To develop a cloud-based, 3D 'Specdrum Forge' tool for bespoke conveyor pulley design, using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence CAD functions to improve efficiency within the materials handling industry.

To develop an automated process that allows quick decision making regarding the manufacturing and logistical location placement to McCloskey International (NI) Ltd, leading to a better formed conclusion that significantly improves both the speed, accuracy and profitability of metrics used to make these production decisions.

To develop a UX-centred software product for planning of complex surgical procedures for treatment of structural heart disease using 3D digital anatomical models.

The project develops an AI-powered, multi-tier cybersecurity framework for drones, addressing vulnerabilities such as GPS spoofing, denial-of-service attacks, and data interception. It integrates anomaly detection, real-time threat monitoring, and risk mitigation across the drone, network, and cloud levels. This ensures that drones can operate safely and securely in critical applications such as disaster relief, emergency response, search-and-rescue operations, and medical deliveries. Drones are increasingly relied upon to support essential services. From transporting urgent medical supplies to monitoring disaster zones, their speed and flexibility make them invaluable tools. However, this growing reliance also makes them attractive targets for malicious cyber activity. A successful attack on a drone system could disrupt healthcare logistics, compromise sensitive data, or even endanger lives. Current security solutions are often either too resource-intensive for lightweight drones or too narrow in scope, focusing only on identity or cloud-level protection. As a result, there is a pressing need for a solution that is both lightweight and comprehensive. Drone Sentinel, our proposed framework, protects drones at all three levels (onboard, network, and cloud) and goes beyond existing solutions to deliver true end-to-end cybersecurity. Instead of relying on expensive hardware or requiring complex modifications to drone systems, it is delivered as a lightweight, software-only patch that integrates seamlessly into existing UAV ecosystems. This approach ensures that security can be scaled quickly, cost-effectively, and without disrupting current drone infrastructure. By providing a robust, scalable, and practical solution, Drone Sentinel not only advances the state of drone cybersecurity but also builds confidence in deploying drones for life-saving and mission-critical applications. From ensuring the safe delivery of medical supplies to supporting disaster response teams in hazardous environments, the project demonstrates how stronger cyber resilience directly translates into greater societal benefit. Drone Sentinel highlights how AI-driven innovation can be applied in a practical, lightweight, and scalable way to protect the technologies modern society increasingly relies on. By combining cutting-edge research with user-focused design, the project delivers a future-proof solution that enhances trust in drone operations and sets the stage for broader applications in the Internet of Things (IoT). While the initial focus is on UAVs, the framework has the potential to expand across IoT ecosystems, securing autonomous and connected systems of the future.

To develop 'MINDSET', a novel software product that maximises the use of existing mental wellbeing service data and uses digital algorithms to help manage and continuously quality-assure services as well as provide insights to improve the client experience and efficacy in a mental wellbeing organisation

To develop an advanced, smart shredder for intelligent waste reclamation, marking a significant leap in Ulster Shredders' product offerings and revolutionizing the shredding industry by integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence into shredder design and control, reshaping usage and enhancing performance and efficiency whilst driving substantial innovation in waste management.

To develop an innovative smart fire door inspection and monitoring system using advanced sensors and IoT technology. It automates the inspection process, enhances safety, and reduces costs by providing real-time data and predictive maintenance, transforming fire safety management in both commercial and residential buildings.

Breast cancer represents 12% of all new cancer cases globally, making it the most common alongside lung cancer, and accounts for 6.9% of all cancer deaths. In the UK, ~55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, with ~11,500 people dying from the disease: equivalent to 1 diagnosis every 10 minutes and 31 deaths every day. Despite significant advances, UK breast cancer survival is lower than in other developed countries. In addition, the NHS is facing significant challenges in meeting its cancer targets, with many patients waiting well beyond the recommended 2-week window for urgent referrals and the 62-day target for beginning treatment. These delays, particularly for non-urgent cases, can impact survival and patient outcomes as cancers are caught at later stages.  In this 15-month project, UK-SME EosDx is collaborating with Ulster University to develop and optimise a unique device called NISTA, which uses X-ray diffraction imaging, to revolutionise breast cancer screening. Specifically, the team will validate the use of skin to detect breast cancer non-invasively (without medical procedures), removing the need for mammograms and reducing radiation exposure, as well as biopsies and genetic testing: essentially combining breast cancer detection in a single test.  EosDx will lead the project, bringing deep commercial, project management, and technical knowledge, including world-leading experts in bio-crystallography and tissue imaging, whilst Ulster University possesses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and significant expertise in breast cancer research. Additionally, the consortium has previously collaborated on prostate and pancreatic cancer diagnostic. Currently, breast cancer screening is offered every 3 years to women aged 50-71 and high-risk patients (e.g. those with family history). However, this misses younger women who account for 23% of cases and for whom breast cancer is the leading cause of death. This highly-innovative project aims to significantly improve breast cancer screening as it allows early diagnosis before symptoms become apparent, for a low cost, with high precision, and with reduced radiation exposure. As such, NISTA will dramatically improve patient survival, irrespective of age, and drive NHS cost savings.  EosDx's vision to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment directly aligns with the NHS' long-term cancer plan to improve national screening programmes, giving people faster access to diagnostic tests, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring more patients benefit from precise, highly-focused treatments. Project outcomes will support EosDx towards revenue generation and position the UK as a European leader in innovative cancer diagnostics.

