The WeForming project aims to change the paradigm of efficiently managing energy in buildings, paying special attention to their interaction with the energy ecosystem (energy networks and markets) by developing, deploying and demonstrating innovative solutions addressing (i) digital operation, management and maintenance and (ii) efficient and interactive energy processing for Intelligent Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (iGEBs), able to operate intelligently in a multi-energy, multi-user, multi-sector, multi-market, and multi-objective environment, without forgetting quality, comfort, health and acceptation. The WeForming Framework will deploy an umbrella framework covering all aspects around the establishment and adoption of iGEBs in cities, which consists of (i) a Building Operational Pillar encompassing all assets of iGEBs, including the energy management systems and the different platforms, aiming towards the building operational optimization, the actors and the actual flexibility resources, generation and storage components; (ii) a novel Interoperability Assurance Pillar which leverages on, adapts, evolves, and specifically validates leading-edge interoperable architectures; (iii) a Business Pillar including all necessary processes to bring the proposed solutions to the market, through the design and validation of sustainable and competitive business models, ensuring the economic viability of the investments needed for the establishment of smart cities featuring new and refurbished iGEBs; (iv) a Smart-city enabling Pillar integrating iGEBs as modular units addressing all different non-technical barriers and limitations for the widespread deployment of the proposed solutions that will create a stock of active buildings acting as active utility nodes within cities.

This project addresses the challenge of mfg industry to deliver high-quality products at the necessary production rates while minimizing waste and energy consumption, maximizing efficiency and ROI. openZDM project is an Innovation Action that will develop and demonstrate in 5 representative production lines an open platform designed to realize ZDM. The platform integrates advanced ICT solutions & innovative non-destructive testing, setting the foundations for an innovative solution applicable to a large variety of mfg industries. The 5 pilots represent the largest part of the EU's manufacturing sector, geographically (including plants in northern and southern areas of Europe), technologically (fully & semi automated, and manual processes) and from their value chain positioning (including Tier 1, Tier 2 suppliers, technology suppliers and OEMs). Furthermore, the choice of partners has been done considering strategic sectors for the green transition, in particular two energy intensive production processes (glass bottles, steel suspension arms), one process strategic for the electrification (production of batteries), one process consuming renewable materials (wood based panels) and one highly digitalized automotive assembly plant. The project aims to develop a digital platform that builds on the state-of-the-art RAMI 4.0 and Asset Administration Shell (AAS) to implement intra-factory quality management practices, applicable to these different production environments. In addition several non-destructive inspection (NDI) methods and data-driven quality assessment techniques are considered for online defect identification and quality assessment, distributed at various stages along the manufacturing line. Finally, the Digital Twin and the related services is a key enabling technology for online process adaptation & prediction/prevention of defects, to achieve waste reduction and improved efficiency, aiming to significantly improve the production sustainability of CPPSs.

RURACTIVE aims to foster a just and sustainable transition of rural areas by developing smart, community-led, tailor-made, place-based and inclusive solutions within local Multi-Actor Rural Innovation Ecosystems (RIEs) in 12 pilot area (Dynamos - Ds) in 7 EU, 2 Associated Countries and Switzerland. RURACTIVE will unlock the innovation potential of rural communities by addressing six integrated Rural Development Drivers (RDDs) – namely multimodal mobility, energy transition, agri-food and agroecology, culture and cultural innovation, health and wellbeing, nature-based and cultural tourism – and transversally integrating climate change mitigation and adaption, biodiversity and social justice and inclusion. RURACTIVE will empower rural communities to act for societal change, by making available existing knowledge around smart solutions that integrate various forms of innovation (digital and technological, technical, organizational and social, business models and financial) and enhancing rural communities' capacities and skills, by providing training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer. Implementing a methodology for RIEs establishment in 12 Ds, RURACTIVE will work towards inclusive decision-making processes for all, including vulnerable groups and people at risk of exclusion, providing RIEs with instruments and capacities to collaboratively co-develop, co-implement and co-monitor smart and community-led solutions. Also, by offering an open set of data-driven tools (Decision Support Tool, Adaptive Monitoring tool), a digital infrastructure (RURACTIVE Digital Hub), and defining a programme for external Innovators, RURACTIVE will provide a fertile ground for change in rural areas. Results will be out-scaled through knowledge exchanges and networking at EU level (open contest for Additional Ds and RURACTIVE Forum), the deployment of training and capacity building activities for further rural communities and the creation of open e-learning courses and MOOC.

COVID-X will bridge the collaboration divide between eHealth solution providers -with emphasis on lean startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)-, and the healthcare professional system to fight COVID-19. The purpose is to boost an end-to-end agile validation programme of cutting-edge technology in three real-world clinical scenarios, located in hotspots of the pandemic: Italy, Spain and Sweden. The project will fast-track value streams between the two poles under consideration: 1) attract, invest and empower a community of European eHealth SMEs –the beneficiaries of an acceleration program, selected by open calls- that will provide market-ready fast, cost-effective and easily deployable sampling, screening, diagnostic and prognostic systems and/or data-driven services and tools, already certified with -or close to receive- the CE marking (type 1 of the call); 2) actively involve some of the most relevant hospitals of Europe that have the resources, critical mass and ambition to scale-up their capabilities in the COVID-19 response; thanks to the support of an innovative data sandbox, released as an in-house asset of COVID-X, to facilitate access easily, uniformly and securely to various health data sources, and providing data services including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based decision support systems, data security, visual analytics and intuitive dashboards capabilities. The project will invest dedicated efforts to enforce data privacy and security, ethical compliance and user acceptance. Besides a solid consortium to access world class startups/SMEs, deliver highly valuable technological & business services, provide an innovative data Sandbox with AI capabilities for COVID related services and access 3 piloting sites, COVID-X targets to attract +155 applications and select 31 to undertake through the COVID-X Programme, investing a total of €4.0mil in high impact solution providers.

The overall objective of the TASC-RestoreMed programme is to strongly contribute to the Mission Ocean programme “Restore our Seas and Waters by 2030”, forcing a transformative change through the Blue doughnut concept – Phase 2 with: [1] A FSTP programme of 9 million euro supporting 2 types of projects, one type being at the stage of scale-up and deployment of solutions in the Mediterranean Basin and another type on Transition Agendas, being local and regional roadmaps for the Mediterranean Basin to support the solutions scale-up and deployment and legislation development/adaptation for the future. [2] Attracting, engaging and onboarding strong consortia with challenging projects, showing critical mass for scale-up and deployment through an open call organised according to fair, transparent, objective and open principles. [3] Offering technical support measures on relevant topics that suit all projects in TASC-RestoreMed, with a focus on policy/legislation, access to funding and business/impact case and business plan development, realised through feasibility studies, clustering and networking activities, impact assessment, digital tool for funding, access to infrastructure and a variety of more general support activities. All tangible tools developed and used in the programme brought together in RestoreMedTOOLS, for the sake of the programme and for the future. [4] Support Member States/Associated countries national, regional and/or local authorities, as well as all concerned stakeholders, to implement EU legislation related to marine/freshwater ecosystems and reach the biodiversity, pollution and climate targets of the European Green Deal, through Transition Agendas and impact assessments. [5] A vibrant dissemination and communication plan to promote the call for proposals as well as to maximise the visibility of the TASC-RestoreMed programme and the projects within TASC-RestoreMed.