POCITYF supports the Lighthouse cities of Evora (PT) and Alkmaar (NL) and their Fellow cities Granada (ES), Bari (ΙΤ), Celje (SI), Ujpest (HU), Ioannina (GR) and Hvidovre (DK) to address their urgent need to deliver positive energy blocks and districts in their cities, towards rendering their mixed urban environment (also including the case of cultural protected buildings) into cheaper, better accessible, healthier and more reliable. By demonstrating in overall 10 integrated solutions (ISs), comprising 73 individual innovative elements (technologies, tools, methods), rooted under existing City Information Platforms (CIPs), POCITYF quantifies their value, and connects interests of many different stakeholders in innovative business models, allowing for upscale and replication of those solutions in a form of a validated roadmap for sustainable cities across Europe and world-wide. To achieve this, POCITYF works along 4 Energy Transition Tracks (ETTs), encompassing the ISs according to the role each one serves for. ETT#1 focuses on the examination and application of ISs transforming existing and new building stock into Energy Positive, while ETT#2 focuses on the application of a) grid flexibility strategies and b) storage systems, supported by DSM platforms for optimizing energy flows to maximize self-consumption and reduce grid stress. ETT#3 with its merit of innovation offers the integration of e-Mobility to as well promote the decarbonisation of the mobility sector. The 3 ETTs under the coordination of ETT#4, which links existing CIPs with innovative apps and other instruments, offers inclusive and holistic services for interdisciplinary citizen engagement and co-creation of them with the city stakeholders and industry, towards the development of each city’s own bold city-vision up to 2050. Through POCITYF the two LHs will achieve a local RES penetration of 16.2 GWh/y, energy savings of 2.32 GWh/y and an emission reduction of 9,743 tons CO2eq/y within their districts.

ELVITEN will holistically tackle all issues impeding the wide market deployment of EL-Vs, by proposing replicable usage schemes to boost ownership or sharing of all categories of EL-Vs by systematic and occasional urban travellers and by light delivery companies. Existing charge points in the ELVITEN Demonstration Cities, including private ones, will be integrated in a Brokering and Booking service and EL-V charging possibilities will be integrated in the biggest eRoaming platform in the market, to enable EL-V users to charge independently from charge point operators. Sharing services will be set up and supporting policies and incentives will be put in place. ICT tools will be deployed, including a Brokering and a Booking service for EL-Vs and charge points, an EL-V fleet monitoring tool and Eco-Drive app, a Serious Game and an Incentive Management Smart Card. One-year long demonstrations with 383 equipped EL-Vs of all categories in Genoa, Rome, Bari, Malaga, Berlin and Trikala, will allow the collection of a big data bank of trip data and users' experiences and opinions after the trips. The analysis will shed light on the real driving and charging patterns of EL-Vs, on reported problems encountered and on the users’ opinions and perceptions. A Cost Benefit Analysis will evaluate the potential market uptake of EL-Vs. Sustainable business models will be proposed for sharing, rental, parking or charge services for EL-Vs and for the deployed ICT tools. Guidelines to EL-V manufacturers and to Planning Authorities will be prepared and agreements will be signed with another 50 Follower Cities so that they transfer in their own regions the ELVITEN usage schemes.

IN2CCAM consortium, according to the vision of Horizon Europe framework programme from 2021-2027 that aims to accelerate the implementation of innovative CCAM technologies and systems for passengers and goods, intends develop, implement and demonstrate innovative services for connected and automated vehicles, infrastructures and users. The goal is providing benefits to all citizens by implementing a full integration of CCAM services in the transport system. The main expected positive impacts for society are: i) safety (i.e., reducing the number of road accidents caused by human error; ii) environment (i.e., reducing transport emissions and congestion by smoothening traffic flow and avoiding unnecessary trips); iii) inclusiveness (i.e., ensuring inclusive mobility and good access for all). To this aim the approach is based on the implementation and integration of enhanced Physical, Digital and Operational Infrastructures to enrich CCAM services and increase safety and traffic efficiency. A set of physical, digital and operational solutions will be proposed and implemented in 4 Lead Living Labs (LLs): Tampere (Finland), Trikala (Greece), Turin (Italy) and Vigo (Spain). Moreover, two Follower LLs will collaborate in the design phase by providing ideas and data assessed by simulation test and validation: Bari (Italy) and Quadrilatero (Portugal).

