MIDAS aims to develop, evaluate and optimize sustainable low-ILUC feedstock by developing selected industrial crops and cropping systems on European marginal agricultural land in a climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly way to support feasible bio-based value chains. Mapping of the actual and future marginal lands that may be certified as low-ILUC, including current and future expectations on soil erosion and water stress as well as biodiversity challenges and potentials, ecosystem services, and guidelines for enhancing co-benefits will improve understanding of the available marginal land for “low-ILUC” biomass production. Selected industrial crops, already adapted to marginal lands, will be optimized through modern biotechnology tools - particularly for water-use efficiency - and through tailored agronomic practices towards improved resource efficiency. Case studies of innovative farming systems (intercropping, agroforestry) established on marginal land at farm level will improve harvesting solutions, biodiversity data and guidelines while relevant actors (farming community, bio-based industry & academia) will be engaged through Regional Advisory Groups. From the produced biomass innovative bio-based products (biochemicals, composites, and elastomers) will be developed, following the biorefinery and the circular use concept. Potential biomass-to-product(s) pathways will be identified, leading to value chain/ web concepts that will be assessed for sustainability and will produce a multi-criteria tool for the design of sustainable bio-based value webs while enhancing regional biodiversity. Finally business plans to foster circularity at farm level by engaging the farming community, industrial actors and academia through the projects’ Case Studies will be developed. Moreover, through international cooperation (Brazil, Canada) on crops, cropping systems and bio based products MIDAS allows best practices exchange and contributes to win-win scenarios development.

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Energy ECS “Smart and secure energy solutions for future mobility” will focus on the interface of energy and mobility as well as related ICT and electronics. Central for today’s society, these two sectors are facing the restructuring of technology and business value chains that enable the emergence of completely new business models and ecosystems. The project concept builds on six use cases that represent different angles of future mobility and energy; enablers of new logistics modes, energy independent intermodal transport, charging technologies and opportunities, grid stability responding to bi-directional charging, and enablers of safe autonomous driving. The technology developments respond to a long list of MASP major challenges and include e.g. battery charging electronics, grid and sensor power management, energy harvesting, real time location controls and sensors. The R&D will also apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, immersive technologies, IoT, ultra-low power technologies, advanced algorithms and software. All technologies will be designed for cyber-security and reliability. The consortium includes 16 SMEs, 8 LEs and 6 RTOs from 8 countries. The complementary capabilities allow R&D results that lead to new competitiveness of the partners. By 2030, the project is expected to generate increased turnover by over 1 B€, increased market share and/or market leadership for 24 partners, 130+ new collaborations, 300+ new jobs and 10+ M€ of additional investments. The consortium with half of the partners being SMEs forms a squad of challengers, agile and hungry to grasp the huge business opportunities that emerge in the convergence of the two sectors, supported by large companies fostering the immediate business volume and carefully selected RTOs. The consortium nucleates a new ecosystem of strongly interlinked value networks, the impact towards European competitiveness, growth and innovation capabilities ranging far beyond 2030.