Whilst the technology for seamlessly integrating photovoltaics into traditional building parts is already there, its cost has so far been enough for landlords and investors to get cold feet. But that could change thanks to innovation under the EU-funded BIPVBOOST project.
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.
Asteroids, comets and meteors are remnants of our cosmic past. Now, EU researchers have pioneered new analytical techniques that could help us better understand what they are made of. What’s more, this information could provide vital insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.
Ancient inscriptions can teach us a lot about past civilisations. The problem is that these inscriptions are often illegible, or their place of origin is unknown. To help, the EU-funded PythiaPlus project developed an AI-based tool that historians can use to restore missing text, and establish an inscription’s original date and place of writing.
By 2050, the global population will soar to 9 billion, with three quarters of this number living in urban areas. Pressure on ecosystems due to population growth, urbanisation and climate change will reach its peak. The EU-funded project ECORISK2050 set out to tackle the daunting task of future environmental risk management of chemicals in the face of global climate change.
There is an acute need for implantable devices that can report prompt and accurate data about the body’s chemistry. The EU-funded ImplantSens project developed long-term implantable biosensors for glucose monitoring, to improve the management of diabetes. The project also helped train the next generation of scientists to carry on this work.
Energy costs more on islands, as they are typically isolated from the national grid. While greater use of renewable energy could lower these costs, most European islands don’t have the necessary grid infrastructure. The EU-funded INSULAE project’s demonstrations showcased the technical and economic viability of decentralising island energy supplies, paving a way to affordable, sustainable energy.
Around half a million people in Europe rely on a cochlear implant. The EU-funded MOSAICS project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the lives of these patients. The collaborative initiative between researchers and a leading MedTech manufacturer has been instrumental in paving the way for improvements in cochlear implant technology and patient care.
A 4-year study funded by the EU has revealed the presence of a climate feedback loop that threatens to push marine ecosystems beyond critical thresholds. Researchers in the COMFORT project say action is needed now to prevent rising temperatures, ocean acidification and falling oxygen levels causing irrevocable changes to ocean habitats.
As Europe’s population grows older, the burden of age-related diseases is rising. A promising avenue of research is understanding how protein dysfunction can drive cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The EU-funded PhasAGE project created a research centre focused on protein phase separation, growing Europe’s research capacity to prevent and treat age-related diseases.
