FIC-FIGHTERS is a local democracy project. It is the search for new economic models deliberately agreed to manage of waste that harms the natural and cultural heritage. It is a space for discussion on the adoption of alternatives for wastes that has been accumulating near our cities for decades. The project will involve different local actors, industries, authorities, SMEs, RTD centers, and universities to inclusively scale up to TRL6-7 waste recovery processes under the premises of the circular economy, focusing on the valorization of phosphogypsum waste (PG) to generate sustainable raw materials for use in the paper, cement, batteries, fertilizers and detergents industries. For 48 months, the different actors, in cooperation with the CCRI, will be involved in making the new circular business models a reality. The project will: 1) Build a mobile pilot plant (TRL7) based on optimised results and digital twin of the processes to demonstrate the sustainable production of raw materials (sodium sulfate, REE and P, aluminum hydroxide, ammonium sulfate and precipitated calcium carbonate) for different industries, starting from phosphogypsum and other wastes. 2) Create a PG forum for local discussions and develop local workshops in each of the 6 case studies, including citizen participation, addressing socio-economic, environmental and regulation aspects of the new circular business models developed to become a reality and reaching trust and acceptance. 3) Address the flexibility and replicability of the valorization processes by involving 7 case studies and create the first known PG Exploitation Portal aiming to identify, characterise, and reach all European cities with same problematic. 4) Contribute to knowledge exchange in clustering and CCRI events; creating a Community of Practice and making the results of the project publicly available and exploitable, addressing IP protection. 5) Provide guidelines to reach circularity based on LCA, LCC, social and H&S studies.

InfraStress addresses cyber-physical (C/P) security of Sensitive Industrial Plants and Sites (SIPS) Critical Infrastructures (CI) and improves resilience and protection capabilities of SIPS exposed to large scale, combined, C/P threats and hazards, and guarantee continuity of operations, while minimizing cascading effects in the infrastructure itself, the environment, other CIs, and citizens in vicinity, at reasonable cost. In fact, InfraStress will develop TRL4+ solutions from preceding research and innovation towards TRL7 level producing maximum adoption of the proposed methods and solutions. Addressing the current fragmentation of available security solutions and technology, InfraStress will provide an integrated framework including cyber and physical threat detection, integrated C/P Situational Awareness, Threat Intelligence, and an innovative methodology for resilience assessment – all tailored to each site. InfraStress adopts a user-driven approach carried out through: a) delivery of usable and user-friendly Services and Applications for C/P protection and resilience; b) technical activities driven by and receiving active input from end users, i.e. SIPS and relevant stakeholders; c) a comprehensive set of 5 real-world Pilots and Evaluation activities to be carried out by User partners. InfraStress matches key impacts not only in response to the Work Programme Call but also at Strategic, Socio-economic and Market levels. In fact InfraStress was conceived since the beginning with a strong business vision in mind and will carry out effective exploitation actions ensureing successful go-to-market. Tailored activities are also planned to rise a a culture of participatory security to involve all stakeholders including companies, workers, public authorities, citizens and civil society. InfraStress involves 27 partners of excellence from 11 countries with very cross-cutting and complementary competences and excellent track records, including 5 SIPS operators.

SPINE’s vision is to accelerate the progress towards climate neutrality by reinforcing PT systems through their smart integration with new mobility services, sharing schemes, active transport modes, and micromomibilty. SPINE adopts an equity centred design thinking approach, leading the transition to a more efficient, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive PT system. A network of collaborative LLs is developed to foster transferability, while an intersectional view of the transport system users is applied. Four Lead City LLs in Antwerp, Bologna, Tallin and Las Palmas will be established, and a series of co-creation activities will take place where multiple stakeholders will be actively engaged in the development and demonstration of efficient, replicable, and socially acceptable innovative mobility solutions, advancing existing assets. The SPINE approach involves the creation of (a) innovative simulation and Digital Twining (DT) tools, along with open data and behavioural models, that will allow the building of scenarios combining different mobility interventions (push and pull measures along with supporting policies) and the implementation of the most promising ones; (b) data-driven impact assessment models that will foster the twinning, transferability and adaptation of the successful solutions of the four LLs in seven Twining Cities - Barreiro, Valladolid, Zilina, Sibenik, Hrakleion, Gdynia and Rouen-. SPIRE sets a high ambitious plan for the co-design and implementation of 55 smart greens inclusive mobility solutions. The SPINE consortium brings together a multidisciplinary team of 39 partners from 16 countries. The unique mix of experienced transport engineers, Public transport Operators, computer scientists, data analysts, transport modelers, social scientists, urban planners, policy analysts, software providers, within our consortium assures the comprehensive approach to the challenges, scope, expected impact and the successful delivery of the project.