The SYSCID consortium aims to develop a systems medicine approach for disease prediction in CID. We will focus on three major CID indications with distinct characteristics, yet a large overlap of their molecular risk map: inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematodes and rheumatoid arthritis. We have joined 15 partners from major cohorts and initiatives in Europe (e.g.IHEC, ICGC, TwinsUK and Meta-HIT) to investigate human data sets on three major levels of resolution: whole blood signatures, signatures from purified immune cell types (with a focus on CD14 and CD4/CD8) and selected single cell level analyses. Principle data layers will comprise SNP variome, methylome, transcriptome and gut microbiome. SYSCID employs a dedicated data management infrastructure, strong algorithmic development groups (including an SME for exploitation of innovative software tools for data deconvolution) and will validate results in independent retrospective and prospective clinical cohorts. Using this setup we will focus on three fundamental aims : (i) the identification of shared and unique "core disease signatures” which are associated with the disease state and independent of temporal variation, (ii) the generation of "predictive models of disease outcome"- builds on previous work that pathways/biomarkers for disease outcome are distinct from initial disease risk and may be shared across diseases to guide therapy decisions on an individual patient basis, (iii) "reprogramming disease"- will identify and target temporally stable epigenetic alterations in macrophages and lymphocytes in epigenome editing approaches as biological validation and potential novel therapeutic tool . Thus, SYSCID will foster the development of solid biomarkers and models as stratification in future long-term systems medicine clinical trials but also investigate new causative therapies by editing the epigenome code in specific immune cells, e.g. to alleviate macrophage polarization defects.

Mercury has been extensively characterized by the NASA MESSENGER spacecraft that was orbiting the planet from 2011 to 2015. The surface of Mercury is covered by lavas and magmatic processes have structured the planet into an extremely large core, a thin mantle and a relatively thick crust, which is highly reduced, iron-depleted, and rich in volatiles. Some volatiles (sulfur and carbon) have been measured at the surface in relatively high abundances compared to other terrestrial planets butthe speciation, role and their fate under highly reducing conditions are still unclear. In this research program, the understanding of the evolution of volatiles in magma on Mercury will be advanced by combining MESSENGER data and laboratory experiments. Relevant data will be obtained from high-temperature and low- to high-pressure experiments using furnaces, presses and multi-anvil apparatus. We will investigate experimentally compositions corresponding to the possible primitive mantle composition, and to surface compositions provided by X-Ray Spectroscopy data from MESSENGER. These recent data provide a unique opportunity to perform innovative experiments under the extremely reducing conditions characteristic for Mercury on sulfides liquid immiscibility, mantle partial melting, and speciation and solubility of volatiles in magmas. Our objectives are to provide new and firm constraints on (1) the P-T position of the solidus of the mantle of Mercury; (2) the speciation, role and fate of carbon and sulfur volatiles in magmas on Mercury and (3) the partitioning of trace elements between sulphide melts (FeS and (Ca,Mg,Fe)S) and silicate melt in the Mercurian mantle.

The CHemPGM project is a joint initiative of 7 expert organizations from the fields of chemistry, engineering, mining, metallurgy and materials science, designed to conduct fundamental research regarding the chemistry of platinum group metals (PGMs) and utilize the obtained knowledge to improve and secure the PGMs value chain. Specifically, the project aims i) to establish fundamental knowledge regarding the chemistry of the PGMs, their reactions and complexation with other metals and chemical compounds, and the corresponding reactivities during leaching, separation and recovery processes; ii) to gain a complete understanding of the mechanisms associated with the above-mentioned processes, during the utilization of secondary materials to extract PGMs and incorporate them into new materials and processes such as nanomaterials, catalysis and CO2 capture; iii) to create knowledge, provide expertise and educate the public. This will lead to the upgrading of existing processes and the development of new ones, aligned with sustainable principles, to ensure a circular operation model of the relevant industries. Through the involvement of universities, RTOs and SMEs, CHemPGM is backed by a well-rounded team, with multiyear expertise in the relevant fields, capable to deliver high-quality results regarding the project objectives. The consortium approaches the challenge from a multidiscipline aspect and proposes a balanced number of secondments alongside trainings, workshops, seminars and events that guarantee a cross-sectorial synergy among them. As a result, CHemPGM will broaden the expertise of the organizations, contribute to the advancement of the secondees and enhance the potential for innovation to its stakeholders and those inter-related with it. Overall, the methodology for carrying out the tasks involved, guarantees the smooth running of the project and the successful fulfillment of the objectives to contribute towards a more efficient and sustainable future.

Our common heritage is a central element of our communities and economies, and a principal but vulnerable dimension of our common identity as Europeans. It has been proven that cultural heritage contributes to well-being, social cohesion, identity, local economy, territorial attractiveness, and environmental sustainability, but the climate crisis and natural hazards endanger this heritage. We propose RescueME to take immediate action for demonstrating how an innovative data-driven, community-based, heritage-centric actionable landscape approach to resilience enhancement can protect our cultural heritage and landscapes while supporting the transition toward a green society and economy that sustains resilient, cohesive, nature-connected communities. RescueME proposes a call for action, broadening the scope, triggering action, untapping and mobilizing resources, engaging actors, and facilitating the decision making and the implantation of co-created just resilience solutions to protect our common heritage. RescueME will develop, test and demonstrate the effectiveness of an Actionable Framework based on the Resilient Historical Landscape approach (RHL) complemented by data, models, methods, and tools able to assess risks and opportunities, co-develop inclusive and just resilience strategies and innovative solutions to protect European cultural heritage and cultural landscapes from climate change, disaster risk, as well as other stressors (such as pollution and over-tourism) with special focus on European coastal landscapes since a large share of this endangered heritage there. The five case studies (Psiloritis in Creta, Neuwerk in Hamburg, Portovenere, Cinque Terre & the Islands, València and the city of Zadar) have been selected carefully as complementary representatives of European coastal landscapes. They will act as resilience landscape laboratories (R- labscapes), validate the results and ensure their replicability.

NADiRA aims to incorporate Copernicus, other Earth Observation products and in-situ IoT devices into mAgriTM, an existing value chain orchestration platform connecting, in smallholder contract farming, producers with banks, insurers, input providers and agro-industries to control risks and improve the productivity, security, and welfare of tens of thousands of African farmers. By industrializing EO products , NADiRA reduces mAgriTM’s operating costs, while increasing the timeliness, granularity and reach of its following services: (1) Agricultural investment risk mapping, to reduce finance institutions cash-out and increase availability of input credit to smallholders, (2) More robust, affordable agricultural insurance contracts, to reduce persistent climate risk, (3) Improved smallholder tactical management of crop nutrient deficiencies and post-harvest losses to increase productivity, harvest quality and income. NADiRA demonstrates, on a large market scale, the economic and commercial viability of the combination of EO, IoT and mobile technology and its leverage on the new business model implemented by MANOBI, Swiss Re, credit and insurance institutions and agro-industries to improve smallholder productivity. Four pilots run in parallel in Senegal and Nigeria targets (i) different crop types and production systems (irrigated rice, rainfed peanuts, maize and sorghum) in (ii) 10 crop campaigns (4 irrigated, 3 rainfed) and (iii) various production environments and management practices. This demonstration sustains the development of a business plan with financial objectives and an associated roadmap to capture 30% of the addressable market in Africa. The outreach actions benefits from the communications channels of the NADiRA partners, active in Africa (MANOBI, Swiss Re, ICRISAT, local banks and farmers associations), in Europe (SPACEBEL, University of Liège, Viveris and EUGENIUS association) and Asia (ICRISAT). A Copernicus Relay will be established in West Africa.