To develop a (semi) autonomous robotic system for use in a range of refractory and related industries, to decrease demolition time and also significantly reduce the health and safety risk to manual operators in these industrial environments.

To meet current demand levels, McCauley Trailers Ltd wish to develop a state-of-the-art robotic automation welding manufacturing process. Once automation has been integrated into the manufacturing process, the company will also trial the redesign and re-development of new and existing trailer models to streamline the manufacturing process.

To develop and launch to market 'DIVERSE', an innovative multilingual notetaking application tailored for HR meetings, ensuring inclusive communication and efficient record-keeping. The system automatically transcribes, summarizes, and integrates signed reports directly into HR software for optimal compliance and transparency.I

To develop new frameworks that will valorise low-value high-volume excavated soil waste generated from the construction sector for reuse in manufacturing new net zero carbon-friendly cementitious construction materials. This strategy will contribute towards the growth of the UK's circular economy and reduce our dependence on Portland cements for manufacturing concretes.

The proposed project will deliver an AI-driven, multi-tier cybersecurity framework designed for autonomous drones operating in critical sectors such as disaster relief, search and rescue, and medical deliveries. As drones play an increasingly crucial role in these high-risk operations, they become targets for malicious attacks that exploit vulnerabilities through hijacking, spoofing, and data breaches, potentially jeopardising mission success and public safety. The proposed system will ensure trustworthiness and security at multiple levels within a drone network, continuously evaluating and verifying the integrity of individual drones, securing drone-to-drone and drone-to-infrastructure communication, and safeguarding cloud-based mission control systems. AI-driven anomaly detection and behavioural analysis will be at the core of the framework, enabling real-time identification and mitigation of security threats to maintain operational integrity. Unlike traditional single-tier security solutions, which are often inadequate for highly mobile, autonomous systems, this multi-tier intrusion detection and trust management approach will offer robust protection against evolving cyber risks. The framework will integrate machine learning techniques to detect unauthorised activity, ensuring resilient and tamper-proof drone operations, particularly in challenging environments where reliability is paramount. With the increasing role of drones in emergency healthcare logistics, such as delivering defibrillators and critical medical supplies, it is imperative to guarantee secure and reliable operations. The proposed system will provide next-generation cybersecurity protection, reinforcing trust, safety, and operational resilience in the rapidly evolving field of autonomous aerial systems.

To develop Data Mule 2, an innovative analytics solution using large language models (LLMs) to help mid-sized manufacturers gain actionable business insights. Data Mule 2 will transform complex data into easy-to-understand insights, aiding decision-making and improving competitiveness. Initially focused on the UK and Ireland, Rubiktech plans global expansion.

To lead the market in sustainable wooden windows and doors by introducing the' NextGen' Sash Window and the establishment of an NPD centre of excellence to design, develop and test a next generation suite of innovative, market-led, value-added products that meet upcoming environmental legislation and embeds sustainable NPD capabilities organise-wide.

To develop a Regulatory Navigator software platform for the Precision Medicine / In Vitro Diagnostics Industry to assist clinical trial Sponsors in accessing in real-time, accurate information on global regulatory requirements and understanding the implications for their clinical development pipelines

To transform GPL's business by designing, developing, and implementing an innovative and world class operational excellence set of processes and capabilities underpinned by innovative industry 4.0technologies. The project will address the outdated supply chain processes, and lack of automated information systems to support innovation and growth.

