Wet waste and long-distance travel are unavoidable consequences of wealthier societies; unfortunately, they both contribute to climate change. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and biocrude hydrotreating (HT) can convert wet wastes into sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), but for this to become a reality, some pressing challenges need to be addressed. CalSAF is Dr. Matteo Pecchi’s career development program, designed to develop differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods that can provide high-resolution information on the HTL and HT process development in-situ, at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods using batch reactors and chemical analyses. Dr. Pecchi’s training is supported by an international collaboration of world-leading universities and experts in the hydrothermal field, leveraging their cutting-edge experience and equipment. This collaboration aims to facilitate his transition into an independent researcher and expert in thermochemical processes for waste valorisation, which is central to his long-term career goals. If successful, CalSAF will uncover new insights into the mechanisms and kinetics of HTL and HT, addressing key challenges that currently hinder industrial SAF production from wet waste. These challenges include the high costs and time associated with HTL screening campaigns and the lack of data for effective control to prevent clogging in HT reactors. The impact on both waste management and fuel production sectors will generate significant environmental, social, and economic benefits, including reducing emissions, decreasing pollution and health risks, and opening a potentially multi-million-euro market.

Hundreds of million people live in areas that are controlled by criminal organized groups (OCGs), suffer from their violent actions, and receive governance from both state and criminal actors. The recent COVID-19 pandemic required governance such as the enforcement of containment restrictions to combat its spread. Notably, during the pandemic, apart from national governments, OCGs engaged in emergency response activities, e.g. delivered aid to people in need or enforced curfews in their controlled territory. The role of criminal governance, particularly in emergencies, is however still largely unknown. CovidCrimes fills this research gap and studies the role of OCGs in emergency response during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Combining geographical information on the location of OCGs before COVID-19 with performance measures concerning COVID-19 containment policies (excess mortality and COVID-related death rates), CovidCrimes estimates the causal effect of the presence of OCGs on the emergency response performance in a monthly panel of Mexican municipalities using a fixed effects model in combination with several instrumental variable approaches that account for differences in COVID-19 exposure and endogeneity concerns related to the location of OCGs. By gathering novel digital information on criminal and state governance activities at the local level and analyzing their interrelation and effectiveness, CovidCrimes will shed light on the mechanisms how OCGs influence emergency response. Additionally, CovidCrimes will assess the societal consequences of criminal governance by quantifying to what extent OCGs gained power and local support with their emergency response activities. Understanding whether and how OCGs act in emergencies and influence emergency response and its consequences is crucial for the design of effective policies to manage crises and for the stability of political institutions, a core element of a functioning society that is in any case challenged

WOentrecompMEN aims to further innovative tools and methods to analyse and develop the competencies of entrepreneurs to foster the entrepreneurial potential of both males and females as a source (often under-exploited in the latter case) of economic growth for a society that promotes gender equality in education and entrepreneurship, which align with the objectives and initiatives of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The project will explore the validity of the Entrepreneurship Competence (EntreComp) Framework, which was developed in 2016 by the European Union to foster the development of entrepreneurial competence, by comparing it with American frameworks and studying the competencies of 30 American and 30 Italian entrepreneurs, of which 50% will be male and 50% will be female, through competency analysis tools, such as behavioural event interviews. WOentrecompMEN will allow the ER to add value to knowledge of this area of study in Europe, particularly at the Free University of Bolzano (Italy), by transferring, adapting and innovating knowledge on American entrepreneurial frameworks, new methodologies and tools based on competencies, the best training practices of entrepreneurship based on the competencies of a country that stands as a role model in the field of entrepreneurship education and developing a network of the best scholars of entrepreneurship in the world from the Ohio University, Babson College of Massachusetts, the University of Florida and the Tampa University of Florida.

This Des4SusMan project aims to develop a 2-y joint MSc on Digital and Sustainable Manufacturing for training students in the fields of mechanical, manufacturing and management engineering, also providing them with intercultural competencies, making them able to address major challenges that EU is currently facing. These encompass especially the megatrends of digitalisation in manufacturing companies as well as the social/ethical and climate/environmental sustainability challenges that are central in current and future EU policies. Indeed, recent research and industry practice have highlighted that these trends constantly yield novel applications in the mechanical and manufacturing engineering domain. They simultaneously require careful management of resources, perceptions, and co-operations to enable a successful large-scale implementation to ultimately realize the benefits of smart and sustainable factories of the future.The consortium consists of 4 HEIs which already collaborated in previous initiatives/projects. Industry partners are involved to also enable a practice-oriented study. Starting from the current course offering, expertise and knowledge of the partnership are utilized to develop the new range of digital and sustainable manufacturing experts in Europe. Moreover, by involving partners located in western, central and eastern EU, we aim to contribute to keep the EU region competitive in the digital ages. The project covers all the required activities for building and setting up a specialized and complementary integrated MSc offer by means of high-quality and up-to-date teaching. A 2-y program including a research and a practice track is planned. These tracks are envisioned to combine high-quality and in-depth education with internship/thesis opportunities on cutting-edge research and industry projects. Both the topic and the 2-track structure are novel to the EHEA and will support EU's way into a smart and sustainable future-oriented teaching offer.

<< Objectives >>We support the implementation of the EU's 2021 Digital Education Act and develop a secure, user-friendly, and high-quality learning environment through the creation of an online investment management game (IMAG) that can - through a combination of different modules - support digital and inclusive education on all levels (SCHOOL/HIGHER/ADULT EDUCATION) and fight financial illiteracy. To further the fight against climate change we set a specific focus on sustainable and impactful investment goals.<< Implementation >>We plan activities around four working packages (+ PM): (i) Game design, which includes activities pertaining to Market, Business, and Client Design(ii) Software development: Design of User Interfaces and the relevant server and software infrastructure(iii) Development of educational resources (manuals, training videos and mini-lecture series for sustainable investment theory)(iv) Dissemination including launch event, multi-country promotional tour, and international championship<< Results >>We plan to develop a fully functional, modularised online investment management game (IMAG), where members of different groups (SCHOOL/HIGHER/ADULT EDUCATION, PROFESSIONALS) play in small groups (inclusion and cooperation) against each other (competition attracts participation) to fulfill the sustainable investment needs of their clients. On top, we will develop educational resources around investment theory and sustainable/impact investing and develop a sophisticated dissemination strategy.