Gaps between political decision-making processes and citizens has become increasingly visible in Europe, particularly since the EU’s post-Millennial economic, political and security crises. In addition, general distrust of politics has been exacerbated by populist and neo-nationalist political forces that interpret the pluralistic and agnostic nature of democracy as a weakness. These and similar tendencies could have grave consequences through a further erosion of multicultural conviviality and social cohesion in Europe. Nevertheless, populism and political disaffection on a more general level are being met by counter currents of local political activism and an increasing consciousness of the political role of social movements in cities and urban areas. Cities have emerged as vital political arenas for the development of the European public sphere and the promotion of inclusion, social agendas and active citizenship. In addition, different forms of citizen participation have started to transform governance cultures of several large European cities, taking active roles in local elections, and becoming part of local political structures, from Paris to Istanbul. Based on several case studies and pilots of governance innovation initiatives we will investigate the ways in which social movements coupled with local government reform initiatives create momentum for political change that include more inclusive and participatory forms of governance. In EUARENAS we will target the following: 1) the ways in which these practices emerge, the main actors, the strategies, methods and digital platforms they develop to attract attention and how they appropriate urban spaces, 2) economic, political and cultural factors influencing local outcomes, 3) horizontal and vertical governance implications of governance innovations and 4) the added value of solutions (housing, social care, social justice, social diversity, climate change) provided by participatory/deliberative means.

Creative Industries Cultural Economy pROduction NEtwork (CICERONE) provides policymakers with a unique and innovative perspective from which to understand the cultural and creative industries (CCIs). Previous analyses have mapped the location and distribution of the CCIs; CICERONE innovates by exploring the flows of products and ideas that generate the economic and cultural values in and of places, and which also account for the disparities between them. Moreover, CICERONE explores the evolving relationships between cultural and the economy. Place is central to this project; place as co-produced by networks: jobs, ideas, cultures and economies all come together in unique combinations in places, this is what makes them ‘unique’. The variations in local capacities to respond to global forces determine the past, present and future of all territories. By using the global production network (GPN) approach we develop a comprehensive understanding of CCIs (in the form of industries, clusters and networks). Furthermore, CICERONE will translate this new research into a stakeholder network, and an observatory, whose designs are reflective of the network approach. These will themselves be part of European capacity building which will serve to strengthen CCIs’ collective representation, empower sustainable co-creation, and spur local cultural resilience, jobs and economic activity. At its core, CICERONE provides an academic analysis harnessed to economic, cultural and social impacts in terms of local capacity building in, and across, places; as well as deepening our understanding of the inequalities and lack of diversity of social characteristic and economic employment opportunities that characterises the CCIs.

HappyMums is designed to improve our understanding on the biological mechanisms underlying the development of depressive symptoms in pregnancy, and the efficacy of interventions. It will interrogate a large collection of cohorts with multiple biological, medical, clinical, socio-demographic and environmental and lifestyle data to identify the most robust risk factors triggering depressive symptoms, but also moderators of the risk. By putting together unique human samples of placenta, chorionic villi and amniotic fluid, and animal models, HappyMums will improve the understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms affected by depressive symptoms in pregnancy that lead to alterations in the foetal environment, shaping offspring risk for developing negative mental outcomes. The use of three complimentary rodent models will allow to achieve a proof of causality, and the presence of an innovative fish model will elucidate the mechanisms specific to placenta by which adverse maternal conditions are transmitted to the offspring without the potentially confounding mitigating effects of compensatory postnatal maternal care. This knowledge will allow the identification of new targets for the development of novel medications, for the repurposing of existing medications or for the development of non-pharmacological interventions. HappyMums will also develop a digital platform where AI tools-based data can be collected, together with biological, clinical, medical, environmental and lifestyle data, through a mobile phone App that will be at the interface with clinicians via a dedicated dashboard. This will allow early screening of depressive symptoms, prompt diagnoses, personalized treatments, and the promotion of protective lifestyle attitudes. Overall, HappyMums will not only increase the knowledge in the field of mental disorders in pregnancy, but also improve the wellbeing of these women, providing unprecedented benefits also to the offspring and thus to society at large.

Anxiety disorders’ diagnosis, decision and treatment processes are still uncertain and inconsistent especially in a fast-evolving real world where stressors affect people in different ways. SMILE aims to improve the quality of mental health management and ensure affordable services by sharing information, providing scalable digital tools, and ensuring personalized decision-making and evidence-based interventions in an effective way. To achieve these goals, SMILE will develop mainly Open Knowledge Platform (OKP) and interactive gamification tools. OKP will bring together healthcare professionals, scientists, policymakers, businesses, and citizens to co-design effective decision strategies and unlock access to meaningful knowledge. Gamification will provide self-assessment, learning, and self-care services for young people to develop thinking, coping, and doing skills. Hence, SMILE will be able to integrate and analysis at least 7 different diagnostic data from clinical data to daily living parameters. Also, SMILE will assist primarily clinicians and help patients through 3 decision-making tools. The analytics and predictive tools will support practitioners in understanding the associations between risk factors, and anxiety, and recommending interventions in a personalized way. The SMILE digital tools and services will be implemented and validated in eight real-life strategic case studies, in 7 different European countries: UK, Germany, Cyprus, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Italy, to reach TRL 7. Also, a systematic upscaling method will be deployed to sustain our program and ensure the continuity in the post-project. SMILE will deliver durable legal, socio-economic, gender and environmental values for the benefit of healthcare professionals, patients, EU SMEs and society at large. Finally, SMILE has strong multidisciplinary skills and is composed of one leading research center, 5 SMEs, 3 pilot centers, 4 public universities, and 1 policymaker from 9 European countries.

BETTER4U aims at the identification and personalized management of all weight gain determinants to battle the increasingly rising numbers of overweight/obesity, via homogenous, globally adaptable and practically assessed public health initiatives and key interventions. Building on previous key projects and biobanks, the project will focus on the hitherto neglected impact of the polygenic background of weight gain on the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for weight management in people with overweight/obesity. BETTER4U aims to probe into the global obesity challenge, study the problem and offer solutions in a tangible realistic way with the assistance of modern AI technologies and the contribution of experts around the world. BETTER4U will be realized through the following objectives: 1. To comprehensively understand and decipher genetics, metabolomics, microbiota, socio-economic, geographical, cultural and lifestyle features linked to weight gain throughout the life course, via meta-analyses (BETTER4U data from >50 studies, >1 million individuals) and extensive literature meta-review. 2.To develop the BETTER4U intervention methodology for weight gain prevention, based on a causal AI model of obesity determinants and a pilot study in 7 European countries. 3.To deploy technology-assisted, real-time monitoring tools to measure detailed behavioral indicators and their relation to the environmental context. 4.To evaluate the efficacy of the novel BETTER4U intervention methodology in a controlled, randomized clinical trial, based on individually-tailored recommendations for lifestyle change. 5.To maximize transferability and applicability of the BETTER4U intervention methodology by identifying implementation barriers and facilitators, as well as to evaluate implementation outcomes in both participants and stakeholders. 6. To develop and disseminate the BETTER4Uobesity prevention intervention methodology guidelines using a people-centred, sustainable care approach.