Partners
Project Partners
The consortium comprises 15 partners, including universities, research institutes, and companies, collectively focusing their efforts on innovation and achieving excellence.
Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Design
The Department of Design stands as the primary hub for scientific research in design in Italy. Its roots lie in Italian design culture, and it is oriented towards exploring new disciplinary frontiers, leveraging design to address contemporary challenges.
Established in 2002, the Department formalised a longstanding trajectory of design development at Politecnico. Notably, its students and professors, such as Andrea Branzi, Achille Castiglioni, Enzo Mari, Vico Magistretti, Gio Ponti, and Ettore Sottsass, have played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of design culture.
Building upon its historical foundation with a polytechnic ethos, the Department has strengthened its research and innovation capabilities, particularly in areas traditionally associated with "Made in Italy". It combines this focus with the exploration of cutting-edge themes, positioning itself within a vast network of relationships that now establish it as a center of international relevance for design research.
The QS World University Rankings place Politecnico di Milano fifth globally, second in Europe, and first in Italy in the area of Art & Design. This recognition underscores the skills developed and the value of the research produced by the Department, forming the basis of its academic reputation and international standing.
Centro de Apoio Tecnológico Agro Alimentar
The agro-food technological centre CATAA specialises in research & innovation initiatives aimed at addressing challenges in food and nutrition security, sustainability, and climate resilience. Some practical examples are:
- innovative food-products development with local and in season ingredients
- food safety and nutritional composition with microbiological and physical chemistry analyses
- microbiome and genome analyses using next-generation sequencing
- food acceptance by sensory analysis
- nutritional literacy and citizen science initiatives
- assessment of impact of foods on health via by clinical studies with nutritional intervention
- antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of natural extracts
- food preservation studies with modified atmospheres
- valorisation of food waste and byproducts.
The organisation's work is carried out in laboratories and is complemented by engaging with communities, including citizens, schools, and local organisations, highlighting innovative approaches to communicating science and fostering public participation through citizen science. CATAA effectively communicates the importance of healthy and sustainable food practices and empowers individuals to make informed choices through workshops, practical activities, and awareness initiatives. Moreover, CATAA has experience in building a Living Lab towards a more sustainable, inclusive and healthier city´s food system. In this Living Lab, CATAA actively engages with policymakers and regulatory bodies to advocate for policies that promote sustainability, food safety, and healthy dietary practices. For instance, CATAA takes part in the Food Policy Council in the city of Castelo Branco (Portugal), an advisory council created to influence local food policies. This is based on experience in previous-ongoing projects such as FUSILLI (H2020).
EPSILON
EPSILON is a Technology Resources Engineering & Consulting company. Its proficiency lies in the sectors of Shipping & Maritime, Aviation & Aerospace, Geoinformatics & ICT, Natural Disasters & Homeland Security, Water & Environment, Ecosystems & Marine Sciences, Economics & Management, and Dissemination & Training for its products. With roots tracing back to 1985 in Boston, USA, EPSILON has grown to operate globally as a fully independent entity with headquarters in Malta. It draws on supporting expertise from EPSILON companies in GR, BG, CY, DE, IT and allied offices, companies, and research organisations across Europe. Since 1990, EPSILON has been at the forefront of RTD, having accomplished over 100 projects (from FP3 to HORIZON).
Oulun yliopisto, University of Oulu
The University of Oulu is a northern, international science university. Founded in 1958, it is one of the largest and most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. The University of Oulu is producing new scientific knowledge and solutions to build a more sustainable, intelligent, and humane world. Our cutting-edge research is based on strong multidisciplinary competence. New research openings are sought particularly at interdisciplinary interfaces. These interdisciplinary research openings relate to the creation and understanding of the digital future and the building of a
more sustainable world, among others. The research units of our eight faculties
form a scientific community with unique interdisciplinary strengths. Many of
our research units represent the international top in their respective fields.
The research is supported by high-quality research infrastructure.
ITML
ITML is a User Experience & Software Agency based in Athens, Greece, that helps organisations design and develop engaging digital products. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, following EU trends, participating in R&D projects and understanding market needs, ITML creates innovative solutions in AI-based data analytics, smart production digitisation, and cybersecurity.
INFINITIVITY DESIGN LABS
IDL is an SME Design & Research studio based in the rural area of the French region of Auvergne, and focuses on designing sustainable, meaningful and intrinsically motivating learning experiences, placing education and training in the spotlight of its core mission. The studio is also a French state-registered VET organisation, compliant with official onboarding, delivery and evaluation training standards. IDL focuses on the following key activities: Game-Based Learning, E-Learning, User Experience & Multimedia Content production and Artificial Intelligence.
TRUENIQUE
Truenique Ltd. is a Consulting Company providing technical and scientific assistance on matters related to sustainable development, climate change/decarbonisation, green transition, environmental protection and the blue economy, with a focus on global business development through synergies, by developing the project framework and facilitating collaboration, providing systems integration for complete solutions. We also provide consulting and trainings in climate change adaptation, ESG/sustainable investment and finance, the blue economy and policymaking.
