ICRI 2018 Research infrastructures are among the core enablers of competitive research alongside basic science, development and innovation to advance the frontiers of our knowledge. These research infrastructures are often operated by international consortia and are applicable in various disciplines and stakeholder communities. Research infrastructures are constantly under pressure to adapt due to the advancements in science, research and technology. All these aspects underline the importance of research infrastructures but at the same time demonstrate the challenges and the complexity that occur within the construction, implementation, operation, funding and international cooperation. This calls for an exchange and discussion on an international level regarding topics such as governance, operations and the general policy area for research infrastructures. Respecting the need for international attention to the aforementioned policy area, the ECRI was vital towards establishing a conference format that can lead a new millennium onwards. Subsequently, the focus was widened to an international level (ICRI). The overall objective of this proposal is to organize and further establish this dynamic international forum on research infrastructures (ICRI), under the 2018 Austrian EU Council Presidency. The ICRI will gather relevant experts, shareholders and stakeholder communities of research infrastructures to discuss challenges and emerging trends for research infrastructures around the world. The specific objectives of the proposed action are as follows: - Addressing issues of global interest Development of global research infrastructures Long-term sustainability Innovation potential of research infrastructures Access and exploitation of data produced by research infrastructures - Enhancement of international cooperation - Promotion of Europe’s further strategic outline on research infrastructures - ESFRI Roadmap 2018.

The objective of ActaReBuild is to provide high-level training of Doctoral Candidates in retrofit of office building stock in Europe by means a new generation of sustainable materials and building components. In particular, they will learn how to improve and guarantee acoustic and thermal performance of buildings that undergo renovation processes, while minimizing the embodied carbon production. The training offered to 10 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) interconnected through the network will enforce their research and transferable skills necessary for thriving careers in this burgeoning area. This goal will be achieved by a unique, interdisciplinary combination of specialized “hands-on” research training supported by high quality joint PhD degree supervision; by performing of secondments at industrial partners; participation at courses and workshops on scientific and complementary “soft” skills facilitated by the academic and non-academic partners of the consortium. Thanks to network-wide interactions, DCs will get acquainted with a variety of novel building materials and solutions (bio-, nano-, meta-, recycled, 3D printed materials and multilayer structural skins), measurement techniques and assessment methods (such as life cycle analysis and sustainability assessment, psychoacoustic methods, specialized thermal behaviour experiments and a variety of simulation techniques in acoustics, energy, hygrothermal behaviour). Their interaction with industrial partners within the consortium and, via outreach activities, to stakeholders in industry and society in general will promote the uptake of the resulting innovations beyond the network and accelerate their implementation for sustainable retrofits, thus maximizing the impact of the project.

EE4M addresses the increasing needs for training, re-, and upskilling of engineers in the mobility value chain from raw material to recycling and back into the loop. In recent years, the mobility value chain in Europe is significantly influenced by a multitude of hyper-dynamic factors, like changing consumer behavior, disruptive technologies, the need for decarbonization initiatives, hyperlocal mobility, etc. which leads to the fact that a continuous realignment of engineering education is indispensable for the long-term success. EE4M focuses on operations management (OM) as the main area of activity for engineers in the mobility value chain which is changing due to the two pre-dominant drivers “Industry 4.0” (smart OM) and “Sustainability” (sustainable OM). EE4M focuses on the professional development of smart and sustainability competences of engineers in the mobility value chain through innovative vocational educational modules supported by a transnational platform between the main drivers of the European mobility value chain (Austria, Greece, Italy, Spain). The innovation of EE4M can be explained by the fact that the entire value chain in the mobility sector serves as the basis for the empirically-based realignment of engineering education to create requirement-orientated competence profiles. During the EE4M project, more than 1,000 VET teachers/trainers, practitioners, and students from all over Europe within EQF levels 4-8 will be enabled to acquire transdisciplinary skills in the field of smart and sustainable OM through innovative teaching and learning environments. A foundation for inclusive and borderless European VET education is to be laid to produce competent and well-trained VET students, graduates/professionals, and teachers. Boosting (inter)national skills ecosystems will successfully increase European competitiveness and employability, professionalize the European VET engineering education, and contribute to economic, ecologic, and social wellbeing.