"<< Background >>The COVID 19 crisis has had a major impact on the labour market . While the number of jobseekers has increased considerably, the results from the joint international survey “Career Guidance policy and practice in pandemic” (Cedefop; European Commission; ETF; ICCDPP; ILO; OECD; UNESCO, 2020) highlighted that “the pandemic has provoked social and economic uncertainty for people of all ages, leading to increases in career guidance service demand, especially for careers and labour market information, individualised career counselling, and psychosocial support”. Therefore, the role of lifelong guidance in Europe today is now more important than ever. According to a note from CEDEFOP, “Guidance can support employment transitions with predicted shifts in the labour market and with extreme increases in unemployment, upskilling and reskilling needs. During this time, guidance is also well positioned to support individual wellbeing, providing emotional support, counselling and case management for individuals with multiple needs” (Cedefop (2020). Note on lifelong guidance and the COVID-19 pandemic: Responses from Cedefop’s CareersNet). The ability to reach these challenges not only depends on the counsellors and the counselling services; but also in a large part on front desk services and its professionals. Reception must ensure that the user feels welcomed and supported at a time when COVID is having a strong psychological impact on individuals. Furthermore, the front-desk reception is the central point that connects all the services and resources of the Lifelong Guidance Centres. It is from the desk reception that the first contact is made with the user. The reception officer identifies the user's needs and directs users towards the services most suited to their needs. The importance of front-desk reception has been confirmed by a survey conducted by the Cités des métiers International Network among 38 European professionals. The survey showed that for 68% of the professionals questioned, the desk-reception area is as important as the other services in lifelong guidance centres (it is even more important for 21% of respondents). It also highlighted that among the different services offered by lifelong guidance centres, the access of the users to the services most adapted to their needs and situation depends above all on quality information and referral by the reception officer (57 % of respondents strongly agree and 39% agree with this idea). In conclusion, 81% of respondents think that the quality of the reception, the initial information provided and the referral of the users by the reception officer to the services and resources of the organisation can have a significant impact on the construction of the project and the professional life of the users. However, lifelong guidance professionals including desk-reception officers are now experiencing profound changes in their practices. If the pandemic has accelerated remote counselling and guidance, it has also led professionals to adapt their overall practices and strengthen the quality of their services in order to respond with more quality and adequacy to the numerous new needs of users. In view of these challenges, several recent studies and reports have highlighted the strong need to develop professionalisation actions for lifelong guidance professionals and strengthen the quality of the services such as : - the European Commission report ""Lifelong Guidance Policy and practice in the EU: trends, challenges and opportunities"" (2020) and CEDEFOP report ""Note on lifelong guidance - Cedefop (2020). Note on lifelong guidance and the COVID-19 pandemic: Responses from Cedefop’s CareersNet.In conclusion, while few studies and projects have been carried out on the subject, it seems necessary to tackle the need for professionalisation of reception officers and improve the quality of desk reception information services in lifelong guidance.<< Objectives >>Main purposes of the project are to :- Strengthen the quality of front desk reception services in Lifelong guidance centres- Upskill the function of reception officer in Lifelong guidance centresMore specifically the project will aim to ease the development by lifelong guidance centres of new reception practices adapted to the needs of the public. The project will also aim to train lifelong guidance professionals in delivering reception and information services in a covid and post covid world. The goal of the project will be also to increase knowledge and awareness among european stakeholders regarding the major role of the reception officer in lifelong guidance centres.