TThe FuelGae project aims to develop a novel model of advanced liquid fuels (ALF) production from different CO2 emissions streams of two industrial sectors (biorefinery and energy intensive industries) through a microalgae pilot plant integrated into their infrastructure. The performance of the selected microalgae strains will be improved by adapting them to each industrial case study. The ALF production will be addressed developing different technologies: i) selective production of microalgae to obtain polysaccharides or lipids, ii) alternative microalgal biomass treatments, iii) innovative catalytic upgrading systems from biocrude., iv) online microalgae sensor. Additionally, to the previously innovative technologies, FuelGae concept uses modelling techniques integrated into Process Analytical Techniques to develop a global Digital Twin (DT). Furthermore, the C-economy of FuelGae approach will be significantly improved through hydrothermal liquefaction and, biogas processes. The biochar produced will be tested in agricultural uses creating synergies with energy and biocrude generation. All technologies will be upscaled to TRL5 in the two case study sites; the microalgae pilot plant will be transported and validated in the two industrial sites in Romania (steel plant) and Spain (2G-bioethanol). FuelGae technologies will be further evaluated through life cycle assessment (LCA/LCC) to confirm their lower environmental impact, use of resources, or GHG emissions, and a first approach of economical sustainability. DT will be coupled with LCA-LCC to provide a global and dynamic assessment of the FuelGae concept. FuelGae will contribute to advancing the European scientific basis and global technological leadership in the area of renewable fuels, increase their technology competitiveness and role in transforming the energy system on a fossil-free basis by 2050, in particular in the sectors like aviation and shipping, while supporting the EU goals for energy independence.

Viral diseases can cause severe losses to vegetable crop production which has an estimated annual value of 34,5 billion EUR in Europe. Therefore several billions are lost every year due to the prominence of viral diseases and the emergence of new viruses in European fields and greenhouses. Importantly viral diseases also lead to the extensive use of pesticides, thereby exposing European growers and consumers to pesticide residues. In relation to the work programme, the project aims at developing rapid and lasting solutions to emerging viral diseases caused by begomoviruses (whitefly-transmitted) and tobamoviruses (mechanically transmitted) on cucurbits and tomato in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin as well as at increasing knowledge to better control and manage the viral diseases. The project is structured in 6 objectives : 1. Knowledge sharing and engagement of stakeholders in research activities (Short term impact) 2. Develop robust diagnostic tests, quarantine measures and identify ecological factors driving disease outbreaks (Short term impact) 3. Understand plant-virus(es)-vector interactions (Medium term impact) 4. Develop IPM solutions (Medium term impact) 5. Pyramidize natural resistance (Long term impact) 6. Train the value chain (Medium term impact) The objectives will build on 1) detailed study of virus biology and transmission under climate change conditions; 2) development of classical solutions (IPM and natural resistance) to control viral diseases with two distinct modes of transmission; 3) testing novel approaches (biopesticides, biological control, cross-protection) to mitigate viral diseases and to reduce pesticide usage. In order to take into account the diversity of vegetable cropping systems and viral diseases, focus groups involving extension services, commercial companies and growers will help co-designing research activities and mitigation strategies from the onset of the project.

