The wastewater sector is going through a profound transformation with energy efficiency and resource recovery as key priorities in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and these installations started to be perceived as Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF). Under this context, the exploitation of data through artificial intelligence tools with the objective of accelerating the transition of WWTP to WRRF has not been fully addressed yet. When compared to treatment technologies, the deployment of AI-powered tools in production is much faster and, therefore, provides immediate benefits. In that sense, three main barriers have been identified in this domain: i) Mechanistic mathematical models involve complex formulations and specific terminology that are difficult to understand for plant operators; ii) WRRF are harsh environments with strong impact on the quality of data; iii) Essential information in WRRFs is limited and not continuously available. In particular, to overcome these challenges, DARROW will build and demonstrate into an operational environment, an innovative, optimised, modular, and flexible data-driven AI solution to make existing WWTP more autonomous, more energy efficient and better prepared for their transformation into WRRF. DARROW will take advantage of existing AI & Data analysis techniques with the final objective of contributing to a greener planet by: i) Reducing energy consumption of WRRF; ii) Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions of WRRF; iii) Increasing Resource Recovery iv) Improving water quality.To do so, DARROW gathers the necessary experience, knowledge and resources through a multi-stakeholder approach that covers the whole value chain of the project. It consists of a multidisciplinary team of 8 entities from 4 different EU countries (Spain, Belgium, Germany and Netherlands), among which, 3 RTOs, 1 university,1 NPO, and 3 SMEs to ensure market exploitation (2 industrial companies and 1 water company).

IVORY - ‘AI for Vision Zero in Road Safety’ is an industrial doctorates network aiming to develop a new framework for optimal integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in road safety research, and train a new generation of leading researchers in the field. It addresses the UN Sustainable Development Goals target 3.6 and the EC Vision Zero strategy, of halving traffic fatalities by 2030 and eliminating them by 2050. IVORY addresses the lack of common understanding of the challenges and opportunities of AI for road safety by means of 4 research goals: it aims to develop (i) responsible, fair and impactful AI for road safety, (ii) new ways of road user support and human-vehicle-environment interaction, (iii) new scalable and equitable AI technologies for proactive infrastructure safety management, (iv) a sustainable knowledge sharing network on AI for road safety. IVORY outputs will not only provide more robust user support through AI in vehicle automation, but will also allow to responsibly and proactively manage the persistent problems of existing conventional, low-automation transport systems, so that new opportunities for global road safety impact can emerge. Moreover, IVORY takes a design-for-values approach for AI in road safety, operationalising the ethical principles of justice and explainability, and providing efficient AI solutions also for disadvantaged groups (e.g. vulnerable road users, low-to-middle-income countries). IVORY consists of 4 academic and 6 non-academic beneficiaries, and 12 associated partners, joining from engineering, data science and ethics of technology disciplines, from 11 countries. 13 young researchers will receive high-level doctoral education, industrial exposure, local training, and 8.5 ECTS of network-wide training on key advanced, core and transferable skills. IVORY will create an on-line learning & networking platform for AI in road safety, to be available after the end of the project for future researchers in this field.

SEED – Sustainable Energy EDucation realizes impact to global climate change prevention with excellent and innovative vocational education on solutions to become a fossil free energy continent. Challenges on transition develop rapidly, with a high demand for digital and green. Solutions are not yet clear, and technologies are constantly evolving. Well-equipped students, professionals and suitable labor capacity are needed for the tasks and challenges. Vocational education, as a driver for innovation and growth and agile in adapting to the labor market, has a heavy responsibility. In addition, the shortage in labor capacity forces us to develop new ways of working and educating. SEEDs partners (14) and associate partners (23) are VET providers EQF level 2-7, representatives from regional skills ecosystems and national agenda-setting stakeholders. With the objectives to prepare learners, students and professionals with skills and competences for the future, to empower regional innovation based on regional needs and to scale up and promote work-based education, they will establish an international learning community and COVES in five regions. Defined are 33 deliverables, benefiting educational staff, learners and stakeholders in workshops, good practices, international conferences and a learning platform that benefits the VET sector and regional stakeholders in Europe. The result is regional growing cooperation on vocational excellence in five regions, a shared implemented vision on regional learning, transnational learning and adapting to the labor market, development and exchange of good practices and tools, innovative approaches for learning with impact and an international community on vocational excellence dedicated to sustainable energy. Educational providers, working professionals, policymakers, from different professions and disciplines, will experience how to find answers while co-creating on the challenges ahead. Therefore, the SEED community is needed.

Safe drinking water is vital for human health. Diffuse pollution of nitrogen and pesticides from agriculture is the main obstacle to meet drinking water quality targets. Policies to protect drinking water resources have not achieved a consistent effectiveness in all member states. The objective of FAIRWAY is to review policy, governance and farm water management approaches to protect drinking water resources in the EU and to identify and further develop innovative measures and governance approaches which will simultaneously increase the sustainability of agriculture. The FAIRWAY partners form a unique blend of researchers, farm advisers and consultancies and is built on 13 case studies (‘living labs’) in 11 different EU countries, which will form the core of a multi-actor platform, underpinning all FAIRWAY work packages. Equally important is the upscaling of successful practices from case studies to the regional, national, and EU scales, emphasising the role of effective communication and extension tools developed in FAIRWAY. The outputs will provide a blueprint for multi-actor engagement across different scales, which will allow agriculture and water policies to be addressed in a more integrated way. FAIRWAY will i) increase the scientific understanding of the relationship between agriculture and drinking water protection, ii) increase the understanding for the social, technical and economic barriers to practical implementing of measures (iii) deliver innovative measures and tools to overcome these barriers, iv) develop protocols and data-sets for monitoring of farming practices and water quality, v) develop effective governance approaches for small to large water supplies, and vi) increase awareness and involvement of farmers and other citizens in the monitoring and governance of water supplies. The FAIRWAY results will be widely disseminated to a range of targeted audiences using state-of-the-art technologies, social media and workshops.

Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs) can help mitigate the conflicts between agricultural water uses (e.g. plant production, animals) and other human and environmental demands for water, including drinking water or maintaining environmental flow. This is crucial, since these conflicts will be probably exacerbated by an increasing number of extreme events such as droughts and heavy rainfall. A more careful management of head watersheds will significantly contribute to a more resilient agriculture and society. Moreover, NSWRMs are contributing simultaneously to the achievement of different Sustainable Development Goals and environmental targets formulated in several water- and agriculture-related European Union policies. Despite a comprehensive set of techniques available to increase water retention on both catchment and farm levels, knowledge is still lacking on the effectiveness of different scale- and region-specific measures across various soil-climatic regions and agricultural systems, especially under changing climate conditions. OPTAIN aims to (i) identify efficient techniques for the retention and reuse of water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across Continental, Pannonian and Boreal biogeographical regions of Europe, taking into account potential synergies with existing drainage-irrigation systems, and - in close cooperation with local actors - (ii) select NSWRMs at farm and catchment level and optimize their spatial allocation and combination, based on environmental and economic sustainability indicators. By building on existing knowledge and addressing these objectives, OPTAIN will improve the Technological Readiness Level of NSWRMs for the benefit of both humans and ecosystems. All gained knowledge will be translated into a learning environment allowing analysis of trade-offs and synergies between multiple values/goals in the management and design of NSWRMs.