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Expected Outcome:The Apply AI Strategy[1] also seeks to bolster EU capabilities and achieve excellence in AI to support the development of European frontier models. As part of the Frontier AI Initiative, which brings together Europe’s leading actors in the field, this topic will support the development of sovereign frontier AI ensuring safety by design. This topic directly contributes to the Apply AI Strategy. Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:Strengthened European capabilities in the development of frontier AI models.Improved computational efficiency of frontier AI models, resulting in reduced computational costs.Enhanced safety of advanced AI systems based on frontier AI models through the development and implementation of safe-by-design principles and/or AI agents acting as safety evaluators. Scope:To advance developments of frontier...

Expected Outcome:The Apply AI Strategy emphasises acceleration pipelines to ensure a smooth transition from research to deployment of AI-powered robotics. Projects under this topic will deliver common frameworks and reusable building blocks that can serve multiple sectors and use cases, reinforcing Europe’s ability to bring AI-driven robotics to scale.Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:Wider and faster deployment of robotics, bridging the gap between technology providers and end-users.Development and implementation of modular and interoperable integration frameworks and solutions, including standardized protocols for data, training and safety testing, evaluation and validation of robotic solutions in key use casesImproved competitiveness of European industries, notably SMEs via the development of advanced robotics systems, intelligent pla...

Expected Outcome:Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:Innovative and advanced XR hardware, advanced headsets, screens, wearables and haptic components, sensors and actuators, advanced chips for a deeper and closer-to-reality immersion, stimulating all human senses. Scope:In the recent years, hardware for Virtual Worlds made major breakthroughs, democratising headsets, sensors, actuators or haptic equipment. To keep this momentum and advancing further, new generation of XR equipment, wearable solutions and haptic components, as well as non-invasive brain computer interfaces for handsfree interaction, hardware or technologies will put the users at the very centre of virtual experiences, for even greater and realistic immersion, aiming at blurring the lines between the real and digital environments. To ensure this next generation of engaging and lifelike immersion,...

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to developing new approaches, tools and techniques that overcome the obstacles of today's centralised AI compute techniques: limits in the availability of energy and AI compute capacity in centralised standalone environments, limited availability of types of AI chips, data quality and security and latency in AI data processing. The ultimate objective is to help overcome EU’s AI compute capacity bottlenecks by offering alternative decentralised and sustainable AI compute models that enable exploitation of diverse hardware processing architectures and scaling approaches.Scope:This topic focusses on technologies and techniques that enable AI data processing to leverage distributed compute resources across the cloud and edge computing continuum throughout the whole AI model lifecycle from data collection, training, fine-tuning, and...

Expected Outcome:Advanced integrated photonic devices and circuits with enhanced functionality and performance enabling wider application across multiple sectors including digital, automotive, industrial, health and securityReinforced competitiveness of EU photonics actors by demonstrating advancements in representative system configurations and validating real-world applicabilitySignificantly improved performance of electro-optic systems in applications such as communication, computing, sensing, medical diagnostics, data processing, AI supporting the introduction of photonic elements into such systemsLow power consumption sensors with increased performance in application domains Scope:R&I should enhance the functionality, efficiency, and integration of photonic devices and circuits with a focus extended system performance. Action should address at least two of the following aspects.Enha...

The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program is designed to encourage development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. The program seeks proposals that a) explore ways forgraduate students in STEM master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers, or b) support research on the graduate education system and outcomes of systemic interventions and policies. IGE projects are intendedto generate the knowledge required for the customization, implementation, and broader adoption of potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. The program supports piloting, testing, and validating novel models or activities and examining systemic innovations with high potential to enrich and extend the knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches. The program addresses both workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity-building needs in graduate education. Strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science organizations, and academic partners are encouraged.

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:Strengthening of the joint EU-AU Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Collaborative Partnership efforts, with emphasis on improving the visibility of EU Science Diplomacy actions in Africa and supporting Global Gateway Strategy priorities.Acceleration of the achievements of the African countries’ targets of the Paris Agreement.Increase the roll-out of local or regional renewable energy system solutions for electricity, heat and fuel needs and contribute to a fair trade between Africa and Europe.Create new sustainable silks and jobs linked to local or regional renewable energy system value chains and enhance economic growth in local or regional African communities.Increase the readiness, reliability, performance and affordability of local or regional renewable energy system solutions in...

Expected Outcome:Renewable heating can be directly used to efficiently decarbonise industrial processes. Concentrated solar thermal technologies offer a great potential to supply renewable heat for industry for temperatures between 150°C - 400°C. Nevertheless, efforts are still required to demonstrate these technologies for a variety of industrial processes.Proposals are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:Showcase the capacity of concentrated solar thermal systems to largely meet the heat demand of industrial processes and to achieve a yearly solar fraction of at least 50%.Increase competitiveness of concentrated solar thermal for industrial applications. This is to be proven by an economically feasible business case; by reducing the Levelised Cost of Heating (LCoH); and by valorising and promoting the competitive advantages of the technology such as heat storage, flexi...

