The technological development of a new class of bioinspired mechanical metamaterials – artificially designed materials with properties not found in nature – is the aim of the EU-funded BOHEME project. Drawing on research from various disciplines (from biology and mathematics to ocean engineering and materials science), it is assuming that the working principle behind metamaterials is already exploited in nature and that through evolution this has led to optimised designs for impact damping. BOHEME will take a disruptive approach for applications over various wavelength scales, from non-destructive testing to noise reduction to low-frequency vibration control (including seismic) to coastal protection or energy harvesting from ocean waves.

The Advanced Materials & manufacturing United for LightwEighT (AMULET) project is a HORIZON 2020 project that aims to exploit the innovation potential of SMEs through a cross-sectoral, funded knowledge exchange. The goal of AMULET is to create new value chains by fostering the penetration of advanced lightweight materials in different fields through cross-regional and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange in four sectors: automotive, aerospace and aeronautics, energy, and building.

C2C-NewCap is a Portuguese start-up based in Portugal that develops supercapacitor-based solutions. Its EU-funded HYCAP project supported pilot production lines implementation, supply chain development and market release of the first commercial version of the start-up’s first product, GO-START. GO-START is a hybrid energy storage system (supercapacitor + battery) for EU heavy-commercial vehicles. GO-START complies with all industry standards in terms of voltage and size for easy adoption, being the first supercapacitor-based solution that can be directly installed in the battery compartment of the vehicle battery for direct replacement of lead-acid batteries (first plug and play solution). GO-START eliminates the need for idling during resting periods by having enough energy density; has increased reliability, ensuring cranking even after battery misuse and depletion; has increased lifetime, to decrease maintenance and product replacement; and is safe (no flammable or toxic materials). See here GO-START's promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaZuuDWiJjo

Zeleros is a European hyperloop pioneer, developing advanced e-mobility systems to enable fully electric and automated travel of passenger and cargo. From hyperloop trains to automated container movers, intralogistics or energy storage solutions for heavy duty vehicles, the company has evolved fast since its foundation in 2016 to become an innovation powerhouse of 60 people based in Valencia with an international vision. More at www.zeleros.com. 

Wind turbines are already part of everyday European life and are an essential element of the strategy to meet the Green Deal targets. Wind turbine blade (WTB) size is steadily increasing with the largest new offshore blades >100 m in length. Composite blades are manufactured using resin infusion and coating processes. Even using modern manufacturing methods, these are subject to defects which result in re-work, scrap and repair. TURBO will reduce defect formation through better simulation, NDT and process control. The project will demonstrate its results in the fabrication of full size WTB sections at the Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy factory in Aalborg, Denmark. The workplan also includes full lifecycle analysis, environmental assessments and production efficiency analysis to quantify the project benefits.

GENAQ invests in the development and manufacturing of air to water technology. The Atmospheric Water generation replicates the natural process of rain, condensing the humidity present in the environment thanks to refrigeration technology. The company's mission is to provide access to quality drinking water in a sustainable way, even in places where there is no previous water source: all that is needed is air and access to a power source. GENAQ is part of the KEYTER INTARCON Group, an industrial group with more than 35 years of experience in industrial refrigeration and climatization. GENAQ began as a EU-funded R&D project and in 2018 it developed the first Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) prototype. Since then, the company has kept developing and upgrading a complete portfolio of Air-To-Water solutions, and has successfully completed projects in over 65 countries around the world. GENAQ's goal is to make AWG technology a viable water solution, constantly improving energy efficiency and quality standards, thus bringing high-quality drinking-water to places where there is no water, or it has no quality, or it is too expensive.

ReCreate is an EU-funded project focused on the reuse of precast concrete elements through the reassembly process for the development of new buildings. ReCreate pushes towards circular construction by investigating the systemic changes needed in the whole ecosystems of construction and demolition. The reuse of precast structural components retains the secondary material at its highest value. The key objective of ReCreate is to innovate and develop novel technological solutions and processes for the deconstruction and reuse of buildings. ReCreate will help to develop the EPDs for the reuse of precast concrete components to make the LCA and LCC for other buildings possible.

Building on previous work that successfully established the viability of converting atmospheric humidity into electricity, the EIC-funded CATCHER project now intends to develop this highly innovative concept. The project will utilise an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach involving research teams and businesses across the EU and Ukraine to optimise and scale up power conversion that will ultimately be suitable for incorporation into the power grid. This ground-breaking technology represents a brand new renewable energy source. It not only integrates with EU programmes on renewables and sustainability, but it also bolsters the EU’s reputation as a global< renewable leader.

The EU-funded Platform-ZERO project is developing a new industrial process-monitoring platform for third-generation PV using AI to revolutionise the production process and impactfully reduce defects and costs. To achieve its goals, the project will develop novel sensors and methods for in-line industrial inspection that will improve the quality of third-generation PV and reduce its environmental impact by minimising the waste of energy and valuable materials during production.

The EU-funded NEXGEN SIMS project supports new technologies, methods and processes that will enable more sustainable and efficient carbon neutral mining operations. A key aspect of the project is to develop autonomous carbon neutral mining processes. This includes the use of battery-electric mining equipment, full utilization of 5G for optimal connectivity and positioning, autonomous material handling, AI-powered traffic and fleet control and collaboration among machines. The project is also focusing on safety and the mine worker of the future, e.g. by developing autonomous mine inspection technology. The project is coordinated by mining equipment and service supplier Epiroc and the other project partners are mining companies Agnico Eagle Finland, Boliden, KGHM Polska, K+S and OZ Minerals; services and system suppliers AFRY, Combitech, Ericsson, KGHM Cuprum and Mobilaris MCE; business developer LTU Business and universities Luleå University of Technology and RWTH Aachen University – all based in Europe, except for OZ Minerals (Australia). NEXGEN SIMS builds on the successful H2020 EU-sponsored SIMS project, which played an important role in advancing sustainable mining operations, partly through the use of battery-electric machines.