<< Implementation >>The partners of the project will organise five local consultations with users of lifelong guidance centres in order to better understand their needs regarding the desk reception area and their uses within the desk reception area. A report of the five consultations will be written in order to highlight the key elements emerging from the consultation.It is expected that the local consultations gather a total of 50 users.In the same time, the partners will set a European community of desk-reception professionals in order to share practices, issues and problems related to reception in lifelong guidance but also to ensure the good transferability of project results of the project. A total of twelve innovative desk reception practices in Lifelong Guidance will be promoted via 360° video tools. It will allow the front-desk reception officer to discover new innovative practices and draw inspiration from innovative practices. A total of local 10 workshops (two workshops in each country of the consortium) with Lifelong guidance desk-reception professionals and an additional european workshop will be organized by the partners of the project. The aim of these workshops is to find innovative methodology for better sharing with reception officers up-to-date information and resources provided by the organisation but also provided by the other stakeholders in the territory. It will lead to the creation of a Methodological guide for better information sharing with the reception officers in lifelong guidance. The partners will also design a Guidebook of every day front-desk practices in Lifelong Guidance. All the deliverables developed as part of the activities described before will be integrated into the Portfolio of 21st reception practices in Lifelong Guidance (Project Results 1). This portfolio will be available on the project website. In parallel, the partners will develop a “Skills Repository and Non-formal Validation Framework” ‘Project Result 2). As part of it the partners will identify the key competences and skills of the desk-reception officer in lifelong Guidance in order to define later in the project a Repository of skills and European job profile for professionals in front-desk reception. At the same time, the partners will create a skills validation framework of the desk reception officers in lifelong guidance and also a self assessment toolkit. Lastly, the partners will develop the “Training programme materials and design” (Project Results 3). The partners will design a program and learning materials for desk-reception officer training. At the same time the partners will design the curriculum and materials for a training of trainers in order to train them to the facilitation of the desk-reception officer training. Two training of trainers will be organized during the project. It is expected that 28 professionals will participate in the training. The future trainers will be asked to test the facilitation of the front-desk officer training during the project. Therefore, desk-reception officer training will be tested by future trainers in each country of the consortium during the project. This 3 days course for desk-reception officers will be composed of onsite and online modules. It will gather 25 desk-officer participants in each country of the consortium. Lastly, the partners of the project will develop an online training course composed of immersive virtual reality modules. A guide for mentorat will be also designed in order to ease the future trainers in supporting the desk-reception trainee. The partners will organised two on site dissemination event: one at mid term and one at the end of the project. In addition 3 online events in live stream format will be organised. At the same time a project website will be created.<< Results >>The activities implemented as part of the Project Results ""Portfolio of 21st reception practices in Lifelong Guidance"" should produce a greater interest of European Lifelong guidance professionals in desk reception practices. It should allow european stakeholders to acquire abetter knowledge of new desk reception practices implemented in lifelong guidance. At the same time, the project is expected to increase new methods, tools and resources for desk-reception officers in lifelong guidance in Europe. Lastly, the Project Results will increase the number of new innovative practices tested within the lifelong guidance desk reception in Europe. Therefore, it will allow to strengthen desk-reception services in lifelong guidance in order to better meet the new needs of users.The activities implemented as part of the Project Results ""Skills Repository and Non-formal Validation Framework"" should enable european stakeholders to acquire a better up-to-date knowledge of the skills needed to perform the function of desk reception officer today in lifelong guidance. But it is expected also that European stakeholders will acquire better up-to-date knowledge of the job profile and the missions of the reception officer in lifelong guidance. Lastly it should lead to a better recognition of the role and the professional skills of desk reception officers in lifelong guidance. The activities implemented as part of the Project Results ""Training programme materials and design"" should increase in the number of existing learning materials in Europe to train front desk officers in lifelong guidance. Lastly this Project Results will allow european desk reception officers in lifelong guidance to develop and strengthen their skills in order to better adapt to new needs of users and to the changes in practices."