The limited capacity of electric batteries combined with the substantial amount of energy needed to run auxiliary equipment dramatically affects range capability of electric vehicles (EVs). For instance, the climate control system in summer conditions can absorbs up to 40-60% of the available energy. The aim of the project is to develop an energy friendly climate control system capable to reduce of at least 50% the energy used for passenger comfort all over the year (i.e., heating, cooling and dehumidifying). Actually, in summer conditions air is dehumidified and cooled by best available technologies that use climate control systems based on a Vapor Compression Cycle (VCC), which cools air below its dew point. Alternatively, desiccants are used as an energy efficient way to dehumidify air without cooling it below its dew point, which allows to control temperature and humidity independently. In our project we plan to exploit technologically the desiccants properties by using aqueous solutions of desiccants (e.g., LiCl, CaCl2) housed in a membrane contactor. Our idea is to develop a hybrid system in which air can be dehumidified without the need to be cooled below its dew-point. This will be done by combining a liquid desiccant cycle (which deals with the latent load) with a traditional vapour compression cycle (which faces the sensible load). In fact, in such a system the VCC would operate at higher refrigerant evaporation temperature and at lower condensation temperature. The core of the system is an innovative highly compact and energy efficient three-fluids-combined-membrane-contactor that simultaneously works with air, desiccant solution, and refrigerant. Specifically, the climate control system will be capable to - reduce more than 50% the energy used for passenger comfort, - have a lifetime longer than 10 years, - easy industrialization and customization for EVs currently on the market, - cost from 1,200 to 3,000 Euro. Project Coordinator: GVS SPA, IT

Separation and purification of biopharmaceuticals is today one of the most time and cost intense Downstream Processing (DSP) operations in the manufacture of commercial products. Separation and purification of proteins is usually achieved chromatographically, with all of its disadvantages including high buffer requirements, large footprint, reuse and storage of resin studies as well as costs. Traditional DSP based on batch chromatography contribute ca. 66% of the total production cost of anti-cancer monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Largely contributing to this is the cost of chromatography media; for instance, the cost of 1 L of protein A resin with binding capacity of 20-70 g mAb is about 25000 Eur. By a visionary and ambitious combination of the emerging Continuous Manufacturing Paradigm with innovative Membrane Crystallization Technology and the selective nanotemplate-recognitions directly from the fermentation broth, the AMECRYS Network aims to develop a new Continuous Template-Assisted Membrane Crystallizer in order to revolutionize the DSP platform for mAbs production, thus achieving unprecedented purification and manufacturing efficiencies. Major research challenges will include: i) the synthesis of 3D-nanotemplates with specific molecular recognition ability towards mAbs from complex solutions; ii) the development of tailored macroporous fluoropolymer membranes for advanced control of selective heterogeneous nucleation; iii) the design of multilevel microfluidic devices for high-throughput mAb crystallization screening in a wide range of conditions under continuous flow (“pharma-on-a-chip” concept); iv) technology scale-up to a L-scale continuous prototype designed with recognition of QS/GMP compliance for biopharmaceuticals. The replacement of chromatography with a single membrane-crystallization unit will lead to >60% CapEx and O&M costs decrease, 30-fold footprint reduction and high-purity solid formulation of mAbs with preserved biological activity.

Exosomes and microvesicles/ectosomes, collectively termed extracellular vesicles (EV), have attracted much recent interest because of their potential functions, use as disease biomarkers and possible therapeutic exploitation. Due to their enormous relevance, this relatively new field of research is quickly expanding. While Europe leads the field of EV research, there are still many gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed to ensure optimal exploitation of EVs from health and Europe’s economic benefit. Addressing this, TRAIN-EV’s objective is to provide excellent and integrated multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral training of a critical mass of ESRs of outstanding potential in the academic, clinical, and industry/business components of exploiting EV, while performing novel cutting-edge research to address these gaps and generate new knowledge. This will be achieved by appointing 15 ESRs into 10 Beneficiary Organisations (6 academic; 4 non-academic), with 4 additional Partner Organisations (3 non-academic; 1 academic) offering secondments, training and additional networking opportunities. All Participants have highly relevant and complementary medical/science/engineering/business expertise –detailed within– that will collectively contribute to the training, to PhD level, of these 15 ESRs as academic and industry EV leaders for the future.

Research and training in TheLink spans the material development chain for nanostructured polymers. These materials, including phase separated polymers and composites, are attracting scientific and industrial interest due to the outstanding properties and functionalities that can be achieved. However, to exploit the potential of these materials an in-depth understanding of the relationship between nano/micro structures and macro-level properties is required. TheLink aims to generate this knowledge on an interdisciplinary basis combining simulation, characterisation and processing. The recruited fellows will take nanomaterial development beyond “trial and error” towards a knowledge-based and industrially feasible approach. Three case studies (phase separated polymers and composites, separation membranes and self-diagnosing polymers) will be used to guide the research and to demonstrate the project developments. Careful attention will also be paid to broader market requirements and standardisation. High-quality individualised training in scientific and transferable skills, and a structured network program of training units, will provide the fellows with unique interdisciplinary competence in simulation, characterisation and processing, and move them from theoretical investigations towards industrial application and entrepreneurship. The active involvement of industrial partners, secondments in applied research and industry and a strong research and training emphasis on market requirements will furthermore provide them with the intersectoral experience needed for a career in the development of nanostructured polymers.