Our pioneering research project, "AI Animation generation through Virtual Reality Headsets & inertial devices." will embrace the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to rewrite the rules of animation. At the heart of our mission is the application of AI algorithms to generate entire body motions based on inertial inputs. Imagine sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, discreetly embedded in wearable devices that capture human motion. What's remarkable is that the use of these inertial sensors is becoming increasingly common in our everyday technology landscape, from the smartphones we carry to the virtual reality headsets that whisk us away to new dimensions. The pipeline for the solution: Step 1: Wear and Calibrate Inertial Devices Step 2: Generate Motion Step 3: AI-Powered Generation (delayed 1s) Our project brings a wave of innovation to the animation and 3D content industry. It promises to sweep away the laborious, frame-by-frame animation process and replace it with AI-generated animations that materialise in a fraction of the time. This efficiency isn't just about saving time; it's a catalyst for cost savings and a gateway for animators to channel their creativity more freely. The beauty of our system lies in its compatibility and flexibility. It's not locked into specific hardware; instead, it's device-agnostic. Our AI-driven motion prediction accommodates inputs from various sensor brands, opening doors to a myriad of applications across diverse platforms. But we don't stop at efficiency and compatibility. Our AI-driven motion prediction system elevates the level of realism in animations. By grounding animations in real-world motion data, we breathe authenticity into the art of animation. This authenticity is invaluable in animated films, gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality, where immersive and believable animations are increasingly in demand from viewers. Furthermore, the reach of our AI extends beyond entertainment to healthcare and sports, where it provides insights into human movement and enhances physical therapy and sports performance analysis. The potential spills over into robotics, where our motion prediction can transform robotic systems into nimble and adaptive beings.

To develop a dynamic scheduling tool using meta data obtained from our Marine Digital Twinning Platform, a rich data set for the business intelligence, using lean principals to framework an agile and optimised plan for delivery of Marine projects.

To design and develop a Digital Twin-capable system to enhance performance accuracy in feedback control as well as real-time production monitoring for fault detection and isolation in the surface mount technology manufacturing process.

Liquid hydrogen is a key solution to enable strong carbon reduction for energy, chemical and mobility industries. If technologies are mature for light vehicles fast refuelling, it is still a challenge for heavy duty applications, hampering massive environmental gains for aviation, maritime, railroad. DelHyVEHR offers to fill the gap of liquid hydrogen distribution technologies by driving the maturation to the demonstration at TRL 6 of the large-scale refuelling station and each main systems with a specific focus on pumping, metering, loading and boil-off gas management systems. DelHyVEHR main objectives are to: • Develop a high flowrate (>5 t/h and up to 6 t/h) transfer cryogenic pump for LH2 refuelling stations with high efficiency (>60%) and high reliability (Mean Time Between Maintenance > 3000h) • Develop and adapt loading and dispensing systems for the high-flowrate refuelling station • Develop and optimize a boil-off gas management system enable to recover >80% of the hydrogen • Design, build and operate the LH2 refuelling station to refill a cryogenic storage of 4-6 m3 and with integrated technologies demonstrated over long-time operation (>10 h) • Assess economic, environmental impacts and policy suitability of the technologies and demonstrator with expected cost reduction of investments and operation of LH2 bunkering stations at 1.5 €/kg and deliver H2 carbon footprint aligned with RED II legislation below 3.38 kgCO2/kgH2 • Ensure safety of the LH2 bunkering station and its operation DelHyVEHR demonstration before 2027 will enable commercialisation before 2029 to target 15 refuelling stations in 2030 and up to 81 stationsin 2040 for shipping, aviation and railroad markets. To succeed, DelHyVEHR gathers 13 EU leading partners covering the whole value chain from component development to system demonstration and assessment, along with an advisory board of worldwide leading H2 end-users.

HyAcademy.EU will capitalise on the investments already made by the European Commission and Member States in education and training activities. The consortium brings together representatives from multiple projects (Table 1), enabling previous outputs to be consolidated and exploited, maximising the Academy impact and reach. In order to realise its objectives, the European Hydrogen Academy will have achieved by midterm to - build and sustain a network of over 100 universities (The Network of 100) offering recognised qualifications, specialisations, and degrees in hydrogen technologies, - build and sustain a network of over 500 schools integrating hydrogen topics into their science teaching, including technical schools and colleges with more specific technical training, - create a network of 5 hands-on, physical training laboratories, - offer a portal to showcase and link the educational programmes available in the network and beyond, in order to supply prospective trainees with accurate and detailed information on training and career opportunities, with a minimum of 100.000 accesses to documents specialising in hydrogen topics, - provide free training materials across European languages to lecturers and teachers in order to enable educational staff to deliver the vast body of educational measures necessary, - develop and integrate novel (online) teaching methodologies into university, college and school curricula, and train educational staff to successfully employ these, and - create and implement an organisational structure and a successful business case allowing continuation of the project activities post-funding in establishing a European Hydrogen Academy spanning all levels and types of education and training. HyAcademy.EU will considerably contribute to the EU goals of offering access to high-quality education, supporting the creation of a highly-skilled workforce and more and better jobs in the European hydrogen industry. Through the school activities it will foster public awareness and acceptance of hydrogen technologies.

