The REMPOWER project embarks on a pioneering journey to harness the untapped potential of space-based solar power (SBSP) through innovative rectenna technology and sub-THz wireless energy transmission. However, SBSP also faces many challenges, such as high launch costs, technical difficulties, and potential safety and security issues. At its core, REMPOWER is driven by four pivotal technical objectives associated with the capture and rectification of a sub-THz high energy beam: 100 GHz Modular, Flexible and Lightweight Rectenna: REMPOWER will develop rectenna technologies capable of capturing energy at 100 GHz. These modular rectenna technologies will provide modularity, flexibility at panel level and will allow the reduction of the weight of the final solution. High Efficiency and high power rectification: REMPOWER’s advanced diode and rectifier modeling and design will allow tackling high rectification efficiency, and high power handling capability, despite the sub-THz constraint. This will yield high output DC power while limiting the cost related to the number of required non-linear devices. Nonlinear Rectifier and Rectenna Characterization: REMPOWER will introduce a novel approach by subjecting rectifiers to wideband signals, enabling a comprehensive analysis of amplitudes and phases across multiple intermodulation frequencies. This breakthrough will unveils intricate nonlinear behaviors for heightened efficiency. Scalable Rectenna Arrays for Large Surfaces: REMPOWER will focus on scalability to enable high-power transmission, to reduce design and manufacturing costs and to improve modularity and flexibility. The progress within REMPOWER transcends current technological boundaries, offering promise for sustainable in-space mobility solutions and renewable energy generation. By conquering the challenges of high-frequency energy capture, REMPOWER will reshape the future of space exploration, energy generation, and sustainability.

Digitalization has been identified as one of the key enablers for renewal and competitiveness of European manufacturing industries. However, grasping the digitalization and IoT-related opportunities can be limited by the harsh environmental conditions of the manufacturing processes and end use environments. The ECSEL-IA 2019 project initiative CHARM aims to contribute to solving this problem by developing ECS technologies that tolerate harsh industrial environments. The project concept centres around real industrial challenges from different types of end use industries. The synergies and impacts arise from similarities in technology solutions serving different applications and industry sectors. The CHARM Use Cases include six different industry sectors, majority of them presented by innovative cutting-edge large enterprises that belong to the world-wide market leaders of their own sectors – while most of them being new to the ECSEL ecosystem: mining (Sandvik Mining and Construction Oy, FI), paper mills (Valmet Technologies Oy, FI), machining (Tornos SA, CH), solar panel manufacturing lines (Applied Materials Italia SRL, IT), nuclear power plants maintenance and decommissioning (ÚJV Řež a.s., CZ), and professional digital printing (Océ-Technologies B.V, NL). The planned demonstrators engage these big players with European ECS value chains and showcase capabilities that serve manufacturing industries’ needs at large. The new technologies to be developed include novel multi-gas sensors, robust high temperature and pressure sensors, flexible sensors for paper machine rolls, wireless power transfer systems, connectivity solutions for rotating parts, advanced vision systems, and enablers for autonomous driving. The project consortium includes 12 SMEs, 14 LEs and 12 RTOs, and covers the industrial value chains from simulations, sensors and components to packaging, integration and reliability as well as connectivity, cloud and cyber security solutions.

In LoLiPoP IoT innovative Long Life Power Platforms will be developed to enable retrofitting of wireless sensor network (WSN) modules in IoT applications. This includes the development of algorithms to perform FUNCTIONALITIES like asset tracking and condition monitoring (for predictive maintenance). They can be used in APPLICATIONS such as industry 4.0, smart mobility and energy efficient buildings. LoLiPoP IoT creates an ecosystem of developers, integrators and users to develop these platforms thinking about power/battery life, ease of installation and maintenance. The project is driven by 12 laboratory- and field-based use cases to initially demonstrate their technical viability and then potential impact. Expected impacts from the LoLiPoP IoT use cases include; a) typical battery life increase from ~18 months to >5 years, b) Reduced maintenance overhead of mobile and fixed assets from >30% to 10% in production time, cycle time and inventory costs, e) Improved comfort levels and well-being of building occupants whilst reducing energy footprint by >20% and f) Revenues of >€10M PA for LoLiPoP IoT industry partners offering asset tracking & condition monitoring services. All of this is achieved by developing and integrating: a) Multi-source Energy Harvesting solutions (vibrational and photovoltaic transducers, PMICs and discrete circuits), b) Digital interfacing to contextually adapt mode settings of WSN devices and connected systems to minimise power drain, c) Ultra low power components for WSN, d) Innovative Architectures for wireless data collection that minimize battery power drain, e) Simulation Models to optimise component design and integration and f) embedded AI/ML in IoT devices, for lower latency and power consumption and higher robustness.

The 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) builds on the Internet-of-Things (IoT) paradigm, as it relies upon the scenario of having billions of interconnected autonomous mobile devices, with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity and access to knowledge. While enabling such massive deployment, the 4IR should be increasingly eco-friendly. The 4IR is a disrupting approach that will force companies in almost every domain to re-organize themselves in a more efficient way, by exploiting technological breakthroughs such us artificial intelligence , wireless communication and quantum computing. The integration of these emerging technologies into every day life requires efficient power supply solutions in computing, sensing, memory enlargement and human-machine interaction. One perceived bottleneck for 4IR is that in most situations, IoT devices/networks will be remotely deployed, so that maintenance may be either incovenient or impossible. In particular, this implies that IoT devices either have to embed energy sources consistent with their operative lifespan or that clean and renewable energy convertors, if working off-grid, must sit on board. The significant broadening of the wireless communication spectrum in Europe makes the Radio frequency (RF) energy scavenging a highly desirable way forward for clean powering of the next-generation IoT.NANO-EH has the ambitious vision of creating a pathway for translating forefront knowledge of unique high frequency properties of emerging classes of nanomaterials into advanced device engineering for scalable miniaturized energy harvesting/storage submodules that are tailored for the specific needs of stand-alone, mobile or portable uses. It surpasses the current paradigm of energy harvesting materials by developing non-toxic and rare earth/lead-free materials exhibiting CMOS-compatibility and scalability for low cost and large-scale manufacturing.

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.