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.
The huge amount of environmental information available to decision makers can be overwhelming. The EU-funded LANDSUPPORT project developed an easy-to-use web platform that combines satellite, drone and remote sensing data with cutting-edge models. Using this, farmers, policymakers and even citizens can easily find relevant information and make informed environmental choices.
The EU is developing a dedicated cloud repository for all the scientific research happening in Europe. To ensure easy access to and reuse of this information, the EU-funded EOSC-hub project developed an intuitive user interface and other tools. Researchers can now take advantage of the wealth of information already stored on the cloud, ultimately benefiting citizens as science becomes more open.
The easier knowledge can be spread, the faster science can move forward. The OpenAIRE initiative has been spearheading this vision since 2008 with the goal of setting European science free. Most recently, the EU-funded OpenAIRE-Advance project went a step further by making open access to research the default option across Europe, bringing science truly closer to citizens.
Earth Observation data is information about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems, often coming from satellites. The EU-funded openEO project developed a new interface to help users access, process and compare data from different providers. This is an important step towards allowing communication between platforms from different providers, benefiting researchers and citizens.
Methanol has been touted as a potential climate-friendly ‘fuel of the future’ since the late 1980s, but its use in the transport sector remains limited. The possibility of generating it from CO2 has recently rekindled interest. An EU-funded project explored this option to decarbonise the steel industry and power cargo ships that would benefit both the environment and, subsequently, citizens.
