Future wireless networks (FWNs) will need to efficiently and flexibly provide diversified services such as enhanced mobile broadband access, ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications . RECOMBINE joins the scientific excellence and expertise of key academic and industrial players into a joint collaborative effort to build the framework for the design oif FWNs beyond 5G that are able to support multiple operational standards for exploitation of intrinsic network heterogeneity; capable of processing information generated from a huge volume of heterogeneous sources and with sufficient intrinsic resilience to counter potential security threats. RECOMBINE will pursue innovations for advancing in the areas of mm-wave technology, licensed spectrum access, antenna design, channel propagation and modeling, and network prediction and quality of experience supported by artifical intelligence. In addition, RECOMBINE will integrate scientific and business model innovations for building a framework to fulfill the economic potential of FWNs.

DIH^2 is a network of 26 DIHs, with a target to reach over 170 DIHs. The sole aim of the network is to spark incremental (cut 50% cost of advance robotics solutions, double the growth of robotics market) and disruptive (maximum productivity & optimum agility) innovations in over 300,000 Manufacturing SMEs and Mid-Caps. It will support SMEs in their Agile Production challenge (50% increase in productivity) and unleash their digitalization potential by enabling robot solutions that are more cost effective at lower lot sizes. DIH^2 relies on: • A Common Open Platform Reference Architecture for Agile Production (COPRA-AP) -based on Industrial Data Space Reference Architecture Model and FIWARE technologies- to serve the needs of SMEs by means of a continuously growing set of Robotic-based Open Standard Enablers (ROSE-AP). • A marketplace as one-stop-shop for SMEs to access essential services for digital transformation including business modelling, technical support, access to skills and finance. • 2 competitive Open Calls to launch an ambitious Technology Transfer Program with 260 Agility Audits, 26 cross-border Technology Transfer Experiments and 26 ROSE-AP, leveraging over 26M€ of public & private funding in advance robotics solutions for Agile Production. • Members deeply rooted in their regional Smart Specialization Strategy (bringing €5M additional funding on top of EU funds), ensuring ‘working distance’ services for every SME in Europe - whichever the sector, wherever the location, whatever the size. • A Corporate Sponsorship Program from equipment and automation suppliers committed with the network to get access to wider market and latest research in robotics. DIH^2 will transform this network into a self-sustainable non-profit association with members all over Europe. DIH^2 will demonstrate that public funded research can help SMEs & Mid-Caps achieve digital excellence and global competitiveness through adopting advanced robotics solutions in Agile Production.

Science is the poetry of reality and 15 Bulgarian universities, research institutes and NGO partners join together in SEARCH to prove the statement that, combining Science + Environment + Art will bring Resilience for European Researchers Night in 2022-23. The experienced consortium led by Center for Research & Analysis and numerous associated partners bring longitudinal insight from their own 5 years’ partnership as well as EU and national findings in this 24-month project which aims to assert among the general public the crucial role of science in society and its relevance to everyday lives, and heighten young people’s interest in research careers, including of those from small towns and villages, and young people with disabilities. True to our approach, our country-wide, hybrid, multidisciplinary, hands-on programme of science and art events will focus on one central topic per year – the most versatile material in human history and its essential role in society, for technological, scientific and economic advancement – glass (UN International Year of Glass 2022), and the most urgent existential choices humanity needs to make – adapting to climate change, one of the new EU Missions supporting the European Green Deal. SEARCH for the popular formats of researchers’ public engagement like inspiring talks, spectacular shows and hands-on experiments, a range of sci-art collaborations, researchers at schools activities, and the innovative Young Voices podcasts and Instagram Looking Glass competitions. We will reach 3.6 mln, and engage with 30,000 direct participants online and offline, including teachers and school pupils, and along with boosting public engagement skills of researchers and teachers, we will demonstrate irrevocably how relevant, exciting and important the job of researchers is, and encourage young Bulgarians, especially girls and people with special needs to choose STEAM careers.

Twenty partners in Bulgaria come together for European Researchers Night ‘20 to present FRESHER (Find Research Everywhere, SHare and expERience) - a 12-month project led by the Centre for Research & Analysis, in a Consortium, now in its 5th year, with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, universities, research institutes, the only Bulgarian tech park, a chamber of industry and commerce, the local office of a pan-European organisation, education entrepreneurship, and associate partners. FRESHER offers a series of specially curated, coordinated, multi-day participatory events at over 50 venues and 30+ schools in 25 cities/towns/villages. The talks, shows, hands-on experiments, lab visits, citizen research, competitions will reach 3.6 mln, and engage directly with 30,000 in face-to-face events at schools, libraries, museums, academic and outdoor venues, public transport and online. Building on well researched, popular formats for researchers’ engagement with the public, FRESHER provides multidisciplinary content around the International Year of Plant Health. The topic will feature in the programmes of all partners to assert the relevance of research to everyday life. Building on the Consortium’s existing understanding developed through previous local initiatives including Researchers Night, and addressing findings of research (MASIS report, Education & Training Monitor 2019 for Bulgaria, Women in Digital Scoreboard 2019, Science, Research & Innovation Performance in EU 2018), FRESHER focuses on enhancing public engagement with research and shortening the gap in the decision of young people and girls in particular to choose STEAM careers. The activities will step on previous evaluation and generate fresh, aligned data. The project will strengthen the capacity of all partners to organise accessible events for the general public, and to tailor messages for underserved audiences, including girls, young people at risk of school drop-out, as well as people with special needs.

In the context of modern technologies, the transition to 6G networks faces numerous challenges; therefore, novel solutions must be discovered, combined, and tested in order to achieve distributed smart connectivity, imperceptible latency, virtually infinite capacity, improved security/privacy, smart/adaptive networking, and energy efficiency. The 6G-ICARUS project will investigate, combine, and improve on current technologies in order to address numerous obstacles that 6G networks will face in order to define the future wireless networks (FWNs). 6G-ICARUS is focused on FWNs capable of meeting a variety of targets, resulting in better geographic coverage, particularly in urban areas, higher transmission rates, lower latency, provision of diverse services, processing of information generated from a massive volume of heterogeneous sources, inherent resilience to counter potential security threats, and making intelligent decisions. 6G-ICARUS is founded on three pillars: (i) Effective utilisation of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces suitably controlled by artificial intelligence software; (ii) Channel modelling for mmWave/subTHz communications; (iii) Multi-connectivity solutions for 6G mobile communications. The project will generate novel research results as well as novel original hardware supported by innovative software (techniques, algorithms) based mostly on machine learning and deep learning. Hardware and software will be combined and examined in real-world settings to fulfill certain situations, all of which are matched with real-world applications. There will be separate Proof of Concept studies to validate the technologies and methodologies under consideration.