PROTEUS mission is to investigate and develop ready-to-use scalable online machine learning algorithms and interactive visualization techniques for real-time predictive analytics to deal with extremely large data sets and data streams. The developed algorithms and techniques will form a library to be integrated into an enhanced version of Apache Flink, the EU Big Data platform. PROTEUS will contribute to the EU Big Data area by addressing fundamental challenges related to the scalability and responsiveness of analytics capabilities. The requirements are defined by a steelmaking industrial use case. The techniques developed in PROTEUS are however, general, flexible and portable to all data stream-based domains. In particular, the project will go beyond the current state-of-art technology by making the following specific original contributions: i) Real-time scalable machine learning for massive, high-velocity and complex data streams analytics; ii) Real-time hybrid computation, batch data and data streams; iii) Real-time interactive visual analytics for Big Data; iv) Enhancement of Apache Flink, the EU Big Data platform; and v) Real-world industrial validation of the technology developed The PROTEUS impact is manifold: i) strategic, by reducing the gap and dependency from the US technology, empowering the EU Big Data industry through the enrichment of the EU platform Apache Flink; ii) economic, by fostering the development of new skills and new job positions and opportunities towards economic growth; iii) industrial, by considering real-world requirements from industry and by validating the outcome on an operational setting, and iv) scientific, by developing original hybrid and streaming analytic architectures that enable scalable online machine learning strategies and advanced interactive visualisation techniques that are applicable for general data streams in other domains.

The ECO-SLAG-CEM project aims to develop high-performance, low-carbon cements using modified Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag. The project addresses the significant CO2 emissions from the cement and steel industries, which together account for approximately 14% of global CO2 emissions. The primary objective is to enhance the reactivity of EAF slag through high-temperature treatments and bio-based activation systems, enabling the formulation of high-performance, low-carbon binders to replace the declining availability of granulated blast furnace slag (GBS).To achieve this, the project follows a twofold approach: high-temperature treatments to increase the intrinsic reactivity of EAF slags and the development of tailor-made activation systems, including the use of bio-based chelatants to pre-treat slags and accelerate hydration. A further focus of the project is the presence and mobility of Fe and heavy metals to ensure durability and compliance with environmental standards. The relevance to the work program lies in its alignment with the Horizon Europe Pathfinder Challenge "Towards cement and concrete as a carbon sink." The project aims to develop low-carbon binder technologies, optimize clinker reduction, and provide valuable data on the structure and behavior of Fe-bearing slags. By valorizing EAF slag, the project supports the decarbonization of the cement industry and adds value to the steel production process, making it easier to adopt globally and boosting the competitiveness of European steel production. The project involves collaboration between various partners, including universities, research institutes, and industry players, ensuring a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach. The expected outcomes include the development of treatment strategies for EAF slags, the introduction of bio-based accelerators, and the formulation of high-performance hydraulic binders, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of the EU cement & steel industries.

In the coming years, innovative DR shafts and EAFs will be installed in several steelmaking sites across Europe to follow the strategic decarbonization guidelines. The progression of these production processes will imply changes in the composition and management of generated by-products, especially for those containing Zn. Likewise, the large rate of fossil fuels/reductants needed in the current valorisation processes of these wastes make them very intensive in terms of CO2 emissions, requiring the metallurgical industry to move to H2 applications in its targeted pathway towards zero wastes goal. To tackle with these complex challenges and to solve the recycling of key steelmaking by-products like EAF dust, BOF dust and sludges, DR sludge and pellet fines and mill scales (among others), ZHYRON will develop an innovative valorisation route for Fe-rich and Zn-containing by-products based on the combination of pyrometallurgical (using green H2 as reductant) and hydrometallurgical stages The iron oxides units would be recovered as Direct Reduced Iron able to be consumed in EAF and the zinc would be recovered as zinc oxide concentrate to be used in zinc smelting sector, contributing thus to circular economy and industrial symbiosis approaches. The proposed technologies will be developed and endorsed at lab pilot scale (TRL6), and the obtained circular products will be validated by testing and characterization analysis. ZHYRON will also examine solutions regarding technical integration, economic and environmental criteria, contributing to the development of novel business models, guidelines and strategies. ZHYRON has been structured in 6 WP, combining R&D activities, project management and dissemination activities, and gathering a competitive consortium of 9 partners from 6 EU countries. If the solutions are successful, the benefits will include avoiding landfill of dangerous wastes, reduction in the CO2 emissions and the implementation of a new circular economy loop.

INSPIREWATER demonstrates a holistic approach for water management in the process industry using innovative technology solutions from European companies to increase water and resource efficiency in the process industry. This will put Europe as a leader on the world market for segments in industrial water treatment which will create new high skilled jobs in Europe. With extended collaboration between technology providers including innovative SME’s, world-wide active companies in the chemical and steel industries and research organizations, this project also contributes to the aims of the SPIRE SRA, the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on 'Water' and to the aims of the Commission’s Roadmap on Resource efficiency, supporting effective implementation of European directives and policies in the water management area. INSPIREWATER addresses non-technical barriers as well as technical, as innovation needs both components and demonstrates them in the steel and chemical industry. A flexible system for water management in industries that can be integrated to existing systems is worked out and demonstrated to facilitate implementation of technical innovations. Technical innovations in the area of selected membrane technologies, strong field magnetic particle separator, and a catalyst to prevent biofouling are demonstrated, including valorisation of waste heat. This will increase process water efficiency as well as resource, water and energy savings in the process industry. The development and demonstration work is combined with a strong emphasis on exploitation and dissemination. Specific exploitation strategies are developed for the different solutions in INSPIREWATER. Dissemination targets different target groups: Stakeholders in different process industry also beyond the involved ones, e.g. Pulp and paper, but also policy makers based on the findings of the project.

Thermoelectric materials have been studied for several decades now. Improved TE materials are emerging with the so-called second-generation thermoelectric (GEN2 TE) materials: silicides and half-Heusler. These materials are low-cost, based on most earth-abundant elements and eco-friendly materials, and can impact positively European industry and society by converting wasted heat into electricity. As GEN2 TE materials are attracting a growing interest, pilot lines resulting from partnerships between public research institutes, industrial research teams and SME are emerging in Europe. The aim of the INTEGRAL project is to upscale the GEN2 TE material technology using existing pilot lines and growing SMEs, in order to address mass markets TE needs (automotive, heavy duty trucks, autonomous sensors and industry waste heat recovery). The INTEGRAL project is unique since it gathers in a complete value chain the major companies (including SMEs and startups) developing GEN2 TE advanced materials in Europe and cutting-edge research centers. INTEGRAL will allow the industry to step up towards advanced manufacturing and commercialization of systems integrating multifunctional TE materials (on a nano-based approach), through material customization, next techniques for characterization and process control and up-scaled pilot-line demonstrations of reliability, reproducibility and mastered material consumption. Furthermore, the large-scale processes which will be developed for producing nanostructured materials within the INTEGRAL project will explore a wider range of applications outside thermoelectrics, in particular where customization of electrical or thermal properties of sintered or casted materials are needed. Finally, a technology transfer will be performed from research activities to pilot-lines, towards the commercialization of the new generation of advanced materials with a circular economy vision.