Library FAQ
What is the Precision Nutrition Challenge focused on?
The Challenge funds multidisciplinary research investigating interactions among diet, the human gut microbiome and glycans, including nutritional, microbiome and glycan research aspects and consideration of regulatory aspects building on EFSA work.
What is the scope of the AEC digitalisation Challenge?
It seeks research and early innovations with breakthrough potential related to the triad of design, fabrication and materials enabled by novel algorithms and advanced digitalisation (computational design, physics simulation, agent-based modelling, topology opt...
What outcomes and impacts are expected from Precision Nutrition projects?
Greater understanding of diet–microbiome–glycan relationships enabling prevention and alleviation of Food-related Health Conditions and NCDs through evidence-based upgrades of dietary guidelines, and in the long run the development of novel foods and processes...
What outcomes are expected from Responsible Electronics projects?
Development of materials with new properties or replacements that reduce dependency on critical raw materials and environmental footprint, supporting a move from traditional materials and manufacturing to less impactful ones, with life-cycle analysis and metho...
What performance and environmental criteria must proposed cooling technologies demonstrate?
They should demonstrate potential to reduce investment/operational costs, increase efficiency, reliability and interoperability, avoid critical raw materials or harmful refrigerants, pursue circularity by design, have low environmental impact and low carbon fo...
What specific objectives does the Precision Nutrition Challenge pursue?
To investigate causal relationships among diet, microbiome and glycans for personalised diets; identify food ingredients, processes and additives with negative or beneficial effects on health and aging; and develop recommendations for reformulating products wi...
What storage and transport aspects does the Challenge include?
It includes storage and/or transport of cooling, clean cold chain transportation, thermal energy carriers, inter-seasonal storage, and relevant charging/discharging dynamics (short charging times and mid to long duration storage).
What utilization and management aspects of cooling are within scope?
Utilization/management aspects include cascade use of cold energy for different temperature requirements, integration of innovative low/net-zero cooling concepts in critical demand segments, and other demand-side related technologies.
Which applications and temperature ranges are covered by the Challenge?
Solutions for a wide range of applications are eligible, including vaccine storage (−80 to 4°C), food (−40 to 12°C), and data centres and air-conditioning (6–12°C).
Which EU policies and plans is the cooling Challenge strategic for?
The Challenge is strategic for the European Green Deal, the REPowerEU plan, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
Why is the development of super-efficient and low-cost cold technologies important?
Because cooling demand is rising, cooling processes often cause significant GHG emissions (e.g. from HFCs or fossil fuels), and global energy market disruption and rising energy costs threaten competitiveness of high cooling demand sectors.
How can the EIC strengthen the healthcare innovation ecosystem?
Through its portfolio, the EIC can bring breakthrough technologies together, create connections with other European initiatives and stakeholders, and foster collaborations that bridge research institutions, startups, and healthcare providers.
How do emerging deep-tech technologies converge with clinical applications in the report?
The report highlights convergence between advances in medical imaging, AI, and regenerative medicine with clinical applications, showing opportunities to create predictive, preventive, and personalised healthcare solutions that could redefine healthcare system...
How does the EIC support biotechnology innovations across development stages?
The EIC supports innovations across the Pathfinder instrument and higher readiness levels via Transition and Accelerator, targeting different healthcare applications and disease areas to advance technologies from early research to market.
How does the report characterise biotechnology's role and potential?
The report describes biotechnology as a frontier science that harnesses living systems for innovations in diagnosis, treatment, drug development, and biomanufacturing, with broad potential to address many disease areas, increase access to therapies, and improv...
How may 3D and 4D bioprinting impact wound care in the next five to ten years?
They could revolutionise chronic wound management by enabling personalised treatments, improving outcomes, stimulating new medical device markets, reducing bioink costs, lowering long-term healthcare costs, and prompting regulatory updates for clinical integra...
How may digital biomarkers and AI affect healthcare in the next five to ten years?
They may enable more accurate disease predictions and personalised treatments for conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, improve outcomes, reduce costs through timely interventions, and position Europe to lead by harmonising biomarker te...
How might FLASH radiotherapy impact cancer care in the next five to ten years?
If validated, FLASH could expand radiotherapy's role by offering faster, safer, and less toxic treatments, widen the therapeutic window enabling dose escalation, shorten treatment times, improve management of organ motion, and spur demand for specialised radio...
What additional research directions has success in targeted protein degradation inspired?
Success in targeted protein degradation has inspired research into harnessing other native cellular pathways to chemically rewire signalling networks or gene regulation, offering alternative means for precise therapeutic interventions.
What advantages do degrader-based medicines offer?
Degrader-based medicines have a unique mechanism that can provide greater potency and selectivity, potentially widening the therapeutic window and improving safety by more effectively eliminating pathogenic proteins.
What are 3D and 4D bioprinting and how are they applied to wound treatment?
3D bioprinting layers biomaterials (e.g., hydrogels, polymers) and bioactives to create customised scaffolds and skin substitutes tailored to wound geometry. 4D bioprinting produces constructs that can change over time in response to stimuli to better match ev...
What are digital biomarkers and how are they used with AI for health prediction?
Digital biomarkers are measurable biological inputs (e.g., molecules, genetic expression, imaging data) that quantify physiological processes. Combined with AI, they enable predictive models to forecast disease progression and tailor personalised treatment str...
What are Single-Atom Photocatalysis and computational approaches for next-generation materials, and what impacts might they have?
Single-Atom Photocatalysis (SAP) uses isolated atoms on supports to catalyse reactions with high selectivity and minimal metal use, enabling precise material synthesis. Computational approaches integrate simulation, algorithms, physical modelling, and data-dri...
What challenges are associated with scaling up healthcare biotechnology solutions?
Scaling challenges include matching disruptive technology to unmet needs, shortages of skilled personnel, limited manufacturing capabilities, stringent quality control requirements, ensuring affordable access, and navigating complex regulatory frameworks.