Northern Ireland (NI) has historically been an under-performing region within the UK under a number of metrics. For example, in 2021, compared to the UK average, in NI. * Innovation was 7% lower, * Productivity 17% lower, * Average Wages £7K lower, and * Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reductions, approximately 50% lower than 1990 levels. Evidence suggests the absence of extensive knowledge sharing and poor collaboration are the key reasons for this legacy. Paradoxically, NI has some of the highest levels of renewable penetration globally, with more than 50% of its grid energy coming annually from renewable sources, yet in 2020, NI had only reduced its emissions from 1990 levels by 23.9%, less than half of the UK's 49.9% average during the same period. In 2022, NI was 17% below the UK productivity average, the lowest UK region. McKinsey, in 2021, suggested 5 core elements could unlock business value, while reducing the impact on the planet, these were Lean, Limits, Profit Per Hour, Holistic and Circular initiatives. This Industrial Decarbonisation for Northern Ireland (ID-NI) project is taking an innovative dual-approach to address carbon reduction in NI. While adopting best practice from other parts of GB and NI's industrial base, it will seek to explore how productivity improvements can also positively affect carbon reductions. ID-NI is very timely, as there is no standardised approach, in NI or the UK, designed specifically to help industry solve either their emissions or their productivity, yet the two are inextricably linked. How they are currently measured resonates more with economists and the financial sector, than industry. Engagement is critical but thus far this has been largely overlooked. ID-NI will demonstrate a new way of looking at these issues and empower industry to respond to the challenge, by seeing it as an opportunity, not a penalty. ID-NI will provide the platform, tools, and metrics to enable NI industry to adopt this dual approach, using productivity to reduce emissions. This will benefit NI's citizens, the UK's levelling-up agenda and by 2030 accelerate NI's GHG reduction levels. ID-NI will develop and demonstrate the relevant tools, enabling industry to benchmark their progress to decarbonisation, using a simplified approach aligned to the aims of the internationally recognised Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) but without the cost. Encouraging NI industry to lead, not follow, decarbonisation thinking, through ID-NI, will enhance the regions competitiveness, attract foreign investors, and enhance its reputation within the UK.

~50% of the global population will develop cancer in their lifetime \[WHO,2022\]. Pancreatic cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the world with ~495,773/year new cases and almost as many deaths (~466,003/year)\[Sung,2021;CRUK,2023\]. Additionally, pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates, with one--year survival at ~24%, compared to 70% for the 20 common cancers combined. The overall 5-year survival for pancreatic cancer has changed little over the past decade(~9%)\[Neoptolemos,2018\]. This is due to pancreatic cancer often being diagnosed late(80%:diagnosed StageIII/IV), in part through lack of diagnostic sensitivity, reducing options for treatment. Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is key to improving chances of survival. Furthermore, understanding the subtype of cancer (classical/basal-like) is key to personalising the treatment pathway and improving health outcomes. As the global population rises and ages, pancreatic cancer is predicted to be the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Western countries \[Neoptolemos,2018\]. Current-state-of-the-art in pancreatic cancer diagnostics is limited to imaging the cancer through approaches such as pancreatic protocol computerised tomography(CT) or endoscopic ultrasound(EUS). However, studies have found these have limited sensitivity when tumours are in early development. Additionally, compared to other cancers, precision medicine approaches that translate the increased knowledge of the molecular pathology of cancer into the clinic are in their infancy for pancreatic cancer \[Froeling,2021;Siegel,2022\]. In this 24-month industrial research project, EosDx (UK-SME-Lead) will collaborate with Ulster University to develop and optimise NISTA, a unique data-enabled machine-learning tool to more accurately diagnose and stratify pancreatic cancer patients according to _proteomic structural biomarkers_. The consortium possesses leading expertise in ML-model development, structural biomarkers, bio-crystallography, clinical testing, and pancreatic cell function, and has previously developed game-changing technologies within the diagnostic sector. NISTA improves significantly over the current-state-of-the art as it allows low-cost, pre-symptomatic, rapid, safe, non-invasive and highly accurate diagnosis and subtype stratification in one scan. This project provides a step-change within pancreatic cancer diagnostics, expanding the sector from within the UK and driving the growth of a completely new industry sub-segment. EosDx aligns with the NHS's long-term plan to improve national screening programmes, giving people faster access to diagnostic tests (<2-hours for NISTA), investing in cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring more patients benefit from precise, highly-focused treatments \[NHS,2023\].

