DiverSea develops novel marine observation and monitoring technology by combining: 1a) The new DNA-based identification approach “DNA-marks”: This approach will harnesses low coverage/cost genomic data to document genetic diversity and discriminate beyond species, to the population and individual level. This opens revolutionary possibilities, both for environmental samples (eDNA) and for monitoring species key biological parameters beyond simple identification, and, 1b) The experimentation required to quantify uncertainties in marine eDNA/eRNA interpretation, while developing general indictor methods with novel approaches harnessing new approaches and theory on mechanisms of molecular shedding and degradation; 2) emerging molecular techniques and approaches integrated with autonomous systems satellite remote sensing, citizen science, existing monitoring program data collection and, covering EOVs/EBVs, for comprehensive mapping of important marine habitats; 3) A novel data integration processing and interrogation AI-ML architecture that processes incoming biological, physical and biogeochemical data from diverse data platforms and from case studies in (2). The analysis module overarching framework will combine EOVs/EBVs for spatial and temporal biodiversity prediction, gap analysis identifying urgent data needs and investigating causal links/feedbacks between abiotic cycles, multiple stressors, biodiversity dynamics and biogeochemical cycles 5) An interactive platform to communicate the scientific outcomes of DiverSea to policy makers, stakeholders and the general public, the “Biodiversity Services Dashboard”. The dashboard visualizes key environmental and socio-economic indicators with quantified scenarios for societal and functional biodiversity interaction, connections of biodiversity to ecosystem functions and services. This will facilitate evaluating and comparing policy and planning alternatives considering the requirements of different target stakeholders.

The European Green Deal sets ambitious targets to GHG emission reductions for the process industry, that can only partly be reached by the transition to renewable energy. Residual, hard-to-abate CO2 emissions from industrial processes such as steel and cement production will need to be captured, and wherever possible, processed and recycled into new products. The shift towards low carbon processes may disrupt existing industrial symbiosis pathways. If no alternative linkages are developed, this may lead to increasing emissions in downstream sectors. The transitions in steel and energy production lead to dwindling supplies of low carbon resources for cement production such as blast furnace slag and coal fly ash. The core concept of Carbon4Minerals addresses the simultaneous use of CO2 from industrial flue gases with current and future waste streams to unlock a vast stock of resources for innovative low carbon binders and construction materials (80-135% lower CO2-emissions than reference). A total of 8 industrial pilots will be built and operated across the process value chain from CO2 capture to cement production and low carbon construction products. This cross-sectorial innovation has the potential to reduce European CO2 emissions by 46 Mt/y, equal to 10% of the EU process industry emissions, while safeguarding the competitiveness of the European industry. A consortium of technology providers, producers and research partners will develop, test and demonstrate the processes. Technical, environmental and economic feasibility will be validated by an integrated assessment, in combination with the development of a service life test package tailored to these new products. Co-learning modules are developed to support industrial implementation and market introduction.

The advantages of using geothermal for power production and H&C are little known. Recently, deep geothermal energy production in some regions is confronted with a negative perception, and a special attention from some decision-makers, in terms of environmental performance, which could seriously hamper its market uptake. Media reports focus more on disadvantages than advantages. As a result, decision makers and potential investors have concerns about possible environmental impacts and risks involved in implementing geothermal projects, and social resistance often results in practical obstacles - such as significant slowdowns - to the deployment of the deep geothermal resources. The first objective of the GEOENVI project is to make sure that deep geothermal energy can play its role in Europe’s future energy supply in a sustainable way. It aims to create a robust strategy to respond environmental concerns (by environmental concerns we mean both environmental impacts and risks): • by assessing the environmental impacts and risks of geothermal projects operational or in development in Europe, and • by providing a robust framework to propose recommendations on environmental regulations to the decision-makers, an adapted methodology for assessing environment impact to the project developers, and finally • by communicating properly on environmental concerns with the general public. Secondly, GEOENVI aims at engaging with both decision-makers and geothermal market actors, to have the recommendations on regulations adopted and to see the LCA methodology implemented by geothermal stakeholders. The engagement with stakeholders includes to share knowledge by adopting an open and FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data approach.

The EXCESS project builds up on nearly-zero energy multi-storey building (consumption below primary energy threshold) residential concepts of the main 4 EU climatic zones towards Energy fleXible user-CEntric poSitive houseS (EXCESS). EXCESS defines a positive energy building (PEB) as a building that produces more energy than they use, with high RES self- consumption rate (instead of using the grid for solving seasonal balancing issues) over a time span of one year. RES and smart technologies exist, but complete packages for different climates do not. Important technical developments for plus energy building materials and other individual technologies are required to address specific climate related needs in order to meet the PEB level; especially in harsh climates. Integration is needed for upgrading single technologies to be part of a large orchestra enabling also user-context-aware energy flexible services between utilities and customers (selling flexibility). These will unlock additional revenue streams that reduce the lifetime cost of the developed PEB solutions, making them affordable also large portion of the society. Thus, EXCESS will advance new materials, technologies and integrated technological systems (TRL5-7) promoting a user centric approach (building tenants), capitalized on new ICT opportunities, for optimizing the interplay of local generation, storage, consumption at the building and district level. The demonstration activities in each of the climatic zones (Austria, Belgium, Finland and Spain) will be accompanied by co-innovation, replication and exploitation activities to maximize the project technical, social and economic impact and to prepare for a future market roll out of the PEB concept by also scouting energy efficiency funding opportunities.