This ESPResSo-project aims to bring the novel emerging hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite-based solar cell (PSC) technology to its next maturity level. In recent years (see Figure 1), this solution-processable solar technology has reached cell efficiency values rivalling those of established thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology (CIGS, CdTe), even approaching crystalline Si (c-Si) records. The challenge is now to transfer this unprecedented progress from its cell level into a scalable, stable, low-cost technology on module level. The consortium brought together here has alternative materials, insights in novel cell concepts and architectures, and the processing know-how and equipment at hand to overcome these barriers and realize following global objective: Demonstrate a highly efficient (>17%) perovskite-based 35x35cm² module architecture that shows long-term (>20 years) reliable performance as deduced from IEC-compliant test conditions. This module is to be produced with industry-relevant low CAPEX manufacturing techniques validating a potential electricity cost as low as 0.05€/kWh in Southern Europe. Installing an actual building-integrated facade element will validate the potential contribution of this technology to the future European energy supply system. Additionally, prototyping advanced, arbitrary-shaped module architectures with specific materials and process combinations will emphasize that new highly innovative applications like on flexible substrates or with high semi-transparency are well accessible on mid- to longer-term with this very promising thin-film PV technology.

SAMCAPS is a high-quality research program that aims to train young professionals in the field of colloid and polymer science through the collaboration between top-level European academic and industrial entities. The goal of the project is to address the current need for bio-degradable materials and efficient consumer goods usage, by exploiting new eco-friendly materials and methods of encapsulation that will be applied in home- and beauty care consumer products where the targeted delivery of beneficial actives is required. In this way, SAMCAPS tackles the challenge of the chemical industry, as a response to international undertakings such as the Paris Climate Act and the Europe 2020 policies for smart, for sustainable and effective chemical use driving the growth of the industry. This program will contribute to a resource-efficient Europe, by the development of highly qualified scientists, experts in the needs chemical industry of tomorrow, by design of highly effective and functionalized materials through green methods, and efficient use of materials by encapsulation and targeted delivery of benefit agents in a broad variety of consumer good products. The ground-breaking and environmentally sustainable technologies developed through the exchange of knowledge between industry and academia will thereby translate into economic and societal value.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural cell-derived nanoparticles containing bioactive proteins and RNAs, which are newly recognized as the universal agents of intercellular and inter-organismal communication, in both normal and pathological processes. EVs are reshaping our perspective on life sciences, environment and public health. They are under intensive investigation as early disease multi-biomarkers, while EV-based personalized therapeutic agents and vaccines have produced enticing results in early-phase clinical trials. However, EV exploitation is not supported by current manufacturing methods, which are inadequate in terms of purity and reproducibility or yield, time and cost. evFOUNDRY targets a breakthrough technology able to streamline production of therapeutic EVs from sustainable sources, drawing the baseline for future EV bioprocessing, which is necessary for effective EV medical translation (large clinical trials and regulatory initiatives) and provides access to new EV applications (nanotechnology, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, veterinary). To meet the challenge, evFOUNDRY will unravel how EVs and EV fluids interact with surfaces and leverage it to develop the first device for continuous production of high-grade EVs from milk and parasites, which are the most promising scalable sources of EVs with immune modulatory properties. Major objectives include: (i) to determine the compositional, structural and colloidal properties of EVs that control their interaction with surfaces; (ii) to engineer nanostructured surfaces integrated in microfluidic devices for separation of EV populations that are homogeneous in size and/or membrane properties from bovine milk and Ascaris incubation media; (iii) to design an integrated modular-system for the reproducible separation of these EVs under continuous flow; (iv) to implement a lab-scale prototype for the continuous production of quality-compliant immune modulatory EVs.

Currently there is a lack of methodologies for the conservation of modern and contemporary artworks, many of which will not be accessible in very short time due to extremely fast degradation processes. The challenge of NANORESTART (NANOmaterials for the REStoration of works of ART) will be to address this issue within a new framework with respect to the state of the art of conservation science. NANORESTART is devoted to the development of nanomaterials to ensure long term protection and security of modern/contemporary cultural heritage, taking into account environmental and human risks, feasibility and materials costs. The market for conservation of this heritage is estimated at some €5 billion per year, and could increase by a significant factor in the next years due to the wider use of nanomaterials. The new tools and materials developed will represent a breakthrough in cultural heritage and conservation science and will focus on: (i) tools for controlled cleaning, such as highly-retentive gels for the confinement of enzymes and nanostructured fluids based on green surfactants; (ii) the strengthening and protection of surfaces by using nanocontainers, nanoparticles and supramolecular systems/assemblies; (iii) nanostructured substrates and sensors for enhanced molecules detection; (iv) evaluation of the environmental impact and the development of security measures for long lasting conservation of cultural heritage. Within the project the industrial scalability of the developed materials will be demonstrated. NANORESTART gathers centres of excellence in the field of synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials, world leading chemical Industries and SMEs operating in R&D, and International and European centres for conservation, education and museums. Such centres will assess the new materials on modern/contemporary artefacts in urgent need of conservation, and disseminate the knowledge and the new nanomaterials among conservators on a worldwide perspective.