Starting from a unique collection of paleo-environmental samples (frozen Arctic soils and sediments) already at AWI and their corresponding ancient DNA (aDNA) metagenomes that stretch back up to a million years, we will retrieve information on how rhizosphere biodiversity and functionality responded to climate changes and extreme events. Preliminary metagenomic data from the collection suggests it is a gold mine of archaic DNA that represents a timeline of adaptions to climate change in the rhizosphere. By reconstructing and analyzing these ancient metagenomes and correlating with available historical climatic change data, we will identify molecular adaptions that impart climate tolerance (specifically resistance to increased temperature and drought). This will be used to i) produce and test engineered root-colonizing bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas chlororaphis) that will improve climate tolerance of plants (production of humidifying polysaccharides around the root) facilitating the ability to grow on marginal agricultural land (MAL), ii) inform ancestral reconstruction of thermostable and/or cold tolerant enzymes for industrial application and iii) produce engineered Pseudomonas putida strains tailored for bioproduction. For the latter application, we will select genes that encode biomolecules relevant for climate-tolerant phenotypes (humidifying polysaccharides and the biosurfactant betaines). The production of these molecules using biotechnology will be targeted in the project and their application in selected industrial products verified. Target end-user applications will include polysaccharides and betaines for the development of 3D printed organ-on-chip and drug delivery systems as well as the formulation of metalworking fluids, lubricants and industrial cleaning products.

Sustelligence is an Intelligent Net-Zero Management platform to help companies and individuals to drive impactful change towards transforming their lives, homes and businesses into Net Zero Environments. The Impact UX Project will apply People-Centered-Design to innovate in the User Experience (UX) making the application uniquely usable and impactful. This aims to: * Simplify and automate the methods of entering data into the system * Ensure that the data entry architecture is supportive of automated / AI driven data analysis * Provide intelligent insights to propose Changes to the businesses' activity which would be most impactful to reducing their Carbon Footprint * Have these insights align with the Company's priorities and present them in a way which is meaningful to the key Decision Makers The project will form a strong collaborative partnership between Aethergy and the Ulster University School of Computing which will support this project and provide future oppertunities for academic research and practicle application of research outputs to drive real-world change towards Net Zero. The project will engage multiple Northern Irish companies of a range of sizes and sectors to illict and analyse stakeholders, data sources and workflows and decision making processes to guide impactful UX development. Aethergy welcome expressions of interest from prospective Subject Companies who'd like to participate in the UX Research, Design and Validation project.

A prosthetic leg is a tremendous aid to people living with lower limb loss, but wearing it every day is not without its problems. Heat, moisture and friction can irritate the leg's sensitive skin, causing irritation and soreness. Often, this leads to inflammation and open wounds which are extremely difficult to heal and which may become infected. Many people simply give up using their prosthesis, often without informing their doctor. People with diabetes are more at risk, because they often have poor circulation, have less feeling in their leg, and are less able to fight infection. Even today, the recommended way of avoiding skin problems is regular inspection, both at home and during visits to the clinic. Unfortunately, the early stages of a problem are not always easy to spot, especially for people with poor mobility and other health challenges. Clinical visits usually don't happen very often, so by the time an ulcer is seen it is too late to treat easily. Typically it will take over six months to heal, and may require hospital admission for treatment. IMPILO is a new monitoring system which continuously monitors the temperature and humidity around the leg when the user is wearing the prosthesis, and combines this information with the wearer's activity and mobility. It communicates its information --- securely and anonymously --- via an app on a mobile phone to the cloud, where it is analysed and then passed back to the users or their doctors. If it looks like something is wrong, or even if it may go wrong, it will let them know. IMPILO was developed in an earlier project funded by Innovate UK and has completed its first trial with a small group in Belfast. This trial successfully showed that the system worked as expected, but did not look at how it can be used to prevent problems. With this new project, IMPILO will become a fully certified digital health solution, using machine learning to supply information to help the individuals, and their clinical support, make better decisions about their limb health and care. When this has been achieved, IMPILO will move forward into a second phase of clinical trials, with a larger number of people, throughout the UK. This trial will study the benefits of using the information provided by IMPILO to determine if a problem is likely to occur, and if it can be avoided.

The proposed COSMA neurofeedback system is a self-management solution but also a therapeutic system that provides a cognitive map response for each game played which includes (1) cognitive scores and (2) brain profile responses. The cognitive map produced will help the user, carer, and clinician to understand the patients' cognitive enhancement and the brain's current capacity to adapt and prevent the cognitive and psychological related issues as a secondary tool. This proposed technology is aimed at providing precision medicine for preventing dementia progression at early stages and providing quicker recovery and long-term support for post-stroke patients. The benefits of the technology are: (1) non-invasive; (2) improved mental ability for dementia/stroke patients; (3) can provide early/quick recovery treatment; (4) ensures patient's longer independence; (5) reduced reliance upon NHS and improves UK economy; and (6) will strengthen the UK as a leader in dementia and stroke research.

To develop a Counselling, Resilience Emotional Digital Innovation Transformation digital platform offering accessible support services for companies supporting people with mental ill health requiring mental health interventions.

To develop a system that automatically creates new patient-specific instrumentation products for wrist fracture surgery, making them more accessible and affordable to enhance the outcomes of this type of surgery.

