The goal of the PhilHumans (Personal Health Interfaces Leveraging Human-MAchine Natural interactionS) project is to train a next generation of young researchers in innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and establish user interaction with their personal health devices in an advanced and intuitive way. PhilHumans will investigate cutting-edge AI methods for human-machine interaction in the personal health domain through a well-designed and structured research training programme, with the aim to enhance EU firms competitiveness in the field for an effective and lasting market penetration in EU. The research in PhilHumans will be performed by an intersectoral and multidisciplinary consortium consisting of 8 ESRs and a team of supervisors from the academic beneficiaries (University of Cagliari, University of Catania, University of Aberdeen, and Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e)), the industrial beneficiaries (PHILIPS and R2M), and other external partners. The project will require the creation of a blend of interdisciplinary understanding of personal digital assistant, cognitive computing, (deep) machine learning, natural language generation & processing, advanced computer vision, and business development. The personal health areas that will be investigated are Mother&Child care, healthy-living and personal care, where the application of the proposed technology has promising potential. All ESRs will enroll in a 3-years PhD research programme at beneficiary academic institutions. They are supposed to act as an integrated and complementary expertize team, whose aim is to tackle the fundamental challenge of combining heterogeneous data sources from multilingual speech/text processing and computer vision for improving conversation, detecting emotions, and improving social interactions. All the academic ESRs for at least 50% of their time will attend their secondment at PHILIPS, which will provide the required infrastructure and supervision by senior research staff.

The ESTELAR project is dedicated to modernizing power grids to accommodate renewable energy sources and enhance energy efficiency, focusing specifically on the virtualization of substations to improve the grid's sustainability and resilience. By redefining the operation and concept of substations—key components within the power grid infrastructure—ESTELAR aims to facilitate the energy transition towards carbon neutrality. ESTELAR is based on three innovative pillars: advanced communication strategies, a robust computational framework, and the transformative Digital Substation of the Future architecture. The first pillar focuses on enhancing substation communication systems to facilitate seamless and real-time integration of physical and virtual components. The second pillar aims to boost the processing and data handling capabilities of substations across both cloud and edge computing platforms for future computational demands. The third pillar is centered on developing a modular and scalable substation architecture that incorporates advanced monitoring, protection, and control through digital twinning. To ensure the efficacy and readiness of these technologies, ESTELAR will conduct rigorous validations in two Virtualization Testing Laboratories located in Spain and The Netherlands. These facilities will allow for realistic, controlled testing environments to refine and perfect the technologies prior to widespread implementation. The project unites nine partners from four EU countries, combining expertise from research centers, technology providers, and distribution system operators to comprehensively approach substation virtualization. ESTELAR facilitates renewable energy integration, bolsters grid resilience, and supports wider electrification. This positions it as a key player in accelerating the EU's transition to a climate-neutral economy.

InterPED aims to enable the concept of PEDs via sector coupling, cross-vector integration, demand flexibility and consumer engagement, while improving utilisation of local RES, storage and excess/waste heat (E/WH) sources. InterPED will couple RES, storage and E/WH sources (community assets) available in the pilots with the necessary know-how and ICT expertise to ensure improved operation of PEDs and grid robustness. This will allow InterPED’s end users (aggregators, service providers, urban planners) to deliver benefits to both, grid stakeholders (DSO/TSOs) and final consumers (and prosumers). To do so, InterPED will deliver a scalable and adaptable cloud-based platform composed of analytical, modelling and optimization services for planning, supervision and control of integrated PEDs (including power, heating and cooling, mobility). Optimized PED operations will be demonstrated at pilot sites, while enabling a cooperative demand response (DR) strategy at community/district level. In addition to automated control actions, InterPED intends to engage the consumers via community building (e.g. CECs or RECs), representing a still largely untapped source of flexibility, while enabling them to play an active role in grid balancing. By making it cloud-based and by ensuring system interoperability (both syntactic and semantic), InterPED will enable aggregators and actors positioned to adopt proposed business model (e.g. ESCOs, energy retailers, DSOs) to deploy the InterPED solution immediately almost anywhere, while reducing the cost to its scalability. The key strategy to ensure solutions will work well in an everyday context of consumers, is that InterPED will involve the consumers (community) and service providers in the design of the solutions through participatory co-design processes. InterPED will verify the technical and commercial feasibility of its integrated package in four large-scale pilots, each representing an existing PED.

Addressing call topic area 3 (DR Technologies), DRIvE links together cutting edge science in Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), forecasting and cyber security with emerging innovative SMEs making first market penetration in EU DR markets. In doing so, near market solutions are strengthened with lower TRL, higher risk functionalities that support a vision of an “internet of energy” and “collaborative energy network.” From the research side, MAS will move closer to real time operations and progress from a limited number of assets toward decentralized management of a larger number of assets providing DR services to prosumers, grid stakeholders and DSOs. The research will deliver a fully-integrated, interoperable and secure DR Management Platform for Aggregators with advanced hybrid forecasting, optimization, fast-response capabilities and enhanced user participation components in a standard-compliant (Open ADR) market-regulated (USEF) manner, empowering a true cost-effective mass-market (100's millions of heterogenous assets). The project features 5 pilots across 3 countries consisting of a stadium, wind farm, 7-floor office, tertiary & residential buildings within medium-large districts, resulting in over 25 MW of potential flexible capacity. Direct engagement of 100 households and 2 tertiary buildings (over 1,000 persons) is attained and replication to over 75,000 persons is possible. The pilots will be running in real DSO environment with real engagement of grid players. Overall, DRIvE will make available average 20% of load in residential and tertiary buildings for use in DR, resulting in up to 30% cost-saving (price-based DR) and also maximizing revenue for prosumers (incentive-based DR). DRIvE will also allow a minimum 25% increase of renewable hosting capacity (distribution grid) and up to 30% of overall reduction of CAPEX and OPEX costs for DSOs. The project is female led and three women serve in management structure positions of responsibility.

ICONIC is a forward-looking project designed to enhance energy independence, climate neutrality, and sustainable development in rural and island communities across Europe. Addressing the distinct socio-economic and environmental challenges of these areas, ICONIC deploys advanced technologies such as renewable energy systems, smart water management (solar-powered desalination, intelligent irrigation), off-grid biogas systems, and sustainable mobility solutions. These innovations are tested through real-world pilot demonstrations in Inis Mór (Ireland), La Graciosa (Spain), and Berchidda (Italy), where the project works closely with local stakeholders to co-design tailored solutions. ICONIC also fosters social innovation, emphasizing community engagement and multi-actor collaboration to ensure long-term sustainability. By promoting energy communities, circular economy practices, and peer-to-peer energy trading, the project strengthens local governance and empowers citizens to lead the transition to climate-neutrality. Digital platforms, including predictive analytics and digital twins, support integrated management of resources like energy, water, and mobility, enabling data-driven decision-making for both local authorities and residents. ICONIC's interdisciplinary approach contributes to various EU strategies, advancing the green and digital transitions in rural areas. By promoting social innovation, offering replicable models, and establishing a robust replication strategy, ICONIC ensures its impact extends beyond the pilot regions, providing a blueprint for rural and isolated communities across Europe and beyond. Through training programs, policy recommendations, and capacity-building workshops, ICONIC not only drives technological innovation but also fosters economic resilience and social equity, creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient future for rural communities.