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:Advance in the realisation of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan Action of Renewable fuels and Bioenergy (for the fuels part) is supported, overcoming fragmentation by mobilizing resources and establishing across EU interregional value chains of renewable fuel technologies and by better alignment of public and private R&I priorities and of funding mechanisms.All sector stakeholders benefit from establishment of renewable fuels value chains at EU, national, regional, and local level overcoming fragmentation across Europe.Different stakeholders (e.g., EU, SET Plan countries, regions, communities, etc) benefit from their engagement in the co-creation of a very flexible R&I Programme in renewable fuels.Researchers, industry, and public authorities have access to increased knowledge a...

Expected Outcome:Proposals are expected to contribute to all following points:Improving cost and recovery efficiency of existing scaled recycling technologiesDemonstrated technological solutions capable of efficiently recycling diverse feedstocks, including production scrap, and mixed lithium-ion battery chemistriesImproved European competitiveness by reducing EU dependence on imported raw materials through improved recycling processesDemonstrable compliance with the targets and requirements set by the EU Batteries Regulation, including recycling efficiency and material recovery rates. Scope:Proposals under this topic are expected to specifically address innovation actions that enhance the adaptability, flexibility, and operational efficiency of existing battery recycling processes.Projects are expected to explicitly target improvements for processing mixed input streams, particularly pr...

Expected Outcome:Proposals are expected to contribute to all following points:Significantly enhanced competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the European battery cell manufacturing industry, achieving measurable reductions in capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), energy consumption, and environmental footprint compared to state-of-the-art processes.Demonstrated advanced manufacturing processes and equipment that substantially decrease battery production costs and improve overall production efficiency and battery quality.Established flexible and modular pilot production lines capable of efficiently transitioning between various battery chemistries and compositions, with demonstrated reduction in cross-contamination and effective management of sensitive materials. Scope:Proposals are expected to target the development and demonstration of innovative, next-...

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all following expected outcomes:Advance in the realisation of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan’s research and innovation priorities and targets for ocean energy;Energy producers and consumers benefit from increased performance of wave and tidal energy technologies with the focus on efficiency and flexibility, reduced cost, improved reliability and sustainability, operation and maintenance, robustness and security during all stages of the lifetime of an ocean energy farm from installation, operation and maintenance to decommissioning;Efficient and effective support to ocean energy research and innovation through alignment and cooperation among different actors, avoiding fragmentation of efforts providing effectively a significant developmental boost of wave and tidal energy technologies.Increased contribution of ocea...

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcome:Stakeholders involved in the CO2 infrastructure network are in a position to implement the upcoming legislative framework for CO2 infrastructure. Scope:The project is expected to assist stakeholders involved in the CO2 infrastructure network in implementing the upcoming legislative framework for CO2 infrastructure.Issues to address include market and cost structure, cross-border integration, interoperability and planning, technical harmonisation and investment incentives for new infrastructure, third-party access, along-chain liability, competent regulatory authorities, tariff regulation, ownership and contractual models, baseline of the state of play of current legislation on various aspects of the value chain.As part of the deliverables, the project is expected to review and report on the current state...

Expected Outcome:The REPowerEU plan and the EU Solar Energy Strategy introduced targets for the deployment of solar PV amounting to 600 GWac by 2030. Complying with these targets will be crucial for the European Union to reach its climate targets and free itself from import dependency on fossil fuels and the costs this imposes on Europe’s competitiveness in terms of high energy prices. The Solar Strategy also introduces a target, which has been enshrined into the Net-Zero Industry Act, to re-consolidate the European solar manufacturing sector and scale up European manufacturing capacity across the entire value chain to at least 40% of the EU’s annual deployment needs, or 30 GW of annual capacity by 2030. Innovation is particularly important in the solar PV sector, which is characterised by a short technology cycle, where new technologies become mainstream in only a few years. Novel techn...

Expected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:Advanced, secure frugal (energy-, resource-, data- and cost-efficient, sustainable) AI tools for real-time grid operations (including protection), market operations (if relevant) and consumer empowerment in distributed energy systems.A demonstrated AI development environment integrated with the upgraded digital spine of the energy system and energy-saving consumer applications.Scaled-up capabilities for learning at edge nodes and federated systems using agent-based architectures.A governance framework and operating model for the Gen(AI)-powered digital spine. Scope:Building up on previous actions in Horizon Europe (e.g. the digital spine of the energy system in cluster 5 as well as cloud and edge continuum and AI data processing activities in cluster 4) and Digital Europe (Common Reference...

