PRECEPT ambitiously aims to set the grounds for the deployment and operation of proactive residential buildings. The proposed framework introduces a “plug-n-play” Pred(scr)ictive and Proactive building energy management system (PP-BMS) installed locally at building level, at the Edge-Enable Proactiveness (EEP) device. The proposed PP-BMS is self-adapted, self-learned, -managed, -monitored, -healing and -optimized, requiring no (or minimum) installation costs and no maintenance. PP-BMS transform traditional reactive buildings to proactive ones, increasing their performance (both energy efficiency and occupants’ well-being), exploiting RES, storage, forecasts and energy tariffs. PRECEPT also targets to the development of a real-time digital representation of the intelligent proactive residential buildings by employing 6D BIM technology. Further to that, a set of novel indicators leveraging on the smart readiness rationale will be introduced for rating the Smart Proactiveness of buildings. The proposed indicators will enable the introduction of a reliable framework under which the comparative assessment of the level of smartness and proactiveness of buildings can be regulated and assessed. Also, PRECEPT approach will deliver advanced data visualizations, utilizing big-data and visual analytics techniques, which in conjunction with a social collaboration platform will engage stakeholders to exchange best-practices. Interaction with the grid will be supported in a secured (Hyperledger Fabric) manner through the decentralized EEP device, supporting the implementation of D/R strategies. To maximize its potential impact, PRECEPT demonstrates novel sustainable business models for rendering traditional reactive buildings to proactive buildings that go beyond the energy-related benefits and cost-optimal analysis but include occupants’ well-being, and other services. PRECEPT framework will be demonstrated in relevant environments in 5 use cases, including 250 apartments.

Approximately one third of all food produced globally is wasted every year throughout the whole value chain-from farmers to consumers. To extract the significant amounts of valuable compounds contained in these wastes, AgriMax will combine affordable and flexible processing technologies (ultrasound assisted and solvent extraction, filtration, thermal and enzymatic treatments) for the valorization of side streams from the horticultural culture and food processing industry to be used in a cooperative approach by local stakeholders. Through the selection of case-scenarios previously developed to a pilot scale by the participating RTOs and their industrial transfer in new applications as food additives, packaging and agricultural materials among others, the project will disclose the holistic potential of four new agro-value chains (residues and by products from the culture and processing of tomato, cereals, olives, potato). Any by-product generated along the production cycle will be valorized in a cascade manner to reach over 40% of high value use of the waste. This will lead to additional production of active ingredients in lower concentration, but also fibres, biogas and fertilizers from the left biomass (the latter with the aim of being used in closed loop in the culture of the crops used in the project to prevent soil impoverishing). An LCA and LCC will also study the best approach to minimize the environmental impact of the new value chains without jeopardizing the cost effectiveness of the operations. The pilot multi-feedstock bio-refinery processes will be validated in two demonstration sites in Spain and Italy. Societal, ethical, safety, techno-feasibility and regulatory aspects will be studied. Last but not least, a business model and platform for communication between the potential raw materials suppliers will be set up to maximize the use of the cooperative treatment plants throughout the year.

Retinopathies constitute an extreme societal and socioeconomic burden that is expected to increase with an aging population and the increased prevalence of diabetes. These diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy share neovascularization as a common etiology involving the pathological growth of retinal capillaries leading to blindness if left untreated. Current treatment modalities involve specialized injections into the eye that require not only outpatient visits to specialized treatment centers but are also associated with significant adverse effects. Orally bioavailable medications could revolutionize the treatment of retinopathies, by reducing adverse effects, sustaining vision, lowering the direct and indirect financial burden associated with these diseases, and increasing access to healthcare. Inspired by this idea, we have developed an approach that can be exploited to target essentially any therapeutic molecule to the eye. Our novel strategy of drug targeting will not only enrich the modified molecules in retinal tissue but will also reduce the therapeutic oral dose compared to existing anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer thereby increasing the safety of the treatment. This is achieved by absorbing a minute amount of the chemically and biologically stable molecules resulting in an extremely low plasma concentration and relying on a biological mechanism in the eye to activate the molecules to tether them to retinal target receptors and thereby extracting them from the blood. In the present application, we propose to demonstrate proof-of-concept of this strategy by modifying inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). VEGFR is an endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase that is a key mediator of angiogenesis and an established drug target for the treatment of retinopathies. Our approach will elicit a paradigm shift in how we design future drug delivery strategies to the retina.

SUSHEAT develops and validates, up to TRL 5, 3 novel enabling technologies: high-temperature heat pump (HT-HP), Phase Change Material (PCM) bio-inspired Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, and Control & Integration Twin (CIT) system; for heat upgrade in top-level labs. It will attain an efficient heat upgrade up to 150-250 °C thanks to the use the innovative Stirling-based HT-HP, working with hellium and enlarging the industrial exploitability of heat upgrade systems, reaching a COP up to 2.8 for temperature ratios of 1.2. The integration of innovative TES will ensure a reliable, flexible, and customizable heat delivery with full decoupling from any waste heat recovery and renewables availability. Moreover, its CIT will provide user-friendly tools and a digital twin for the control system and advising industrial stakeholders, based on smart decision-making algorithms. SUSHEAT will bring an effective self-assessment of the most suited heat upgrade system integration including not only its key enabling components but, beyond, also leveraging on off-the-self RES-based units, particularly solar thermal collectors even enlarging the feasibility of Concentrating Solar Power systems that can extend its operation working at low temperature. Two case-studies are replicated for validation at TRL5, and 4 additional cases are analysed in-depth to cover other sectors as Pulp & Paper, Beverages, Petrochemical, Textile & leather and basic metals. By developing industry-focused self-assessment tools, and directly engaging different industrial stakeholders, SUSHEAT will contribute to identify the target industrial processes and sites which would benefit from the concept, rising awareness of various heat upgrade benefits within the industry and providing solutions to maximize the industrial efficiency while contributing to the sector’s decarbonization, reducing the GHG emissions up to 145 gCO2/kWh (excluding solar contribution and based on EU 2020 intensity and the use NG).

NOVAFOODIES will offer novel & competitive functional products to European consumers from a reliable, traceable, and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains. To reach this, NOVAFOODIES is composed of an international consortium covering the whole value chain and expertise: production, processing, transformation, biosecurity, legislation, consumer associations, experts in business, IT, and sustainability. NOVAFOODIES will: -Demonstrate at TRL 6-7, in 10 cases studies, cost-efficient and sustainable fish, micro- and macro- algae production processes that will benefit from natural ecosystem services. -Bring to TRL6 an innovative & sustainable microwave-assisted algae drying process to maximising efficiency and lower costs -Upscaling to TRL 6-7 an innovative biorefinery concept for separation of functional extracts from fish and seaweeds which will be optimised for the technoeconomic and environmental validation. 12 functional food prototypes will be prepared using these extracts as well as fish, bycatch & algae for human products, and aquafeeds, which will be assessed in terms of properties, biosecurity, and standards, and will be brought to consumers by educative activities as e.g. showcookings. -Bring to TRL7 an innovative process to make ecological packaging material from macroalgae -Bring to TRL6 a process to convert the beach wracks material to invertebrate biomass for aquafeeds. -Bring to TRL6 a process to valorise fisheries bycatchs to create novel food for human consumption NOVAFOODIES will develop a MarketPlatform & Mobile App using IoT technologies and advanced data analysis for tracing & wastes optimisation along the value chain, enhacing consumers trust. Partners are committed to the exploitation of developed technologies, being actively involved in the dissemination & exploitation, as well as education and training activities in local areas to promote sociolaboral inclusion and paving the way to the market entry of new products and processes.