Mental illnesses represent a huge burden for society, the economy, and the aMental illnesses represent a huge burden for society, the economy, and the affected individuals. To significantly increase citizens? mental health, today?s symptom-based diagnoses need to be complemented by biological criteria accounting for individual and sex differences. Furthermore, early detection and prevention measures need to be improved. RE-MEND addresses the current gaps and challenges with an interdisciplinary approach by: i) focussing on four critical life stages in which an individual?s susceptibility to mental illness is strongly influenced by changes in endocrine signalling, including sex hormones, namely early life, puberty, peripartum, and transition into old age; ii) integrating data from large population-based longitudinal cohort studies allowing for discovery of risk and protective factors as well as biological patterns that influence mental states in the general population across these life stages; iii) complementing epidemiological with experimental studies to establish correlative and causative links leading to mechanistic understanding; iv) using advanced biostatistics as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence for data integration and biomarker and drug target discovery; v) combining the biological approaches with communication science studies to efficiently translate its results to societal impact. Ultemately, RE-MEND will result in: i) Significantly increased mental health literacy among stakeholders and citizens; ii) Validated biomarkers for assessing mental health state and its predisposition as well as more accurate diagnoses and personalised preventive and therapeutic measures; iii) Recommendations for early detection, better prevention, and drug design strategies to protect vulnerable individuals from mental illness in sensitive life stages; and iv) strategies on how these advances can be used to decrease stigma and increase prevention behaviour.

International standards related to cryogenic hydrogen transferring technologies for mobile applications (filling of truck, ship, stationary tanks) are missing, and the experience is limited or non-existent. ELVHYS aims to provide indications on inherently safer and efficient cryogenic hydrogen technologies and protocols in mobile applications by proposing innovative safety strategies including selection of effective safety barriers and hazard zoning strategies, which are the results of a detailed risk analysis. This is carried out by applying an inter-disciplinary approach and conducting experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies both on the cryogenic hydrogen transferring procedures and on the phenomena that may arise from the loss of containment of a piece of equipment containing hydrogen. Unique investigations on (i) cryogenic hydrogen transferring operations for selected mobile applications, (ii) equipment and materials response to liquid hydrogen (LH2) transfer and incident roots, as well as (iii) releases, combustion and explosion phenomena will be pursued. For the first time, a study on the frequency of failure of LH2 transferring equipment will be carried out by exploiting the internal databases of some of the consortium partners which contain valuable information collected in the last decades. In addition, critical and exclusive data on innovative safety barriers (e.g. emergency release device) under development will be shared by Air Liquide partner, beyond knowledge on cryogenic hydrogen transfer gained in several years. In this fashion, critical inputs can be provided for the development of international standards by creating safe and optimised procedures and guidelines for cryogenic hydrogen transferring technologies. The results of ELVHYS will contribute to many objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA such as increase the level of safety and support the development of regulations codes and standards for hydrogen technologies and applications.

Lung Cancer (LC) is the biggest cancer killer worldwide, with five-year survival following diagnosis varying between 5% to 25%. Though tobacco smoking has long been recognized as the major risk factor for LC, many cases (incl. LC patients that are non-smokers) cannot be explained by this reason. In this sense, LUCIA aims to establish a novel toolbox for discovering and understanding new risk factors that contribute to LC development. The toolbox encompasses the analysis of three aspects: (i) personal risk factors, which include a person’s exposure to chemical pollutants and behavioural and lifestyle factors; (ii) external risk factors, such as urban, built and transport environments, social aspects, and climate; and (iii) biological responses to the personal and external risk factors, including changes in genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, and aging. Key components of the toolbox for analysing personal and external risk factors include retrospective and prospective cohort databases, AI models, wearable devices, novel non-invasive sensors, and multi-omics. Together, these tools will be used to identify the effects of a wide range of environmental, biological, demographic, community and individual level risk factors associated with the formation of LC. Molecular changes associated with the risk factors identified by this set of tools will then be validated by cell and molecular biology methods and through in vivo analysis. The impact of the identified personal and external risk factors and the associated biological responses will be then validated in three clinical use cases: general population risk assessment and screening, precision screening of high-risk populations, and digital diagnostics. The resulting evidence within LUCIA will be translated into policymaking recommendations, with the aim to implement them in a screening program for LC. This action is part of two Cancer Mission clusters of projects on ‘Understanding' and ‘Prevention including Screening’.