The far-reaching impact and rate of innovation in the computer and information science and engineering fields has been remarkable, generating economic prosperity and enhancing the quality of life for people throughout the world. More than a decade ago, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) established the Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) program to build on past successes and provide the CISE research and education community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, fundamental research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. In planning Expeditions projects, investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to combine their creative talents in the identification of compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for many years to come. Now funded at levels up to $15,000,000 for seven years, Expeditions projects represent some of the largest single investments currently made by the CISE directorate. Together with the Science and Technology Centers and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes that CISE supports, Expeditions projects form the centerpiece of the directorate's center-scale award portfolio. With awards funded at levels that promote the formation of large research teams, CISE recognizes that concurrent research advances in multiple fields or sub-fields are often necessary to....

Expected Outcome:Projects results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:For supported doctoral candidates Deeper and more diverse set of research-related and transferable skills and competences;Improved employability and career prospects both within academia and beyond;New mind-sets and approaches to R&I work forged through international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary experience;Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the general public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact. For participating organisationsEnhanced quality and sustainability of research training;Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s);Stronger R&I capacity and output among participating organisations;Increased contribution of the participating organisations to the local,...

Expected Outcome:For supported researchers:Concrete career prospects and increased career stability;Deeper and more diverse set of research-related, academic and transferable skills and competences, leading to greater autonomy. For participating organisations:Better alignment of research and Human Resources practices, including recruitment, career accession and progression systems, at participating organisation(s) with the European Charter for Researchers and the Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe and the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment;Increased global attractiveness, visibility and reputation of the participating organisation(s);Stronger R&I and teaching capacity and output;Increased contribution to the local, regional and/or national socio-economic ecosystems;Str...

The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act1aims to ensure the continuing leadership of the United States (U.S.) in quantum information science and technology. In conformance with the NQI goals, an argument2-5was set forth for a renewed emphasis on identifying and fostering early adoption of quantum technologies to transform the field of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) and to accelerate broader impacts on society. A systematic approach to maturing quantum technology platforms by integrating end-users and potential customers from other fields of science and engineering and other sectors of the economy into cycles of research, development, and demonstration should lower the barriers for end-users to pioneer new applications. NSF support for use-inspired and translational research in QISE, combined with continued strong support of the underlying foundational research, is anticipated to accelerate development of a market for quantum technologies. With this program solicitation, the Foundation is taking the next step in implementing the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (NQVL) concept as an overarching shared infrastructure designed to facilitate the translation from basic science and engineering to the resultant technology, while at the same time emphasizing and advancing its scientific and technical value. The NQVL aims to develop and utilize use-inspired and application-oriented quantum technologies. In the process, NQVL researchers will explore quantum frontiers6, foster the development of QISE education and workforce development strategies, engage in outr...

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nations biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on: Courses for Skills Development

Expected Outcome:This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. Proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:The EU offers a valued operational network of clinical research sites (both interventional and observational) that have the capacity to implement well-coordinated large-scale multi-country quality clinical studies in different target populations, which are able to smoothly transition to interventions relevant for cross-border health threats in readiness for or response to a public health emergency.Key stakeholders, including relevant EU and national entities, the scientific communities, policymakers and funders enhance their collaboration and coordina...

Expected Outcome:This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:The scientific and clinical communities have a better understanding of and access to experimental monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of emerging or re-emerging viral infections, as well as for further clinical investigation.Candidate monoclonal antibody therapies are available to treat patients for emerging and re-emerging viral infections, increasing therapeutic options for clinical deployment in case of an epidemic or pandemic. Scope:Infectious diseases remain a major threat to health and health security in the EU an...

Expected Outcome:This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Living and working in a health-promoting environment”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to most of the following expected outcomes:Researchers, policymakers, healthcare practitioners and the public have a more comprehensive understanding of the human exposome and the interactions between climatic, environmental and socio-behavioural factors, supported by FAIR[1] data linking these exposures to disease and health outcomes.Researchers, governments, policymakers, social care services and healthcare practitioners have improved knowledge on the links between the climatic, social, lifestyle and environmental factors of the exposome and global health burden, supp...

Expected Outcome:This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Maintaining an innovative, sustainable, and competitive EU health industry”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:Biopharmaceutical industries get access to streamlined development and production processes for peptide- or protein-based biologicals.Health systems benefit from the availability of enhanced or decentralised production systems for innovative health technologies that involve peptides or proteins, and which improve health and care.Citizens and patients will benefit from better access, availability and affordability of pharmaceuticals based on biologicals. Scope:Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) has been employe...

Expected Outcome:This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Ensuring equal access to innovative, sustainable, and high-quality healthcare”. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to all the following expected outcomes:Patients benefit from decreased incidence of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by the administration of multiple medications (three or more medicinal products[1]) and enhanced health outcomes by ensuring safer and more effective use of medication.Healthcare professionals can adopt adverse drug reactions prevention and reduction strategies to integrate genetic and other biomarker information into clinical decision-making to optimise the use of medication, especially in situations of comorbidities.Healthca...