ICHAruS is a Doctoral Network aimed to train early-stage researchers, able to face current and future challenges in the field of innovative, edge-cutting technologies based on electro-magnetic assist to achieve full control of the hydrogen flames. ICHAruS has been built to provide doctoral training in a collaborative partnership between academic and industry partners who are major European gas turbine manufacturers. The aim of this partnership is thus to understand the physical processes that govern the interaction between hydrogen combustion and electro-magnetic fields at all flow scales to achieve such control and identify the key parameters that would allow for the design of an innovative, ultra-low NOx and flashback-proof combustion device. The behavior of hydrogen flames under plasma discharge and electromagnetic conditioning offer the opportunity to strongly accelerate the path towards zero-carbon energy and transport sectors. Three specific research objectives will be pursued: 1) Investigation and modelling of electromagnetic field effects on the species transport and chemical kinetics to unveil the effect of external electromagnetic fields on the reaction chemistry of hydrogen in both pure oxygen and air, and also determine any effects on the formation of pollutants. The effect of differential diffusion on the flame structure as opposed to electromagnetic drift will be also investigated. 2) Develop turbulence combustion models for low- and high-energy electromagnetic assisted combustion. The competing effects between electromagnetic drift and turbulence transport will be investigated and sub-grid scale closures for large-eddy simulations that consider the effect of electromagnetic fields and plasma will be developed. 3) Experimental and numerical investigation of innovative electromagnetic-assisted control technologies for the stabilisation of flames of practical interest. Both single swirl flames and annular configurations will be investigated

DECODE aims at creating and demonstrating a decentralised and adaptable future lab concept that connects multiple labs on a single platform in order to boost the effectiveness and speed-up the development and innovation path for clean energy materials and technologies. Initially demonstrated for selected hydrogen technologies, the DECODE platform is expected to find wide adoption in the clean technology field in the longer run, including energy harvesting, conversion and storage; clean water technologies; and the synthesis of value-added chemicals and fuels. The core of the platform comprises three elements: the DECODE FABRIC that connects adaptative multi-scale modelling and characterisation suites in a matrix-like structure; a scoring concept to assess modelling and characterisation suites in terms of their integration readiness level (IRL); and an AI-enabled central unit (CPU) that processes the IRL scores, performs the technology mapping to the FABRIC and orchestrates contributions in modelling and characterisation from partner labs. For the platform as a whole, DECODE strives to achieve a high level of flexibility, adaptability, and interoperability, in terms of materials modification strategies, technologies and operating regimes that it will be able to handle. Water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are selected for the demonstration of DECODE’s decentralised labs platform. The project will join leading expertise and capabilities in physical theory and modelling, design, fabrication, operando characterisation and testing of functional materials and components, materials digitalisation and cloud-connected lab operations, and industrial-grade component integration and in-line/end-of-line testing and validation by industrial partners in the consortium.

FairCFD aims to transform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) by promoting eco-responsible and efficient numerical methods through a cutting-edge doctoral network. Fully aligned with the European Green Deal and MSCA Green Charter, it embeds sustainability into High-Performance Computing (HPC) while advancing methodologies to reduce environmental impact. The project brings together 8 European universities, one national research center, and 6 industrial partners to train 15 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in interdisciplinary approaches combining computational science, environmental engineering, and social sciences. Fourteen DCs will address industrially relevant challenges, advancing technological innovation, while one will provide an ethnographic perspective on the network’s practices. The program emphasizes excellence in doctoral training through international secondments, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exposure to academic and industrial environments. This prepares DCs with the skills to meet evolving market needs while strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity and structuring doctoral research at the European level. This aligns with market demands for experts capable of balancing computational performance and with sustainability in sectors like energy, transportation, and aerodynamics. By improving numerical efficiency, fostering frugality, and developing transparent metrics, FairCFD supports industries and research institutions in meeting future sustainability goals. FairCFD will deliver innovative efficient simulation methods combining physics and data, metrics to quantify environmental costs, and open-source tools, ensuring wide dissemination and impact. The project positions Europe as a leader in eco-responsible scientific computing and sets a benchmark for sustainability-focused doctoral education.

All information humankind has of the ancient past of our planet comes from analyzing the geological record encoded in rocks. There is, however, no rock record of the first 600 million years of Earth’s history. Unlocking the secrets of this earliest period –the Hadean– is a fundamental task for science, as it is key to understanding how the planet became habitable, when the first forms of metabolism and self-replication developed, and life appeared. The lack of a geological record has led scientists to use computational modeling to make inferences about the conditions in Early Earth’s environments. Less common are laboratory experiments specifically targeted to simulating Hadean conditions. Based on ubiquitous carbonaceous chert deposits in the oldest rock record, it is widely accepted that many early Archean aquatic settings were reducing and rich in silica and some basic carbon-based molecules. We reason that such aquatic conditions were already established during the early Hadean, and inevitably led to the existence of a large-scale factory of simple and complex organic compounds, many of them relevant to prebiotic chemistry and to the route to biomimetic hybrid microstructures able to self-organize and catalyze prebiotic reactions relevant to the origin of life. Our project is aimed at understanding the crucial role of silica in directing the geochemical and protobiological processes, creating habitats for early life, and preserving early biomass on Earth’s surface during the first billion years of its history. PROTOS will use an array of laboratory experiments (the Hadean Simulator) to systematically study ab-initio reactions of water and gases with the earliest rock types in order to determine compositions of aquatic habitats and subsequent silica precipitation mechanisms, organic synthesis processes on silica/iron surfaces, and the preservation of the first remnants of life. PROTOS will change our view of the infancy of the planet.

To face the increased needs on current consumptions, some new technologies are introduced in power conversion stages (mainly owing to the introduction of GaN transistors). Few years ago, the Si Transistors as switches was the device limiting the performance and the market was dominated by US manufacturers in a monopoly for space application with high costs (need of specific design and foundries to face the radiation environment). This also lead to EU dependence to US export control restrictions. The introduction of GaN transistors allow to get better performances and also EU non dependence as some initiative promote European supply chain (as shown in H2020 EleGaNt on-going project). But now, the main integration & performance limitation is now the controller of the power stages available in the market : - Performance : limited switching frequency operation due to : o Device technology : most of them in the market are in bipolar technology (slow & power consumption) o Radiation sensitivity : heavy ions can cause transients that are to be filtered (slowing down the performances) o Power consumption of the controller itself Functionality : Many functions are set owing to external parts (fine analog tuning, switching fThe SCOPS (Scalable Controller fOr Power Sources) This project sets one clear and measurable main objective: To design and evaluate the performance in space environment of Application Specific Integrated Circuit, nameds SCOPS, to control several power supply phases in parallel, using non-dependent supply chain. To do so, it is necessary that SCOPS provides the Space Community with: 1. A flexible SCOPS Circuit that overcomes the limitations of existing controllers in terms of phase paralleling possibilities, performance, feature and radiation robustness. 2. A fair commercialization and intellectual property management to allow the purchase of the SCOPS outcomes at a competitive cost in front of its non-European alternatives for space applications.