STANDO LTD
STANDO LTD (STANDOutEdu) a research and educational organisation based in Cyprus and an accredited VET Centre by Cyprus's Human Resource Development Authority. Since 2016, our active engagement in European projects has allowed us to deliver professional and academic training, courses, seminars, and consulting services. Our expertise stems from diverse backgrounds, ensuring a comprehensive approach to education, serving diverse groups, including children, students, teachers, policymakers, and VET providers. Beyond our involvement in European projects, we take pride in participating in numerous environmental initiatives. Backed by a team with varied expertise, we research to promote awareness of ecological crises. This reflects our unwavering dedication to addressing global challenges and contributing to a sustainable future.
NOVELCORE
Novelcore is an innovation driven SME specialising in AI-based solutions. We believe in the power of dialogue to drive progress, which is why we've created an environment that fosters continuous evolution and collaboration. We are committed to the development of novel solutions leveraging cutting-edge technologies and we are involved in fundamental and applied research initiatives that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in our field. Our expertise covers the creation of semantically rich knowledge graphs, customised Large Language Models, AI-augmented decision-support systems and highly scalable, domain specific, software solutions.
IASIS
The Non-Profit Organisation IASIS was founded in Athens, Greece in 2005. Since its establishment, it has been committed to promoting mental health and well-being. One of IASIS’ main objectives is to provide psychiatric/psychosocial care to the community based on the principles of Social Psychiatry/Psychology and Psychosocial Rehabilitation, and in accordance with the standards of Psychiatric Reform and the World Health Organization. The organisation provides psychosocial support to all vulnerable groups and promotes social inclusion. Vulnerable social groups supported by IASIS include
- people with mental health problems
- children, adolescents and young people
- women, victims of gender-based and/or domestic violence
- migrants, and asylum seekers
Future In Perspective
Future In Perspective Limited (FIPL) has extensive expertise in the development of innovative educational materials designed to capitalise on digital media and promote the adoption of progressive educational methodologies. These encompass online learning, mobile and blended learning, gamification, and challenge-based learning, tailored specifically for vocational, adult, and community education settings.
The company has been at the forefront of introducing these pioneering educational practices, providing support for educators, community workers, youth mentors, career advisors, and other frontline professionals through training and access initiatives.
FIPL collaborates with European partners to develop a comprehensive suite of digital resources, online training programs, exemplary case studies, and professional development materials tailored to educators. These resources cover a wide range of subjects, including
- Entrepreneurship
- Digital media production
- Creative disciplines
- Migrant integration, with a focus on empowering women and young people
- Talent management
- The circular economy
- Online safety and security
- Addressing radicalisation among young people in online environments
PredictBy
PredictBy is a research and consulting firm focused on social, behavioural and data science. We conduct rigorous applied research and consulting projects for private companies and public institutions. In particular, PredictBy maintains a strong reputation for delivering high-quality projects for European Institutions and other EU agencies, and for expertise in EU policy and regulation in the areas of health, digital transformation and environment. The results of projects conducted by PredictBy are published in leading international peer-reviewed journals and EU repositories.
Work performed by PredictBy includes:
- Tenders (for example the roadmap for action on evidence-based risk communication in the EU food system commissioned by EFSA)
- Horizons (for example EUMAPLAT - European Media Platforms: Assessing Positive and Negative Externalities for European Culture)
- IHIs (for example BEAMER – improving patient adherence to treatment by building a behavioural model)
CEPS
Founded in Brussels in 1983, CEPS is a leading think tank and forum for debate on EU affairs, ranking among the top think tanks in Europe.
With an exceptionally strong in-house research capacity and an extensive network of partner institutes throughout the world, CEPS has amply demonstrated its ability to anticipate trends and to analyse policy questions well before they become topics of general discussion. At CEPS, researchers perform policy research on a wide range of policy areas: from the economy and finance to better regulation, the digital economy and trade, as well as energy and climate, education and innovation, foreign policy and the European integration process, or justice and home affairs.
RE-IMAGINE EUROPA
Re-Imagine Europa (RIE) is a European non-partisan think tank, founded by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to honour his friendship with Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, as the first “incubator” for new policy ideas. RIE strives for an interdisciplinary approach to its research, working in collaboration with an international network of members, strategic partners, and knowledge partners. Aided by an in-house narrative team led by leading social psychologists, the organisation works with an innovative methodology based on narratives to look for shared values and solutions that go beyond personal, national or political interests.
INSPIRING FUTURES
IF supports policy makers, administrations and companies in designing inspiring futures. The uncertainties of a rapidly changing world, with the societal challenges and difficulties of adaptation that they imply, call for specific expertise to help decision-makers orient themselves and plan effectively. We help decision-makers overcome the challenge of improving the impact and quality of digital services, and the obligation to protect citizens from the potential harm caused by emerging technologies, and in particular artificial intelligence (AI). Our activities in this field are based on the interrelated concepts of digital governance, technology diplomacy and democratic innovation.