Hydrogen is anticipated a primary driver towards decarbonising the maritime sector with the UK and international shipping industry expected to require 75-95TWh in 2050 _\[UK hydrogen strategy publication\]_. The fuel cell market is currently ramping up production with several large factories planned in Europe. In 2020, the global Hydrogen Fuel Cells market size was $2.5B, and expected to reach $19B by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of 33.4% during 2021-2027 _\[Valuates Report\]_. This collaborative R&D project brings together Artemis Technologies, Lloyd's Register, HySafer (Ulster University) and Energia Hydrogen to develop and test a novel Hydrogen Hybrid Range Extender system for Artemis-eFoiler propelled vessels, creating wider opportunities for decarbonisation of existing and new fleets in the commercial small to mid-size vessel markets. Currently, compact high-power density marinised fuel cell systems are not available for small to mid-size commercial vessels such as Pilot and Crew Transfer Vessels. Complications stemming from safe hydrogen storage and the implications of marinisation on the volume of fuel cells, pose significant barriers to entry. Operational requirements for these vessels place a heavy burden on required power, when considering special manoeuvres like safe transfer of technicians onto a wind turbine in the case of a Crew Transfer Vessel. This project will demonstrate a unique Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell offering an alternative to a single energy source. This solution tailors a net zero Hydrogen Hybrid system to the specific requirements of operators in multiple maritime sub-market segments, by optimising expenditure, infrastructure requirements, charge time and range. This is critical to overcome the high entry cost of hydrogen technology for early adopters. It will build on the work of the Belfast Maritime Consortium's advanced green maritime innovation cluster, as well as further develop the critical mass of proven world leading capability and expertise in the design and build of green technologies to support the sectors transition to net zero. Northern Ireland is making significant progress in the growth of zero-emission transport solutions through various national and international projects. It is incredibly important that we continue to build on what has been established and optimise the transport projects in Northern Ireland, leveraging the existing funding arrangements which have been secured from Interreg (€3.2M), OLEV (£3M) and UKRI (£33M), through the development of the Hydrogen Hybrid solution. This project will help build sustainable competitive advantage in the UK.

HyLICAL will contribute to reaching an energy demand of 8 kWh/kg and a liquefaction cost of < 120 K) based on magnetic refrigeration. The implementation of the magnetocaloric hydrogen liquefaction (MCHL) technology developed in HyLICAL offers the following perspectives: i) Increased energy efficiency of >20% for small liquefaction volumes of 5 TPD; ii) Reduced capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) by at least 20% in addition to the targeted energy savings; iii) Decentralized (local) production of liquid hydrogen (LH2), thus reducing the need for distribution and transport across long distances; iv) Coupling of the MCHL technology to hydrogen production from renewables (green hydrogen) for off-grid configurations; v) Integration into conventional liquefaction plants to increase their overall energy efficiency; vi) Application of the process for the liquefaction of hydrogen and for boil-off management of LH2 tanks. The MCHL technology will enable the decentralized production of green LH2, in competition with LH2 from fossil sources, and will furthermore reduce the need to transport LH2 over large distances if there is a local green energy source available (e.g., bio-based or electricity from renewables). We will drive the Technology Relevance Level for MCHL technology from initially TRL 3 to TRL 5 at project end. This will be achieved by significantly increasing the liquefaction capacity of the demonstrator from the current SoA (<1 kg/day) to close to 100 kg/day. We will demonstrate that there are no intrinsic limitations that prevent the MCHL technology from being scaled up to suit flowrates above 100 TPD, as highlighted in the call, thus satisfying the need for large-scale production capacities needed in the heavy-duty mobility sector and elsewhere.

AWARE sets out to increase capacity to produce fish for human consumption at KM 0 in every European city, with no impact on natural habitats, no dependence from natural freshwater availability, and high resiliency to climate change This goal could be met by farming fish locally using reclaimed water. Europe lacks the regulatory and policy framework to allow such a value chain to take root, due also to the absence of compelling scientific evidence of safety, quality, economic feasibility, and social acceptability. With AWARE, we want to remove the barriers preventing reclaimed water aquaculture from becoming a European reality. We will demonstrate seamless integration of our solutions in an aquaponic recirculation system (RAS) with IoT monitoring and automation technologies to improve its operation and overall sustainability metrics. We will create the first European case study for reclaimed water aquaponics in the town of Fasano (Puglia, Italy), where we will leverage the results of a pre-existing H2020 project on advanced wastewater treatment. With the case study, we will - Demonstrate technical solutions for efficient and sustainable aquaponics from reclaimed wastewater - Increase the circularity of wastewater as freshwater resource to be exploited where it is generated - Create a new farm-to-fork value chain, contributing to European economic growth and to urban KM 0 farming - Lay the ground for a new regulatory and policy framework in support of European aquaculture The project will go as far as conducting human intervention (i.e., feeding tests) on a panel of volunteers to obtain evidence of safety and quality of the produced food. In parallel, it will develop a sustainable business model and strategy for the for the future upscaling of the pilot solution, including its application to other European communities and in international development projects. Our consortium includes a large network, one extra-european partner, and one international organisation.

