SPIDoc’s DN stems from the need to prepare for emerging viruses enabling a fast response, as became evident lately. Basically, better knowledge of the dynamic nature of viral structures is required and fundamental to combat with appropriate treatments. In this perspective, several technologies were developed for structural biology, including a cutting-edge approach combining mass spectrometry (MS) and X-rays for single particle imaging (SPI) in MS SPIDOC. Despite these advances, a major bottleneck that the scientific community will face in coming years will be the lack of expertise with a broad knowledge from theory, instrument development and application relevant to structural biology with MS. SPIDoc’s therefore aims to train the next generation of scientists with such expertise by a dedicated intersectoral training programme. SPIDoc’s projects are highly interlinked and the proposed training programme aims to provide the doctoral candidates with the basic and advanced knowledge to build a common interdisciplinary language, to work in teams and to acquire deep knowledge by a combination of lectures and practical sessions. An important aspect will be given to data management and the establishment of currently lacking standards for native MS metadata. The research training is complemented by transferrable skills courses, setting the basis for progressing through the doctoral studies as well as for future career progression. Within these modules, training on equal opportunities and unconscious bias are included, shaping the future generation towards creating fair workplaces. Special attention will be paid to green-practice measures from the everyday practice in laboratories and offices up to the institutional level. By including developments from computational theory to instrumentation, the SPIDoc’s beneficiaries and associated partners will closely work together to advance cutting-edge technologies and apply them towards fast response.

For the purpose of creating digitalisation and automation solutions Arrowhead Tools adresses engineering methodologies and suitable integrated tool chains. With the global aim of substantial reduction of the engineering costs for digitalisation/automation solutions. Thus the Arrowhead Tools vision is: - Engineering processes and tool chains for cost efficient developments of digitalization, connectivity and automation systems solutions in various fields of application For the further and wider commercialisation of automation and digitalisation services and products based on SOA, Arrowhead Framework and similar technologies there is a clear need for engineerings tools that integrates existing automation and digitalisation engineering procedures and tool with SOA based automation/digitalisation technology. For this purpose the Arrowhead Tool’s grand challenges are defined as: - Engineering costs reduction by 40-60% for a wide range of automation/digitalisation solutions. - Tools chains for digitalisation and automation engineering and management, adapted to: 1. existing automation and digitalisation engineering methodologies and tools 2. new IoT and SoS automation and digitalisation engineering and management tools 3. security management tools - Training material and kits for professional engineers The results will create impact on: - Automation and digitalisation solution market - Automation and engineering efficiency and the SSBS market - Automation and digitalisation security - Competence development on engineering of automation and digitalisation solution

Coronavirus 2019-nCoV has become a worldwide public health emergency, and the lack of vaccines and drugs to immediately address this outbreak is painfully clear. Even if the epidemic can be stopped, the virus may return in the same or a modified form. More than vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, antiviral drugs can target highly conserved viral functions and have the broad-spectrum activity that is critical to combat current and future outbreaks. Since the 2003 SARS outbreak, as leading academic coronavirus researchers, we have collaborated to understand and inhibit coronavirus replication. We defined viral key functions, developed tools for inhibitor screening, and identified/engineered drug candidates. Until 2015, our collaborative efforts were supported by the FP7 SILVER project, but they have been continued until this very day. As European coronavirus experts, we now propose the SCORE project, supported by a leading pharmaceutical company. Virologists, biochemists, structural biologists, and medicinal chemists will collaborate in a state-of-the-art drug discovery/design program that targets 2019-nCoV. Our vast SARS-CoV-derived expertise and unique toolbox will be a major asset to achieve immediate impact. We will target the virus using 5 independent approaches: (i) using of (combinations of) FDA-approved drugs, (ii) targeting viral RNA synthesis, (iii) inhibiting coronavirus proteases, (iv) blocking virus entry, (v) discovery and development of new antivirals. This program will be supplemented with 2019-nCoV toolbox and animal model development. We aim to deliver proof-of-concept for selected compounds within 6-9 months, after which they will be offered for further use/development. This will contribute to short-term solutions for the on-going crisis and also pave the way for mid/long-term success in developing inhibitors that will be active against (evolving) 2019-nCoV strains, other SARS-like coronaviruses, and potentially (beta)coronaviruses at large.