Urban regeneration often faces challenges in combining sustainability, inclusivity, and community engagement. By rethinking traditional approaches and using nature-based solutions such as parks and green infrastructure, the EU-funded URBiNAT project reconnected fragmented urban communities, supporting happier, healthier citizens through diverse solutions.
Mercury pollution presents a significant risk to environment and human health, in particular its accumulation in edible fish. The EU-funded Global Mercury Observation and Training network project (ITN GMOS-Train) helped model mercury’s chemical behaviour and fate in land, air and marine environments. The work will support public health initiatives and make more informed dietary choices possible.
Smell, a potent yet often overlooked element of human experience, has profoundly shaped society. From religious rituals to everyday life, historical scents tell intricate stories. But with little ability to record them, these olfactory narratives have been lost over the last few centuries. The EU-funded project ODEUROPA explored the significance of scent in Europe’s cultural heritage.
European agriculture stands at a crossroads, with farmers under pressure from rising costs, debt, climate change and the threat of cheap imports. The EU-funded project Ploutos sought to deliver wholesale change with a Sustainable Innovation Framework that delivers powerful innovations along the value chain.
Spanning four years, the SHERPA project aimed to connect rural European communities with decision-making at a local level. Encouraging open conversations and idea-sharing between stakeholders, it enabled local knowledge to inform policies on issues such as climate change, land use and the diversification of the rural economy.
The industrial sector accounts for nearly a third of energy use in the EU, mostly for heat and thermal processes. Innovative technology developed by the EU-funded ETEKINA project recycles factory heat, lowering environmental impact and running costs. The research supports the EU’s goal of being climate-neutral by 2050.
The answer to treating neurological disorders could be tucked away in our head. That’s why the EU-funded TwinBrain project developed novel technology to monitor a patient’s brain activity while they move around their environment. Not only does this advance our understanding of brain function, it could open the door to treating neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Increasing demand for data has pushed the GÉANT research and education network to its limits. In response, the EU-funded GN4-3N project undertook the most significant restructuring of the backbone network in a decade. As a result, citizens in Europe and beyond are benefiting from faster and more reliable connectivity.
With the right innovations, the circular economy can contribute to economic growth while meeting sustainability ambitions. The EU-funded ReCiPSS project demonstrates how manufacturing can achieve this by adopting product-service systems. Moving industry from linear to circular models offers new business opportunities, while minimising waste and environmental damage.
The capacity of lightweight materials to reduce the transportation sector’s carbon footprint could be erased if their production isn’t efficient too. That’s why the EU-funded RECOTRANS project has developed a state-of-the-art process to manufacture composite components for cars, trains and trucks. Innovations such as these will help the EU reach its climate goals, securing a healthy environment for all citizens.
