CORDIS-JRC

The UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country is developing a software that analyses potential interference that wind farms may have on telecommunications

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Continuous innovation in aircraft design has led to fuel savings, noise reductions and lower fares for passengers by making flights more efficient. Now an EU-funded project aims to take Europe's aircraft industry to the next level by combining smart new design techniques to further cut development time and costs.

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Biofuels are playing an increasingly important role in our energy mix - between 2008 and 2010, the volume of biofuels consumed in the EU increased by 39 %. However, there is concern over the impact on sustainability and on biodiversity of some biofuels, particularly in relation to changes in indirect land use. Consequently, policymakers are increasingly interested in biofuels from woody plants that can grow on land unsuitable for agriculture.

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Innovation for more sustainable food systems is not just about improving food technology and communication activities. Social innovation also has a powerful role to play, according to Sophie Easteal of the FP7-funded FUSIONS (Food Use for Social Innovation by Optimising Waste Prevention Strategies) project who spoke at Green Week in Brussels earlier this month.

Speaking on behalf of WRAP in the UK, one of FUSIONS' 21 project partners, Sophie presented how the project is working towards achieving a more resource efficient Europe by significantly reducing food waste.

Soil pollution causes severe environmental and economic impacts, as well as risks for the human health and ecosystems. The closure of mining and industrial facilities in many sites across Europe has revealed large amounts of contaminated land with uncertain future uses. Decontaminating and recovering such soil is a long, complex and expensive process, which places a large burden on enterprises or public administrations.

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Phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass are expected to decrease by 6 % and 11 % respectively by the end of century due to climate change. This is just one of the conclusions drawn from the work of the EU-funded MEECE ('Marine Ecosystem Evolution in a Changing Environment) project that was recently published in the Global Change Biology Journal.

A new technique developed by researchers on the genetic modification of mosquitoes may make a vital contribution to eradicating malaria.

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Fruit and vegetables are not just good for your health; they also form the basis of a strong and sustainable European economic sector. Some 10 000 businesses - about 90 % of which are SMEs - are involved in fruit and vegetable processing, employing around 280 000 employees. In order to remain competitive in the face of foreign competition however, investment in new technology capable of improving quality and reducing waste is vital.

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The most recent edition of the scientific journal Transportation Research Part B has published the research conducted, amongst others, by Fermín Mallor of the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre. The work has developed a new mathematical methodology to monitor traffic flow so that medium and long-term forecasts can be made.

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A UPV/EHU engineering group has optimized the technology for converting alternating current lines to direct current ones

Next-generation antimalarial drugs are much needed to address resistance issues to current treatments. New strategies may work by interfering with the biology of the parasite causing the disease.

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Energy-intensive industries play a crucial role in boosting Europe's growth and employment, but strong climate-related policies can undermine their competitiveness. New, cleaner technologies are needed, and an EU project recently managed to achieve just that.

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Back pain is one of the most widespread chronic medical conditions in Europe and until recently disc degeneration was assumed to be the main cause of it. However, scientists have now shown that there is no direct causality between disc alteration and pain.

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Tiny metal tubes called stents - which keep blood flowing through diseased coronary arteries by slowly releasing medication - have helped to save the lives of millions at risk of heart disease. Once inserted into arteries however, there is a small risk of a life-threatening complication called late stent thrombosis (ST). This occurs when the stent fills with blood clot and disrupts the blood supply.

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We tend to think of plants as being the first victims of pollution and climate change. But thanks to an FP7 research project, crops, forests and even the plants in your back garden could be fighting back.

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Biologists and doctors rely heavily on incubators and microscopes. Now the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT has come up with a novel solution that combines the functions of both these tools in a compact and extremely small-scale system.

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Aircrafts have to be more efficient – a crucial point when it comes to the design of jet engines. However, in the design of the components, the engineers also need to consider whether these can be economically produced. Yet, a new process chain provides more design freedom and allows a more efficient production as well as repair processes.

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What medications can be used to treat lung cancer, and how effective are they? Until now, drug companies have had to rely on animal testing to find out. But in the future, a new 3D model lung is set to achieve more precise results and ultimately minimize – or even completely replace – animal testing.

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Users' perspectives play a key role in low-energy building. Experts agree that the feedback from people living in energy efficient buildings could help to optimise their overall usability.

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A top priority for any airline is to conserve as much fuel as possible – and this helps to protect the environment. The EU project SARISTU aims to reduce kerosene consumption by six percent, and integrating flexible landing devices into aircraft wings is one step towards that target. Researchers will be showcasing this concept alongside other prototypes at the ILA Berlin Air Show from May 20-25.

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