This approach also allows rapid scaling of the output by simply leaving the reactor running longer and can facilitate just in time manufacture through rapid start-up and shut down. Conceptually this transition from old Batch based chemical synthesis to modern Flow Chemistry (a form of continuous manufacturing) can be likened to the evolution in making coffee. Historically, coffee was prepared using a stove heated percolator (Classical batch based chemical synthesis) however, modern expresso coffee machines can now, at the press of a few buttons, make coffee on-demand, even extending the process adding flavours, milk and sweeteners (Flow based synthesis). From a pharmaceutical synthesis perspective adopting Flow Chemistry also provides gains with regards saving on space, energy and much improved worker safety. Another aspect which offers considerable value is the small dimension reactors which facilitate easy application of higher pressures and temperatures which can be used to drastically accelerate the reaction to completion allowing much greater throughput of material, higher yields and improved purity of the product. This then can shorten the production sequence by reducing purification work streams. Currently much of the practical knowledge of Flow Chemistry techniques and its associated technologies are resident in Universities. In this proposal we intend to take this experience directly into a corporate environment where it will be applied to design and streamline a series of selected chemical manufacturing processes. This will enable the company to test and embed the technology into its commercial offerings. The experiences and data generated can also be used to spring board this technology to other organisations through the generation of 'best practices'.

The challenge of agricultural GHG emissions is that they are highly diluted and originate from more than 10 million European farms. Thus, local emissions are small but the combined contribution on European level is ca. 10% of total GHG emissions. A significant portion of these is methane (ca 43 %), and most of that is produced by enteric fermentation, i.e. by belching cattle. Viable technical solutions do not exist for methane abatement, and new developments are urgently needed to meet the targets set by Methane Strategy, Farm to Fork Strategy and Fit for 55 legislation package for agricultural carbon neutrality in 2035. They must have high potential for commercialization, be efficient in methane abatement and costs must be affordable for the farmers. CANMILK will develop technology that is simple to use and has low maintenance, with overall cost below 80 €/t CO2-eq. A non-thermal plasma, or cold plasma, is today in everyday use e.g. in fluorescent lamps and ozone generators. CANMILK project will utilize this technology in a novel and innovative way in the fight against methane. The work is focused on the methane activation by plasma derived oxygen or hydrogen species enabling methane decomposition with the help of catalysts at mild conditions. As a result we expect to get 1) a simple and efficient equipment for methane abatement in dairy and meat cattle barns, 2) a good view of the socio-economic and environmental feasibility of plasma-based methane abatement and 3) increased public, scientific and industrial awareness of feasible solutions available for GHG abatement in agriculture. Our estimate for the efficiency of the CANMILK technology is 90% methane conversion, which in case of maximum utilization in barns would lead to total GHG abatement of ca. 140 Mt CO2-eq/a in Europe. This would have significant positive impacts to farmers, rural communities, consumers and industry in the transition of the European economy towards more carbon neutral, sustainable future.

Foundation industries are significant drivers in both the UK and Indian job market. Whilst metals, cement, paper, glass, ceramic and bulk chemicals are main manufacturing products in the UK, metals, cement and bulk chemicals, are important foundation industries to India, with many products, such as dye intermediaries and medicine, supplied to the UK every year. Despite massive annual production, foundation industries are primarily oriented by conventional technology and business operations. They are energy and capital intensive, often taking decades to recoup their investment. The business, operation, and end products of the foundation industries are different from one to another, but common challenges exist among themselves to achieve clean growth. The foundation industries could be transformed by maximising the use of waste low-grade heat through the development of heat exchanger and recovery technology, thermal energy storage materials and new thermochemical cycles to exploit low-grade heat for power, heat and cooling applications. It is vital for the UK and India that the transformation of these foundation industries is strategically planned and implemented so that they remain internationally competitive (with optimal production performance and cost-competitive products), become sustainable (in terms of energy and materials consumption), and continue to grow and meet net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets. Both Durham University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham have independently been exploring possible innovative thermal energy management and waste heat utilisation solutions to transform foundation industries. The UK-India FI-SusTEM Collaboration aims to understand and link the current research and laboratory capacities to create new collaborative research and business opportunities. The 5-month project will be led by Durham University and work collaboratively with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to focus on the optimisation, efficiency improvement, and energy cost reduction through the capture, storage and utilisation of waste heat. The UK India Business Council will also participate as a sub-contractor to primarily assist in growing the virtual network and developing a business case for the identified innovative solution for potential collaboration between the UK and India.

ELEXIA will develop/upgrade validated tools for planning and managing integrated energy systems in different conditions and will integrate and combine energy systems across vectors and sectors towards a cost optimised as well as flexible and resilient energy system of systems. A Digital Services Platform will host the energy management and planning services and will foster flexibility and sector coupling. A System Planning Toolbox will be developed and deployed to support effective sector coupling at local sites considering different scenarios, operational details, possibly conflicting interests of multiple local actors, and security of supply. An Energy Management Systems will be built and deployed for flexible, cost-optimised, and resilient operation of sector coupled local sites including forecasting, digital twins, optimization, control, monitoring, assessing operating conditions, predicting anomalous operation, and preventing occurrence of breakdowns. ELEXIA will demonstrate the use of planning and operational tools in a one-stop-shop, modular and open, digital platform at TRL7–8. It will demonstrate the benefits of sector integration at local / national level in three different geographical, climate and economic conditions in Europe: in an industrial port environment in Portugal, in an urban-city hub environment in Denmark, and in an industrial-urban-residential environment in Norway. ELEXIA will assess environmental, economic, and social sustainability, will deliver a methodology for CAPEX / OPEX and value creation, and will focus on policy and governance. It will put focus on stakeholder engagement and societal acceptance and will ensure effort towards future exploitation and replication. ELEXIA will establish and demonstrate realistic and concrete pathways to ultimately achieve independence of fossil fuels by harnessing the latent flexibility of the energy system through integration, data-intelligence, and planning, working towards the 2050 European goals.