AI joins the quest to find new treatments for rare diseases

At the EU’s Science is Wonderful! fair in Brussels, top researchers used superheroes, soap bubbles and dance music to wow children – and encourage tomorrow’s scientists.

Although powerful treatments exist for rheumatoid arthritis, doctors can’t always predict which drug will work best for each person. An EU-funded initiative aims to change that by optimising and personalising care.

In a world full of deepfakes and fake news, EU-funded researchers are building tools to help journalists tell what’s real and what’s not.

A Czech startup is making factory automation easier by letting workers teach robots new tasks through simple demonstrations instead of complex coding.

From drones and smart cameras to biodegradable packaging, EU-funded researchers are working to remove plastic from rivers before it ever reaches the sea.

Researchers are developing satellite links that bring clear, real time radio and data connections to flights over oceans, helping air traffic controllers keep routes safer and more efficient.

Researchers throughout Europe are working to restore the Danube’s ecological health by reopening migration routes for fish and wildlife and creating a blueprint for river recovery across the continent.

Improved connectivity is transforming daily life in rural Europe, from safer school runs to cleaner energy, while supporting local economies and cutting emissions.

Five European research institutions show how putting gender equality into practice makes workplaces fairer and the science better.

An energy app developed by EU-funded researchers is helping neighbours cut carbon, earn modest returns and boost the use of clean power in their own communities.

Europe’s AI researchers are joining forces through an EU-funded digital platform that allows them to share tools, data and computing power to drive collaboration and innovation.

Since the UK rejoined Horizon Europe in 2024, EU-funded cross-border research with UK partners has been delivering safer, smarter, more sustainable technologies for everyday life.

EU-funded researchers are developing AI-guided robot fleets to take over the dangerous, dirty work of finding and removing marine litter from the sea floor.

Europeans care about the ocean, but few understand how their daily choices affect it. EU-funded researchers are working with teachers to bring “blue” education into classrooms across Europe.

Hypothetical dark matter stars known as ‘boson stars’ could leave telltale ripples across the cosmos, offering researchers a new way to probe the invisible forces shaping the universe.

Living with a brain disorder often means relying on medication that does not work for everyone and, in some cases, surgery. EU-funded researchers are now investigating whether nanotechnology could one day offer a safer, less invasive alternative.

From routine infections to emerging health threats, being prepared matters. Dr Lennie Derde, newly appointed CEO of the Ecraid medical research network, explains how European collaboration and EU support are strengthening clinical research readiness.

Across Europe, cancer researchers are collaborating more closely than ever, thanks to the EU-backed canSERV platform, which links scientists with research services and infrastructures to speed up discoveries and improve care for patients.

Bees navigate their surroundings with astonishing precision. Their brains are now inspiring the design of tiny, low-power chips that could one day guide miniature robots and sensors.

EU-funded researchers are developing a new generation of ocean sensors able to monitor previously hard-to-reach areas, promising clearer insight into how marine ecosystems are responding to climate change.