From local recycling schemes to community-led business start-ups, social innovation can drive the revitalisation of marginalised areas where markets and public administrations have failed. EU-funded researchers are studying examples of social innovation and exploring how best practices can be shared across Europe and beyond.
Deep collaborative research effort has delivered new insights into ancient salt- and fresh-water corridors between the Mediterranean and Atlantic, new theories on glacial formation and current climate conditions, as well as unprecedented career opportunities for the young EU-funded scientists behind these breakthroughs.
A loan supported by the InnovFin-EU finance for innovators initiative under the EU's Horizon 2020 programme and extended by the European Investment Bank has helped Dutch 3D printing company Ultimaker strengthen its R&D and release new products. This will add to Ultimaker printers' already wide range of uses which includes making prosthetics and recycling plastic.
An EU and industry funded project has developed game-changing food packaging material that is rapidly biodegradable. The material is a means to replace the plastic packing used for ready meals and reduce pollution.
EU-funded researchers are working on an industrial-grade pilot plant to demonstrate a new way to break down common plastics for recycling. This pioneering process using microwave technology could contribute to Europe's efforts to curb plastic waste.
EU-funded researchers have developed new tools for designing and analysing the economic reliability and environmental performance of wave and tidal-energy power farms. These are currently being implemented and validated in real-life situations, while the DTOCEAN consortium has secured further EU funding.
An atlas developed by an EU-funded project maps the risk in eastern Africa of three tropical diseases. Now used in teaching and research, it could one day support models that better predict how environmental changes might impact public health.
The award-winning EU-funded TILOS project is tackling the sustainable energy challenges facing Mediterranean islands with practical solutions for storing, sharing and better managing power generated locally from the wind and sun.
Environmental imperatives aside, healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity are essential to human populations too! This is especially true in developing countries, where more people rely directly on 'ecosystem services' for their livelihoods. But little is known about the complex links between human well-being and the state of biodiversity and ecosystems. An EU-backed international study takes up the challenge principally in Tanzania and Kenya.
An EU-funded study is exploring agricultural practices and EU policies related to drinking water quality and the use of pesticides and nitrogen. Results will inform an integrated EU response to a major environmental and health challenge.