SisAl Pilot is a 4 year innovation action project funded by Horizon 2020 (GA 869268) and it aims to demonstrate a patented novel industrial process to produce silicon (Si, a critical and strategic raw material), enabling a shift from today’s carbothermic Submerged Arc Furnace (SAF) process to a far more environmentally and economically sustainable alternative: an aluminothermic reduction of quartz in slag that utilizes secondary raw materials such as aluminium (Al) EoL scrap and dross, as replacements for carbon reductants used today. SisAl Pilot represents a path-breaking approach, and a strong contribution to “circularity” through industrial symbiosis where the Al industry will act as both a raw material supplier and end user to the Si industry. Across sectors, SisAl Pilot will give substantial reductions in material yield losses, enhanced valorisation of waste- and by-product streams (SiO2 fines, Si skulls, dross, scrap etc), at a 3 times lower energy consumption and radically lower emissions of CO2 and harmful pollutants, at a considerably lower cost.

Featuring enhanced valorisation of waste and by-products streams, lower energy consumption, and reduced emissions of CO2 and harmful pollutants, it is described as a path-breaking approach. It also has a strong contribution to ‘circularity’ in which the aluminium industry will act as both a raw material supplier and end user.

SkillLab, a start-up firm in Amsterdam, wants to “democratise” the career guidance process, as one of the social enterprise’s founders, Karim Bin-Humam, puts it. With a mobile app and software powered by artificial intelligence, the company helps jobseekers identify their skills and shows them how their talents can be used in a new job market. SkillLab signs contracts with governmental employment services and other organisations to improve its service to clients.

Redefining what is technically feasible. To achieve this, JHT relies on the application of Additive Manufacturing. Laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) in particular enables completely new designs and products. The best example: the vacuum roller "VacuFL3X". Unlike conventional vacuum rollers, the VacuFL3X-roll, which is made of stainless-steel, has complex internal pipesthat interconnect the vacuum-zones without leaks. Arranged symmetrically to the center, this allows webs of different widths to be handled in an energy-efficient and sensitive manner. In addition, the wrap angle can be adjusted to a new web run – tool-free. An add-on is the temperature control of the shell by fluids, which adds flexibility to the coating process. A combination of active vacuum zones and simultaneous temperature control is only possible because of Additive Manufacturing (AM).Nevertheless, AM requires the roller to be segmented: the build volumes of 3D-printers are limited, so larger rollers cannot be manufactured in a single piece. With the help of two cooperating partners, a hybrid joining concept was developed in which the stainless-steel segments are joined with adhesive and a laser beam weld. A third cooperating company was subsequently involved in order to be able to map Additive Manufacturing in larger quantities.

The AI-MATTERS network aims to boost the uptake of AI in the European Manufacturing industries and brings together a consortium of major organisations from eight European countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain) to create a world-class reference network of testing and experimentation facilities for manufacturing.

AI-MATTERS’ overarching objective is to strengthen Europe’s positioning and leadership in the uptake Artificial Intelligence systems. By bringing robotics and other advanced technologies to real-world environments, and at a scale, the consortium aims to create leap transformations of the European manufacturing system.

The network, with a total budget of 60M€, is co-funded by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Program and sources at national/regional level and will be operational in 2024. 

The economic crisis caused by the pandemic have led to supply chain problems and a strong inflationary pressure, demonstrating the fragility of traditional economic sectors, especially in the manufacturing industry. This turbulent environment urges the companies, specially SMEs, to adapt and transform themselves permanently, so they can enhance their competitive advantage in the future.In this context, 11 european partners joined forces to launch the SURE5.0 project “Supporting the smes SUstainaibility and REsilience transition towards industry 5.0 in the mobility, transport & automotive, aerospace and electronics European ecosystems”, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme. The SURE5.0 project aims to support European SMEs working on these industrial ecosystems, to advance in their digital transformation process while becoming more human-centric, sustainable and resilient.

The international cooperation programme “EU4Business: SME Recovery, Competitiveness and Internationalisation” is co-financed by the European Union and the German Government and is implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The programme aims to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, recovery and growth, create better conditions for the development of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as support innovation and exports. The programme provides Ukrainian small and medium-sized entrepreneurs with support indirectly through the development of industry clusters and their member companies, cooperation with city councils of territorial communities with the aim of building business support infrastructure, providing services through professional business support organizations and business schools, such as educational business development courses and trainings, individual and group consultations, Ukrainian forums and participation in international conferences, trade missions, matchmaking events, etc. The programme provides Ukrainian small and medium-sized entrepreneurs with support indirectly: through the development of industry clusters and their member companies, through cooperation with city councils of territorial communities in order to build business support infrastructure, through the provision of services from professional business support organizations and business schools to entrepreneurs, such as educational courses and trainings on business development, individual and group consultations, providing Ukrainian business forums and ensuring participation in international business conferences, trade missions, business matchmaking events to start a partnership on trade or skills-exchange, etc. The programme started in April 2020. More than 20,000 participants have used the help, the vast majority of them are business owners and managers. Read more: www.eu4business.org.ua