The HIPERION consortium has been assembled to answer the call LC-SC3-RES-15-2019: Increase the competitiveness of the EU PV manufacturing industry. The goal of the project is to bring to fruition at the industrial scale a validated high efficiency module-level innovation, based on a disruptive planar optical micro-tracking technology, which concentrates sunlight on multijunction solar cells, mounted on top of a conventional silicon backplate. The resulting high efficiency solar modules (>30% STC under direct sunlight) with a standard flat panel form factor can be mounted on any standard racks or rooftops. The technology has been extensively demonstrated with outdoor tests and pilot installations. It must be now industrialized for mass production, to enable its integration by manufacturers in their existing production lines. The project will demonstrate at pilot-line level the assembly of these high efficiency modules, while several commercial pilot sites across Europe and qualification tests will further validate the performance and reliability. To achieve successfully this 48-month, 13 M€ valued action, a consortium of 16 members representing 9 European countries has been gathered. It includes several industrial players with the key expertise to develop the assembly processes, and some of the most renown European PV centers with strong know-how on design and qualification. A solar manufacturer will do a detailed economical evaluation on the integration of the technology in the production line, while several solar installers will represent both the rooftop and utility end markets. With its novel module architecture and innovative manufacturing processes, HIPERION has the potential to drastically reduce solar electricity costs by significantly boosting the efficiency. It could allow EU PV manufacturers to gain a clear competitive advantage against mainstream solar modules and to regain market shares on the growing PV market.

Due to their unique properties, research into the quantum physics and engineering of Sb-based compound semiconductor (III-Sb) materials and devices is flourishing worldwide. However, III-Sb penetration into the electronic and optoelectronic markets falls substantially short of their potential. The objective of QUANTIMONY (Innovative Training Network in Quantum Semiconductor Technologies exploiting Antimony) is to provide high-level training to fourteen early stage researchers (ESRs) in the overarching field of III-Sb semiconductor science and technology, covering all scientific and engineering aspects from modelling through to material growth and characterisation, device fabrication and analysis, and industrial exploitation. Via QUANTIMONY the beneficiaries and partners will prepare this cohort of researchers for, and jointly instigate, the transition of III-Sb materials from their current status of high-performance, high-cost niche application towards scalable and industrially relevant technologies. To fulfil this mission, we propose a 48-month project with seven work packages, four of which focus on III-Sb research activities that will accelerate the development of new technologies. QUANTIMONY is configured as a multi-site network comprising eleven internationally-renowned research teams as beneficiaries: seven universities, one research institute, two large corporations and one SME. It is enhanced by twelve partner organizations, six of which are industrial partners, three are large scale research facilities and three are internationally-leading academic groups. The combined consortium spans eleven countries: eight European, plus USA, Taiwan and Brazil.

The same way the internet revolutionized our society, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that can learn without the need of explicit instructions is transforming our life. AI uses brain inspired neural network algorithms powered by computers. However, these central processing units (CPU) are extremely energy inefficient at implementing these tasks. This represents a major bottleneck for energy efficient, scalable and portable AI systems. Reducing the energy consumption of the massively dense interconnects in existing CPUs needed to emulate complex brain functions is a major challenge. ChipAI aims at developing a nanoscale photonics-enabled technology capable of deliver compact, high-bandwidth and energy efficiency CPUs using optically interconnected spiking neuron-like sources and detectors. ChipAI will pursue its main goal through the exploitation of Resonant Tunnelling (RT) semiconductor nanostructures embedded in sub-wavelength metal cavities, with dimensions 100 times smaller over conventional devices, for efficient light confinement, emission and detection. Key elements developed are non-linear RT nanoscale lasers, LEDs, detectors, and synaptic optical links on silicon substrates to make an economically viable technology. This platform will be able to fire and detect neuron-like light-spiking (pulsed) signals at rates 1 billion times faster than biological neurons (>10 GHz per spike rates) and requiring ultralow energy (<10 fJ). This radically new architecture will be tested for spike-encoding information processing towards validation for use in artificial neural networks. This will enable the development of real-time and offline portable AI and neuromorphic (brain-like) CPUs. In perspective, ChipAI will not only lay the foundations of the new field of neuromorphic optical computing, as will enable new non-AI functional applications in biosensing, imaging and many other fields where masses of cheap miniaturized pulsed sources and detectors are needed.

The MIRPHAB (Mid InfraRed PHotonics devices fABrication for chemical sensing and spectroscopic applications) consortium will establish a pilot line to serve the growing needs of European industry in the field of analytical micro-sensors. Its main objectives are to: • provide a reliable supply of mid-infrared (MIR) photonic components for companies incl. in particular SMEs already active in analytical MIR sensing • reduce investment cost to access innovative MIR solutions for companies already active in the field of analytical sensors, but new to MIR photonics based sensing • attract companies new to the field of analytical sensors, aiming to integrate µ-sensors into their products. To fulfil those objectives, MIRPHAB is organized as a distributed pilot line formed by leading European industrial suppliers of MIR photonic components, complemented by first class European R&D institutes with processing facilities capable of carrying out pilot line production. MIRPHAB provides: • access to MIR photonic devices via mounted/packaged devices for laser-based analytical MIR sensors • expert design for sensor components to be fabricated in the pilot line plus training services to its customers. The platform will be organized such that new developments in MIR micro- and integrated optic components and modules can be taken up and incorporated into the MIRPHAB portfolio. MIRPHAB will work on a convincing scheme for the flow of hardware and information, suitable to operate a distributed pilot line efficiently. MIRPHAB will develop sound business cases and a compelling business plan. Potential cost-performance breakthroughs will be shown for reliable MIR sensing products based on building blocks provided by MIRPHAB. MIRPHAB will become a sustainable source of key components for new and highly competitive MIR sensors, facilitating their effective market introduction and thus significantly strengthening the position and competitiveness of the respective European industry sector.