The lymphatic system and lymph nodes (LNs) are an integral part of our adaptive immune system and many tumors exploit lymphatic vessels to spread and colonize downstream LNs. Tumor-LN-oC aims to offer a comprehensive solution for a robust, automated tumor-lymph node-on-chip platform that will connect primary surgically removed human tumors and LN tissue from the same cancer patient. This will allow us to study the interaction of primary tumors with lymph nodes, identify their chemical signature, and offer personalized treatment relying on molecular characterization of lymph node metastasizing cells. The project will significantly advance the fields of microfluidics, cell biology, cancer biology, physics, and computer programming and software development, by pursuing the following objectives: a) To introduce novel designs and develop robust, automated microfluidic chips optimized for tumor cell and LN culture enabling the study of their crosstalk, b) To integrate Quantum Cascade Laser based mid-IR spectroscopy for specific chemical signatures, c) To molecularly characterize both migrating tumor-derived cells attracted to the LN and the soluble signals driving migration, d) To demonstrate an advanced image analysis and signal processing platform using deep learning algorithms facilitated by a micro-optics module to monitor in real time the cells migration, e) To integrate all Tumor-LN-oC technologies in an automated platform prototype incorporating interfaces compatible with existing laboratory equipment. The Tumor-LN-oC platform, will be developed at TRL5 and will be validated using real patient samples. Regulatory pathways, standards and requirements compliance will be considered in order to facilitate exploitation and early market entry. The consortium encompasses key – industrial partners and experts in the aforementioned interdisciplinary fields and is expected to have substantial impact in EU’s economy and healthcare.

HYDROPTICS will develop a set of integrated sensors, making use of advanced photonics subsystems, aimed at optimising the processes of the oil industry. The device will be validated in real industrial settings, for oil extraction and oil refining processes. The HYDROPTICS platform will perform: 1) oil in water measurements, 2) corrosion inhibitor concentration measurements, 3) oil droplets and suspended solids in water measurements, 4) industrial process optimisation, based on simulation of processes through digital twins, as well as data assimilation from the readings coming from the sensors. HYDROPTICS makes use of cutting edge photonics in order to perform the above tasks: a) Quantum Cascade Laser Frequency Combs spectroscopy, for ultra fast and sensing of oil in water concentration. b) Quantum Cascade Laser ATR spectroscopy, using MCM surface ATR crystals, for ultra-sensitive sensing of corrosion inhibitors in water. c) High resolution spectral and spatial resolution hyperspectral imaging, for particle classification in aqueous suspensions. The final HYDROPTICS platform will be tested in both upstream (oil extraction) and downstream (oil processing) industrial processes, in order to validate the sensors, and fine-tune the algorithms that regard process optimisation of said industrial processes.

PeroCUBE will advance the organometal halide perovskite technology, a class of low-cost but high-quality materials which exhibit strong potential to dominate the OLAE market with the focus given on flexible, lightweight electronic devices. While these materials are extensively studied for the developments of the next generation of solar cells, PeroCUBE will focus on scalable manufacturing processes (roll-to-roll printing) and future market entry of new products. PeroCUBE develops large area lighting panels (PeLEDs) which offer distributed lighting in line with the human-centric lighting concept, such devices surpass OLEDs in terms of performance over cost ratio and will assist the European industry to maintain industrial leadership in lighting. Moreover, PeroCUBE further advances scalable manufacturing of perovskite-based photovoltaic panels (PePVs). Developments on both PeLEDs and PePVs will be also demonstrated in a new generation of Visual Light Communication (VLC) /LiFi technologies. The PeroCUBE developments will be demonstrated in coupled energy-harvesting/light-emitting devices and wearables (bendable wristbands).