AID4SME will facilitate SMEs in developing combined AI and data solutions for large scale resource optimisation challenges for industries that have significant impact on the objectives of the Green Deal. Minimum 20 SMEs, selected through 2 open calls, will receive FSTP to develop these solutions with the support of a Community of Practice (COP). The ambition is to create a COP that will continue after the project lifetime. AID4SME brings together 9 technology blocks and low-TRL playgrounds from 4 scientific partners, to educate and support the SMEs. Additionally, 4 large industry partners (from automotive, whitegoods, battery and energy sector) provide real-life large scale resource optimization challenges that require combined AI and data solutions, and high-TRL playgrounds to integrate and demonstrate the solutions.AID4SME offers an open platform that is flexible to bring in challenges from outside the consortium. AID4SME provides the infrastructure and learning environment that enable the SMEs to solve the challenges, demonstrate solutions and grow into impactful enterprises. The technology blocks cover a wide area of AI & data technologies for the full cycle of data collection, creation of insights, decision support and automation. These technologies have the potential to have significant impact on the Green Transition and boost EU competitiveness for industries. AID4SME will collaborate with the AI-on-Demand platform to enrich its repository with the AID4SME tools and framework, while it is open to deploy the tools/frameworks already available on the AI-on-Demand platform for new use cases. AID4SME will assess the impact of the developed technologies on Green Deal objectives and on social and human aspects. AID4SME brings along partners who are experienced in re-skilling and up-skilling of SMEs and applying standardization as enabler for exploitation. The wide geographical coverage, with partners and DIHs from all across Europe, ensures maximum impact.

The current generation of electric vehicles have made significant progress during the recent years, however they have still not achieved the user acceptance needed to support broader main-stream market uptake. These vehicles are generally still too expensive and limited in range to be used as the first car for a typical family. Long charging times and uncertainties in range prediction are common as further barriers to broader market success. For this reason the CEVOLVER project takes a user-centric approach to create battery-electric vehicles that are usable for comfortable long day trips whilst the installed battery is dimensioned for affordability. Furthermore the vehicles will be designed to take advantage of future improvements in the fast-charging infrastructure that many countries are now planning. CEVOLVER tackles the challenge by making improvements in the vehicle itself to reduce energy consumption as well as maximizing the usage of connectivity for further optimization of both component and system design, as well as control and operating strategies. This will encompass measures that range from the on-board thermal management and vehicle energy management systems, to connectivity that supports range-prediction as a key element for eco-driving and eco-routing driver assistance. Within the project it will be demonstrated that long-trip are achievable even without further increases in battery size that would lead to higher cost. The driver is guided to fast-charging infrastructure along the route that ensures sufficient charging power is available along the route in order to complete the trip with only minimal additional time needed for the overall trip. The efficient transferability of the results to further vehicles is ensured by adopting a methodology that proves the benefit with an early assessment approach before implementation in OEM demonstrator vehicles.

The PROSPECTS 5.0 project aims to promote the adoption of Industry 5.0 principles, such as human centricity, sustainability, and resiliency, and facilitate the transition to Industry 5.0 for SMEs, start-ups, and scale-ups in various industries. The project intends to achieve its objectives by providing reports, guidelines, measurement tools, and a collaborative platform. To provide real-world examples, the project will analyse 14 use cases from different European Union countries and 6 different industries, covering various types of manufacturing, service providing, education, energy, aviation transport, and automotive. The selected industrial sectors are significant drivers for the adoption of Industry 5.0 and are crucial to the European economy. The use cases from these sectors will ensure a focused and effective transition to Industry 5.0 in Europe. PROSPECTS 5.0 results are expected to encourage collaboration between different entities, including companies, universities, research centres, and government agencies, to co-create new solutions and innovations, improve the skills and mindsets of individuals regarding Industry 5.0, and study pilot projects to test, validate, and measure the impact of Industry 5.0 on various operations, employees, customers, and the environment. Additionally, PROSPECTS 5.0 will raise awareness of Industry 5.0 through workshops, seminars/webinars, and collaborative online platforms and web applications showcasing successful case studies, best practices, challenges, and the latest trends and opportunities of this transition. PROSPECTS5.0 is relevant to the worker Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, Space) specifically to destination 6 “A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies since the project results will lead to a more inclusive and sustainable EU Industry, and indirectly, the project findings will facilitate the understanding of the required skills needed to support the twin transition.

Strong efforts would be required to drastically reduce the fossil dependency and the CO2 emissions reductions in the transport sector, in line with the 2011 White paper on Transport – i.e. a 20% reduction in the CO2 emissions by 2030 (relative to 2008 levels) and a 60% reduction by 2050 (relative to 1990 levels). Electrification of the transport sector offers EU the opportunity to achieve these long-term targets. The larger automotive industry has recognized the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) and there are large strides planned in building electric charging infrastructure – as announced by E.ON and Ionity about their investment plans for ultra-fast charging infrastructure. Right now, there’s no EV that can accept this charge rate, but several automakers are working on electric cars able to accept that kind of power. SELFIE makes its biggest impact here, ensuring that the EVs, in the not so distant future, are able to accept this high charge rate without reduction on battery lifetime, and to store the energy efficiently in their batteries with minimal losses. The overall objective is to develop and demonstrate a novel self-sustained compact battery system, consisting of: - A smart modular battery pack, which has excellent internal thermal conductivity properties, a refrigerant cooling system and thermal storage system (heat buffer) capable to absorb excess heat due to fast charging, and which is thoroughly insulated from the outside; - An advanced battery thermal management system capable to keep the battery temperature effectively within the optimal window and to prevent overheating (and battery degradation) due to fast charging. SELFIE will significantly increase user acceptance of EVs by enabling fast-charging; offering significant cost reductions and elimination of range anxiety compared to other propulsion technologies.

To provide affordable and accessible mobility solutions to both emerging and advanced markets the GIANTS (Green Intelligent Affordable Nano Transport Solutions) project aims to develop a completely new electric vehicle platform. The platform is based on user demands and will be demonstrated and validated in use cases in both emerging and advanced markets showcasing the practicality of GIANTS technology. Rather than focussing on the development of a typical skateboard-solution common in the automotive sector, GIANTS offers a much more flexible and mission tailored approach: It is built on a set of technology solutions, which together allow to produce light electric vehicles (L5, L6 and L7) suited for urban traffic solutions. It offers modularity, scalability, and interoperability, and features innovative charging and energy optimization solutions. The platform will include a lightweight, blind mating and portable 48 V battery, a scalable e-drivetrain, a standardized vehicle control system, and roof solar panels. A vehicle configuration tool will also be available to enable 3rd parties to design vehicles based on the platform. The success of the platform will be assessed in terms of platform usability, manufacturability, vehicle operation, user acceptability, environmental benefits, and business viability. Additionally, a concept for recycling, reuse and refurbishment will be developed. GIANTS will reduce the cost of ownership for electric vehicles and provide climate-neutral solutions for urban transport that are user-friendly, energy efficient, and can improve air quality, thus the project will increase the user acceptance and lead to EU leadership in world transport markets. Demonstration activities with prototypes are expected to raise awareness of the GIANTS technology and facilitate its uptake by major original equipment manufacturers. The potential for the GIANTS technology is 1.5 million vehicles sold annually from 2028 onwards.