Clinical features of patients infected with the 2019-nCoV have revealed that these patients suffer from severe respiratory failure, and presence of a life-threatening pulmonary oedema (PPO). Approx. 30% of 2019-nCoV-patients further develop life-threatening Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Mortality rate of these patients is very high. Initiator and Scientific Coordinator of the project, APEPTICO, is a SME biotechnology company (EMEA/SME/012/09) developing peptide-based products targeting life-threatening pulmonary diseases, including oedematous respiratory failure, acute lung injury, primary graft dysfunction, high altitude pulmonary oedema and PHA type 1. APEPTICO’s lead-compound Solnatide (INN) has been designed for the therapeutic treatment of patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and various forms of life-threatening Pulmonary Oedema (PPO). Orally inhaled Solnatide has delivered clinical proof-of-concept in one Phase I, and in two Phase II clinical studies (EUDRACT No. 2011-000223-33, 2012-001863-64, 2013-000716-21). Today, no medicine has been approved for the therapeutic treatment of Pulmonary Permeability Oedema and ARDS. Currently, Solnatide is subject to a Phase IIB trial (EUDRACT No. 2017-003855-47) for the “treatment of pulmonary permeability oedema in patients with ARDS”. The Phase IIB clinical trial has been approved by the German and the Austrian Competent Authorities, as well by Ethic Committees of leading Medical University Hospitals in Germany as well Austria. Most recently, APEPTICO has entered into a partnership with HAISCO Pharmaceutical Group in Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China. HAISCO has access to core areas and leading Medical University Hospitals in the P.R. China. Accordingly, APEPTICO proposes to immediately apply the Solnatide IMP for the treatment of patients infected with the 2019-nCoV and to demonstrate safety, tolerability and clinical efficacy of Solnatide IMP in 2019-nCoV patients. The overall project coordination and external communications is by RTDS Association (www.rtds-group.com/association)

Microbiomes have high potential to improve biobased processes. For example, in soil and groundwater they can degrade organic contaminants, a process called bioremediation. In Europe about 324,000 severely contaminated sites exist, which pose a risk to humans and the environment. Conventional remediation technologies to clean them are often too expensive and technically Microbiomes have a high potential to improve processes in the bio-based industry. Like the microbiome in the gut, that supports the body in the digestion of food, microbiomes in environmental compartments like soil and groundwater can produce enzymes that can degrade organic contaminants caused by human activities. In MIBIREM we will develop a TOOLBOX that helps to better develop applications for microbiomes. The TOOLBOX includes molecular methods for a better understand and monitoring, isolation and cultivation techniques as well as quality criteria for deposition of whole microbiomes and last, but not least methods that are applied to improve specific functions of microbiomes like microbiome evolution and enrichment cultures and microcosm tests. The TOOLBOX is developed for the environmental applications of microbiomes for ‘bioremediation’. For that purpose, three use-cases were selected. In these three use-cases the degradation of organic contaminants in soil and groundwater by active microbiomes is investigated and developed. The three groups of contaminants are cyanides, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC). The project starts with sampling of contaminated sites to isolate microbiomes active in degradation and to gain data for the development of a prediction tool that helps guide bioremediation. Isolated microbiomes and degrading strains will be deposited and will also be improved via laboratory evolution. Finally, the performance of the isolated microbiomes will be tested based on the gained knowledge about degrading microbiomes in pilot tests under real field conditions.

PEAKapp targets the development of an unprecedented ICT-to- Human ecosystem to trigger lasting energy savings through behavioural change and continuous engagement, to enable increased consumption of clean and low-priced electricity from the spot market for household customers, to connect them to social networks, to motivate them through serious gaming, and to boost the efficacy of Smart Home building energy management systems by integrating their functionalities into the PEAKapp solution. With this first close-to-market-ready attempt to provide households with a dynamic electricity tariff in the EU, the door is opened for the most significant impact on the household electricity market since its liberalisation. The ICT ecosystem will be designed to require smart meters as only hardware with respect to in-house equipment, such that the system can be implemented almost immediately, given the EU targets for smart meter roll-out. These low hardware requirements allow for a fast market uptake, and thus a noticeable impact on EU energy consumption can be experienced with almost no delay and without the need of having to equip the 230mio dwellings in the EU with any extra efficiency hardware. Validation of the ICT ecosystem under real life conditions in the publicly owned social housing sector will be carried out in Austria, Estonia, Sweden and Latvia, and analyses of the collected data will allow for ground-breaking insights into consumer behaviour, while outstanding EU energy market analyses will derive implications for regulatory practice to better support energy efficiency goals. An outstanding market uptake strategy makes >3 electricity utilities ready-to-sign the implementation of the ICT-system, advises the European social housing sector about its benefits, and fosters European and international market uptake by distinguished exploitation activities, where the leading US stakeholder EPRI takes responsibility without funding.