For the EU deep-tech startup scene to grow sustainably and achieve its potential impact, access to real market problems and test beds is required. Driven by real market needs, or as STARTUP3 defines it, Key Performance Areas, the project builds and facilitates an open and collaborative ecosystem for high impact deep-tech innovators and corporates and acts as a cross-border/sectoral market-maker. The project aims to generate, take up, ensure market penetration and further capitalize on the growth and impact potential of profound research by providing access to dynamic and 3-phase across the board growth support framework UPTAKE-UPGRADE-UPSCALE. The catalysation is aimed at creating synergies across the Europe, networking, raising understanding of the benefits of deep-tech technology and stimulating their uptake - Cluster Missions and Clusters-Corporate Assembly. The STARTU3 consortium is a fusion between geographically scattered Clusters (POLE SCS, LITC, ITC) international innovation and Tech-transfer specialists (INO and EKT), SME focused on upscaling research and technology (AGENSO), startup studio (HOLA-UP).

AgriBIT aims to increase the precision, accuracy and continuity of services to deliver improved Precision Agriculture (PA) services to farmers, leading to a reduction in costs through decreased use of inputs (water, energy, fertilisers, pesticides), lower environmental impacts and increased production yields. It positions its innovations both at the level of intervention on the field and the capturing of the effects of PA over time, intelligently exploiting the information acquired before, during and after direct intervention on the field. AgriBIT combines augmented GNSS and EO information with 1) on-field and on-machine sensors and actuators, and 2) expert agricultural knowledge to deliver simple, high precision and continuously available services. It develops and extends advanced Artificial Intelligence algorithms to fully exploit this rich set of inputs to recommend actions to farmers building on past history and present context and to ease their workload through improved automation. AgriBIT delivers operational services (3 GNSS-enabler services, 8 GNSS-enabled services) and 1 European sourced high precision GNSS affordable receiver that cover the complete value chain of PA, from monitoring to application and precise and automated machinery guidance. With 70% of European farmers active in small to medium operations, AgriBIT’s European sourced high precision GNSS receiver at an affordable price is a major technological and societal contribution to Europe’s farming community. AgriBIT delivers collaboration services supporting farmers and service advisors, but also 3rd party developers for whom open interfaces are provided both at service level and as channels for advanced Big Data Analytics innovations. Over 36 months, AgriBIT includes 20 months piloting at 3 locations, 12 months testing of collaboration services and delivers TRL-8 results. AgriBIT involves 5 solution providers (4 SMEs), 1 research centre and 2 farmers cooperatives with 11.250 members.

The risk of mycotoxins is a global issue that represents a serious risk for human and animal health. Οchratoxin A (OTA) is a very toxic mycotoxin that constitutes a severe problem for viticulture and taking into account the extreme climatic events that are frequently faced in recent years, the OTA problem is arising in wine and raisins/currants. OchraVine Control project will offer an inexistent innovative, sustainable and integrated smart ICT solution (OchraVine Control DSS) considering fungal, host and environmental indicators that affect OTA contamination along the vine grape-wine value chain. The OchraVine Control DSS will allow prediction and monitoring at pre- and post-harvest level to control Aspergillus infection and OTA contamination in vine cultivation by combining epidemiological data, biological and chemical management strategies, post-havrest technologies and precision agriculture tools. OchraVine Control DSS solution will pursue a field-to-fork approach and will link and translate the information derived from the OchraRisk and OchraDetect predictive map tools and real data obtained during the monitoring controls by the OchraSensor. OchraVine Control DSS tool will be placed in an open access web platform and in combination with data from the OchraRed Integrated Management Strategy will provide risk prediction information (i.e. geographic OTA vine alerts), practical recommended solutions for OTA management and will verify the compliance with legislation requirements in a rapid and cost-effective way. The project will have a multi-actor international approach involving 3 RTDs and 5 SMEs that will exchange skills and knowledge and will all have a vital role in the design of the solutions, implementation, testing, dissemination, communication and economic exploitation.

The quantity and quality of water resources are serious problems in many European areas, mostly being a joined result of climate change and anthropic influences. The BOOST-IN project aims to develop a successful strategy that promotes technological changes, governance schemes, shifts in mind-set and organizational structures in order to solve these problems through a better management of the water sector and application of the circular economy principles, enabling water reuse and recovery of different materials (e.g. energy, nutrients). However, implementation of these changes still faces several barriers (e.g. technology, economy, knowledge, social perception) that need to be overcome. BOOST-IN will achieve these goals by an effective identification, selection (through a specifically designed dynamic funnel method) and transfer of innovative Water Circular Economy Solutions (WACES) to further close and improve the water cycle. The project will develop and apply its approach in six Regions of Opportunity evenly distributed across Europe (Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy and Bulgaria) by organization of co-creation workshops to increase public awareness and support for WACES implementation, barriers overcoming as well as by the specific risk management plans design. At the EU level the project will create an active network of stakeholders and set detailed action plans, including different training and education activities targeting water professionals. In order to promote and boost a successful market uptake of circular solutions and maximize the impact, the project will provide expertise on suitable business models and develop standardized quality criteria, as well as facilitate the links between solution providers and potential investors. Moreover, BOOST-IN will upgrade and benefit from the existing Water Europe Marketplace platform that will enable the projects clustering, B2B matchmaking and selections of appropriate WACES solutions for specific user needs.

The aim of this network is to set-up a self-sustainable Thematic Network on Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising designed for the effective exchange between researchers, industry, extension services and farming community. This network will link directly applicable research and commercial solutions and grassroots level needs and innovative ideas thoroughly captured, thus contributing to close the research and innovation divide in this area. The proposed network will be organized to cover spraying application needs in the most commonly used crops in Europe: cereals, vegetables, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses organized in seven national innovation hubs linked with international interactive workshops. This Thematic Network will address important and timely issues that are critical to improve crop productivity and reduce environmental impact. These include spraying equipment, technologies and practical methods to estimate and reduce spray drift and environmental contamination; information and procedures on the benefits of following regular inspections of sprayers in use; new spraying equipment and components to increase the efficacy of the application; practical information and advice on the dose expression dilemma especially for orchard and bush crops; calibration and operation procedures using lively videos and developed interactive training and learning material; classification schemes for sprayers and nozzles to enable farmers and pesticide companies to decide on the most suitable to them nozzle/sprayer/technology combination for certain pesticide application; environmental requirements for new sprayers following ISO 16119; and best management practices acquired over the years from several EU projects and research publications.