The role of science in our societies is strongly related to the creation of new knowledge to face the big challenges of our modern world, the improvement of education, and the increment of life quality. However, science and technology are often hidden from non-expert eyes, generating a gap between citizens and scientists. To thrive, science requires support, communication, and discussion. The Co.Science project aims to connect science to society by promoting the importance of research and innovation, by making science education attractive for youngsters, and by providing researchers with effective communication tools, bringing them closer to the citizens. The way to achieve these goals will go through 1. the implementation of public spaces where researchers and citizens meet face to face; 2. the empowerment of researchers in their communication skills; 3. the establishment of an ecosystem of people and institutions working together to engage citizens in science and 4. the public recognition's boosting of research and science education. The proposal is supported by a consortium of formal and informal learning institutions working together with institutional and civil stakeholders for effective and lasting public engagement and new and appealing opportunities to interact with citizens. The Co.Science project will specifically train researchers on the enhancement of their communication skills and it will organize two ERN editions, implementing educational initiatives in the schools. ERNs will be implemented in six important cities of Lombardy in Italy (Milano, Como, Varese, Busto Arsizio, Lodi, and Lecco) creating cross-disciplinary and multi-topic diffuse events on STEAM fields and promoting the European scientific culture. During the related school years, we will propose active learning actions in the schools owing to the presence of researchers among the students, thus re-building confidence, which is fundamental for our communities.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a genetic disease characterized by progressive cardiomyocyte loss and fibrofatty replacement, which in turn lead to the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD), particularly in the young and athletes. At present, ACM is uncurable; with an incidence of 1:5000, it can be considered a major CVD disease. The subform involving only the right ventricle is the most common; the majority of its causative mutations are identified in just three desmosomal genes: PKP2, DSP, and DSG2. However, many of the identified variants in these disease genes are still of uncertain clinical significance (VUS) and thus of limited clinical utility. The overall aim of the project is to combine large-scale data from genomics, proteomics and instrumental analysis obtained from patients with data from structural and functional analyses of in vitro (3D microtissue) and in vivo (murine) models, to establish the genotype/cardiac phenotype relationship, potentially leading to a better understanding of the role and impact of known genes and epigenetic factors (ie, miRNAs) on susceptibility, clinical progression, and treatment of ACM. The project’s outcomes will pave the way towards novel therapies for ACM.

Industrial Biotechnology is key to maintain Europe's leading position in the global bio-based market and help the transition to a green and circular economy. Fostering investment in innovative technologies like those to be demonstrated in ROBUSTOO and supporting biotech SMEs will contribute to this endeavour. We aim to capitalise the results from previous EU projects that showed the applicability of three oxidative enzymes -unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs), laccases and hydroxymethylfurfural oxidases (HMFOs)- to provide novel and greener production of bio-based chemicals and materials. To exploit their full industrial potential, we will undertake the large-scale production of the recombinant enzymes and the development of new robust variants adapted to the demanding operating conditions. We will benefit from the most advanced technologies and know-how of the ROBUSTOO consortium to conduct computational enzyme bioprospecting and design (BSC), develop microbial strains for industrial enzyme production and engineer improved enzymes, followed by optimisation and pilot demonstration of target enzymatic transformations by biotech SMEs (Metgen, Gecco, bisy, and InnoSyn), and research/technological centres (CIB, UAB, IRNAS, and FCBA), concluding with environmental & techno-economical assessment and exploitation of the developed technologies (ITB). The new enzymes and bio-transformations will represent biotechnology breakthrough solutions for: i) conversion of industrial lignins modified by laccase into 100% bio-based resins as adhesives of wood panels and 3D printing additives, increasing the commercial value of existing lignin products; ii) production of intermediate and fine chemicals difficult to achieve by chemical synthesis through regio-/stereo-selective oxygenations of lipophilic substrates with UPOs; and iii) synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid building block from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using HMFOs, as a sustainable alternative to chemical catalytic processes.

The MPowerBIO project will obtain feedback from clusters, SMEs and investors on the concrete challenges they have regarding investments and build an online platform containing digital tools for evaluating investment readiness, as well as online training modules to build the capacity of clusters to train their SME members. The project will provide 10 training the trainers events for a total of 90 clusters across the bioeconomy, covering most of Europe, supported by the online platform. This will the improve the capacity of participating clusters to service their SME members, and allow them to test the learning on SMEs in a supervised manner, at a series of 10 regional events, helping the SMEs to prepare and present high-quality projects to investors. The best SME projects will be selected by investors, and invited to one of two European finals, which are based on the European Bioeconomy Venture Forum model, run by the consortium members. A total of 72 high-quality, screened and investment-ready SME are expected to pitch at the two final events. The proposal is based on two consecutive cycles, allowing 350 SMEs to be screened and supported over the project, with experience from the first cycle being used to improve the project second cycle. The proposal takes account of the difference in Europe in investment activities, the required skills for trainers and the different types of investors in each country. MPowerBIO will ensure that clusters become self-supporting in this respect on completion of the project, with the ability to maintain these skills within their own organisations. The project will produce a replication guide to ensure that project results can be widened to other areas after completion.

In the EU the bio-based economy drives growth through job creation and innovation by utilizing renewable resources and through alignment with the Circular Economy and bioeconomy. In order to stay competitive, Europe´s industry must become greener, circular and digital through collaboration among companies, Member States, and rural regions in Europe. Within this context, the general objective of DRIVE is to increase the implementation of European local startups, fostering innovative ecosystems for the development of new value-added products, technologies and approaches, via a series of exploitation and trainings actions. Thus, the three pillars of the project, namely: the identification of the needs and project´s users, for instance, at least 2 regional accelerators and incubators will be contacted by the consortium in each of the three roadshows, according to the methodology, to exchange best practices and reinforce SMEs and start-ups participation, the second pillar, the roadshows and the hackathons, and the last one, the mentoring for the development of the technologies, are closely intertwined, as they have been conceived to cooperate in an integrated way, in order to exploit the benefits gained by the work team, meaning boosting the quality of their work and possible results. Therefore, the main outcomes of DRIVE can be summarized in four: to develop a tailored business model at an European level for pitching to investors, to apply for regional initiatives or European financial support instruments, to prepare a pitch presentation and identify investor events and to enroll in further acceleration programs for continued idea deployment and commercialization.