Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are a fascinating field of investigation that reach the very essence of the human being. Restoring communication and movement are exemplary key applications of BCI. The potential of BCIs to contribute to solve important societal challenges is highlighted by its inclusion within recent H2020 research and innovation calls (e.g. ICT-22-2014). However, it continues to be difficult to transfer BCI technology to social and economic spheres. As in most emerging fields, there is still a huge gap between the prototypes being tested in research laboratories and usable BCIs for daily life. Some manufacturers and media have been casting a deceptive light on the field by hiding inner workings and implying that much can be controlled with little effort. But obviously human subjects are not deterministic machines and fine tuning is needed to adapt a BCI to a specific user. Conversely, it takes time and effort before users can reach their operational objective with a BCI. Our consortium is fully aware of this efficiency challenge and aims to make control of Brain-Computer Interfaces easier and more natural. Our proposal is 1) to adopt a novel user-centered approach, where the user is a learning entity rather than a static one, and 2) to develop trans-disciplinary conception of BCI, allowing diverse areas of expertise (engineering, computer science, neuroscience, medicine, psychology) to interact and to co-design this new generation of BCI.

Most social interactions involve interpersonal coordinated movements in real-time and real space, but research on the complex processes determining social behavior are limited by inadequate technology and analytical tools. In EMBRACE we will merge complementary expertise and resources in biomedical engineering, material science, signal processing, neuroscience and social psychology at 3 academic and 3 industrial partners from 3 EU countries to develop: 1) a new mobile and wireless dry electrode EEG system suitable for monitoring brain activity during full body movements; 2) novel body-network sensors and a multimodal alignment system for simultaneously recording neural, physiological and kinematic signals from two interacting subjects; 3) novel analytical solutions for motion artefact removal and multi-level analysis of multimodal data; 4) a new research dyadic paradigm to exploit the technological advances. The novel technologies will address requirements of mobility, high signal quality, high temporal and spatial resolution, stable alignment of multiple signals, wearing comfort and long-term use. The novel analytical methods will permit investigating joint action at the neural, cognitive-behavioural and social levels. Both technologies and methods will be validated in real time and space face-to-face studies to produce prototypes and models optimized for broad application. To achieve these objectives, the EMBRACE consortium realizes extensive intersectoral transfer of knowledge and experience through shared research, secondments and summer schools, promoting the research capacity and competitiveness of its partners and becoming a lasting EU network promoting basic and applied biomedical research, with benefit for European industries and society. International mobility and dissemination will contribute to sharing cultures and knowledge with the scientific community and to promote communication on the importance of research in biomedical engineering to the society.

INFANS will train 15 ESRs with background from basic to clinical sciences in multiple aspects of neonatal brain monitoring. The need for a coordinated research training programme in neonatal brain monitoring arises from i) the severe shortage of clinically viable means to high quality monitor the brain function in infancy, crucial to prevent later life neurological, cognitive and motor impairment and ii) the lack of well-educated PhDs in this field. Through their individual research projects, encompassing technological innovation, industrial development, clinical validation, identification of neonatal healthcare needs, the INFANS ESRs will develop a novel platform for high quality, clinically-viable EEG-NIRS monitoring accessible worldwide. Excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenge are merged in INFANS: 6 academic and 4 non-academic partner from 6 EU countries, among which leading universities, industries, clinical institutions, share complementary expertise and facilities to provide international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research training and mobility that will complement local doctoral training. Well-targeted visits and secondments, soft skills and dynamic training activities, an Open Science strategy, extensive involvement of ESRs in the network events organization, extensive contacts with other research, training and industrial European networks, dissemination activities and the award of Double doctoral degrees are further assets of INFANS. The ESRs will learn to transform a scientific/technological challenge into a product of socio-economic relevance, as the INFANS functional neuro-monitoring system will reduce the number of children with neurological, cognitive or motor dysfunctions associated with brain injuries at birth. The INFANS ESRs will become independent researchers with career prospects in both the academic and non-academic sectors, and will advance the EU capacity for innovation in biomedical engineering.