The goal of the RADIOBLOCKS project is to achieve a maximal boost for the European major world-leading research infrastructures in radio astronomy, which over the years have invested heavily in maintaining existing facilities as well as in substantial upgrade programmes, after identifying common challenges towards their mid- and long-term scientific visions. In this project, the institutes responsible of these facilities join forces, together with partners from industry and academia, in order to develop “common building blocks” for technological solutions beyond state-of-the-art, that will enable a broad range of new science and enhance European scientific competitiveness. They share the need to continuously improve their capabilities in order to enable new science: sensitivity, field of view, bandwidth, angular, time and frequency resolution, commensality and on-sky time, reaction time and RFI mitigation. Engagement with industry to co-develop advanced technologies will increase the partners’ technological levels and strengthen their market positions, creating a true European innovation system. This project carries out carefully targeted development work and addresses common aspects in the complete data chain, categorizing this in four phases: Novel detectors and components, digital receivers, transport and correlator, and data (post)processing. We will design and demonstrate common building blocks based on cutting-edge technologies, that will be enablers and extenders in the areas most critical to the RIs, and can and will be used for upgrades of several RIs. The building blocks will be new instrument components and advanced digital solutions based on newly available (HPC/AI optimized) hardware. This approach will enable a tremendous increase of the science delivery potential of Europe’s major radio astronomical observatories, for science cases that are high on their long-term agendas, aimed at the widest possible science community in Europe and beyond.

Climate change poses an existential crisis for the future of civilisation and is already significantly affecting the brain health of populations worldwide. These impacts include the direct effects of climate change (extreme heat or cold, flooding, pollution) and downstream exposome effects such as increased migration, food insecurity, and the exacerbation of threats to the brain from structural and systemic issues (unplanned urbanisation and systemic inequality). These factors can have immediate consequences for health and well-being while also increasing the risk of dementia later in life. However, significant gaps remain in understanding how these factors intersect and impact brain health across different contexts, the transdisciplinary methodological frameworks needed to assess them, and how to develop new approaches to protect brain health through design, practice, and policy.. CliCBrain will address these gaps through a strategic programme involving 76 staff/researcher exchanges, 6 networking and training events, and intentional collaboration across 23 global, intersectoral, and interdisciplinary partners. We focus on 3 main objectives: (i) to understand how climate change impacts brain health by developing an extended exposome framework (ii) using these insights to identify, design, and drive new approaches to protect brain health at the individual and community levels and (iii) to develop recommendations to inform and drive change at community, service and policy level. This innovative transdisciplinary initiative will yield high scientific returns, new methodologies and practices, and actionable recommendations for policymakers. CliCBrain will engage widely with public and sectoral stakeholders in co-creation and dissemination activities. This project will create the structure, network, and human capital to sustain a community of practice in climate change and brain health that can inform future policy developments.

The integrase inhibitors dolutegravir (DTG) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for 1st line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) since 2018. Despite its high virologic efficacy, there is growing evidence showing massive weight gain and high incidence of metabolic disorders (obesity, type 2 diabetes) and hypertension under DTG, notably among women from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) women, along with mental health and quality of life issues. The non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor doravirine (DOR) is a potent novel ART, recommended in European and North-American guidelines, but not used so far in Southern countries despite interesting virological, safety and resistance profiles. In this context, the ELDORADO project will generate high-quality data on DTG-based ART toxicity and evaluate DOR as an alternative for 1st-line HIV-1 treatment in order to support national and international policymakers in updating national and international guidelines and practices aimed to improve patient outcomes and reduce disease burden of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide. The project includes i) a randomized clinical trial assessing the non-inferiority of DOR-based ART as compared to DTG-based ART in terms of virologic efficacy, and its superiority in terms of key safety endpoints (obesity, diabetes, hypertension) in 610 PLHIV from diverse ethnic backgrounds across in SSA (Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique), Brazil, Thailand, and France, ii) innovative assessments of organ lesions, iii) assessments of mental health and quality of life, iv) health impact and economics modelling based on the trial results as well as that of other trials (NAMSAL) and cohorts (IeDEA West Africa and Brazil). The project will also prioritize capacity building for junior investigators and community advisory board. The ELDORADO trial will be confounded in non-SSA countries by the ANRS|MIE (trial sponsor) and MSD, and benefits from support from the WHO.

The REMPOWER project embarks on a pioneering journey to harness the untapped potential of space-based solar power (SBSP) through innovative rectenna technology and sub-THz wireless energy transmission. However, SBSP also faces many challenges, such as high launch costs, technical difficulties, and potential safety and security issues. At its core, REMPOWER is driven by four pivotal technical objectives associated with the capture and rectification of a sub-THz high energy beam: 100 GHz Modular, Flexible and Lightweight Rectenna: REMPOWER will develop rectenna technologies capable of capturing energy at 100 GHz. These modular rectenna technologies will provide modularity, flexibility at panel level and will allow the reduction of the weight of the final solution. High Efficiency and high power rectification: REMPOWER’s advanced diode and rectifier modeling and design will allow tackling high rectification efficiency, and high power handling capability, despite the sub-THz constraint. This will yield high output DC power while limiting the cost related to the number of required non-linear devices. Nonlinear Rectifier and Rectenna Characterization: REMPOWER will introduce a novel approach by subjecting rectifiers to wideband signals, enabling a comprehensive analysis of amplitudes and phases across multiple intermodulation frequencies. This breakthrough will unveils intricate nonlinear behaviors for heightened efficiency. Scalable Rectenna Arrays for Large Surfaces: REMPOWER will focus on scalability to enable high-power transmission, to reduce design and manufacturing costs and to improve modularity and flexibility. The progress within REMPOWER transcends current technological boundaries, offering promise for sustainable in-space mobility solutions and renewable energy generation. By conquering the challenges of high-frequency energy capture, REMPOWER will reshape the future of space exploration, energy generation, and sustainability.

X-TREME 6G proposal relies on a unique industry led consortium to provide a foundational open microelectronics platform in Europe with the objective to create and design key disruptive next generation chiplets and chipsets for 6G use cases. The idea is to break-up the full potential of best-in-class Silicon BiCMOS, InP and heterogeneous 3D integration for high capacity radio access technologies such as wireless back-hauling at sub-TeraHertz frequencies, Joint Communication And Sensing, Non Terrestrial Networks and Network as a Sensor. New classes of chipsets will unleash the full potential of 6G and enable the emergence of new applications through specific developments for the underpinning novel microelectronic technologies. X-TREME 6G valorizes also resource efficient 6G algorithms and an ML/AI software toolbox for computationally efficient silicon-ready baseband extensions. Part of the SNS “Microelectronic Lighthouse” visionary initiative, the proposal’s ambition is to establish and maintain a sustainable open platform for the duration of the SNS program and beyond, to support 6G verticals. By nurturing the links with the emerging Chips JU pilot lines, the platform acts as a first fabric to accelerate joint initiatives between SNS and Chips JUs. In a nutshell, X-TREME 6G will provide tangible contributions towards an experimentation EU framework for 6G, demonstrating the full benefit of the newly developed chipsets and chiplets for a set of emerging 6G high potential use cases (wireless back-hauling, JCAS, NTN, NaS); while being open to dynamically support the emerging 6G ecosystem (SMEs, Industries, Service Providers, Government etc.) and evaluate additional 6G challenges and expectations. By strengthening and extending the 6G functionality and microelectronics supply chain, X-TREME 6G contributes towards a network-centric democratized and open 6G ecosystem able to release the current hyperscaler’s market embrace, while empowers European Industry at large.