Environment Centred Optimisation of SME Productivity using Realtime INTelligence (ECO-SPRINT) - focuses on the aligned sustainability & productivity needs of manufacturing SMEs. It brings together a consortium of IDT providers that focus on manufacturing data & intelligence, eager to build sustainability into their offerings. The project will start with a focus on energy-intensive aerospace special finishing processes (with Poetons as the lead demonstrator - the UK's largest independent surface treatment business), and then demonstrate scalability through deployment in another sector courtesy of Metal Assemblies Ltd. Recognising that many processes are hard to automate, it will develop an innovative vision intelligence system (VIOLET) combined with a scalable and rapid-to-deploy IIoT solution. It will integrate this with an innovative combination of IDTs onto which sustainability intelligence capability will be integrated including a Smart Manufacturing Execution System (MES); a "customer/supplier portal" which shares intelligence on demand volatility, an advanced scheduling system, an asset protection system, and a configurable Business Intelligence (BI) solution. The outputs from ECO-SPRINT will enable SMEs to: -capture unprecedented business intelligence about human operations which will feed into the consortium's scheduling software and enable optimisation of manual processes such as casting plants, electroplating vats and heat treatment oven utilisation -capture plant and energy utilisation data enabling real-time optimisation -digitise human action from skilled special-process operators to provide automated time, motion and risk capture data -extract and segment videos of human actions on the special-process house optimisation of plant and utilities to retain best-practice through digitalised knowledge transfer -gather data on carbon and material footprint that can be communicated and aggregated across supply chains (eg. through Valuechain's supplier and customer portals)

Falls in over-65's are considered by many to be a consequence of ageing. They are not, but falling, even once, creates a circle of frailty, leading the faller directly to loss of confidence, loss of mobility and loss of independence. Our consortium of SMEs, one charity, one social care organisation, a public body and an academic institution bring together a value chain of provision of care to older people, using technology to provide services in an effective and cost effective way. The project: * demonstrates and evaluates the impact of a short term fixed length high technology interventions to reduce the risk of falls and improve wellbeing for over 65s. * tests additional interventions designed to delay the onset of falls in people that have never fallen and those that have only fallen once. * Designs and applying behaviour change techniques to create new habits of regular activity in participants. We will establish the business case for commercial service roll out into the private care sector and as a public service underpinned by economic analysis and programme evaluation to determine the economic and qualitative value it offers to public health and to the users themselves.

To design and implement a new method of measuring and costing for use in the construction industry. To use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, plus historic costing and customer data to build a bespoke automated system which provides accurate and reliable estimating and costing with minimal manual input.

The United Kingdom has embarked on a journey to become a world leader in the green industrial revolution and global decarbonisation. The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition will play a crucial role in identifying the next generation of innovative technologies and solutions that will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in those hard-to-reach places such as maritime operations and shipping. The most significant challenge to achieving net zero emissions in transport sectors, including maritime, is the requirement for the rapid development of both the energy supply, and charging infrastructure, required to facilitate the global transition to zero-emission mobility. Building on the work of the emerging Belfast Maritime Consortium cluster as a global centre of excellence for zero-emission maritime technology, the Northern Ireland Green Seas consortium partners will leverage their blended experience in Energy, Port and Vessel operations alongside Northern Ireland's manufacturing expertise and maritime heritage to identify and investigate zero-emission solutions for port and vessel operations. Various scenarios have been developed to assess the optimal decarbonisation strategy for a large freight and transport port (Belfast Harbour), a small leisure port (Bangor Marina) and a remote island harbour (Rathlin Island). This feasibility study will consider practical real-life scenarios out to 2030 and beyond to assess the energy requirements of the different maritime locations and determine the pathways for achieving Net-Zero by 2050\. These include battery energy storage to support the charging of electrified vessels and freight handling, green hydrogen production and bunkering, shore side electrical grid infrastructure required for cold ironing and freight handling and renewable energy supply. Another key aspect of this project is the development of cyber secure digitalisation, autonomy strategies and scenario planning, developed using a detailed digital twin process. The main outputs of this assessment will be fully costed plan for a large-scale demonstration of the solutions, including any barriers to adoption, and an investigation into the potential reduction of lifecycle emissions of the solutions. _"I welcome this feasibility study to place Belfast at the heart of global transition to zero emission maritime. Belfast has considerable experience in the maritime and aeronautical sectors and is building a reputation in sustainable transport technologies. The city is advancing a considerable digital twin capability, to demonstrate new solutions, and also has leading expertise in intelligent communications both of which are included in this exciting proposition"_. Jayne Brady Belfast City Digital Innovation Commissioner