Success factors for demonstration projects of small-scale stationary fuel cells in residential buildings

Worldwide small-scale micro-CHPs account for the largest share in the fuel cell market by units of installation (not by installed power output). Notably, the Japanese Ene-Farm program is responsible for over 400.000 micro-CHP fuel cell installations (until the end of June 2021). This is the largest worldwide deployment program and it reflects the long- and outstanding commitment of both the Japanese government and the Japanese industry to form a ‘Hydrogen Society’. In Europe, the situation is entirely different. European projects like PACE financed by the European joint undertaking for hydrogen and fuel cells give a positive impulse for fuel cell based micro-CHP, however it has to be judged as insufficient for a market transformation measure. Presently, only Germany, notably by the KFW433 program, is providing frame conditions for a rollout of fuel cell based micro-CHP systems. This article analyses the success factors for the implementation of Ene-Farm systems in Japan. It compares the different frame conditions of Japan and European countries like Austria and discusses the question whether an Ene-Farm project based on the Japanese success factors could be replicated in Austria. On a bird’s eye, a European perspective will be derived from the analysis.

Interdisciplinary Training and Mentoring for Cyber Security in Companies

Cyber security is interdisciplinary, and it is to expect that security professionals and other employees working with computers to have suitable knowledge. In this chapter an interdisciplinary training program in cyber security curriculum and an interdisciplinary mentoring program to be included in entrepreneurial learning will be proposed. It helps to produce synergy in groups and generates ideas to solve complex problems. Entrepreneurial learning is a basis for education of entrepreneurs, and it should also include such interdisciplinary programs. The author explained the advantages of interdisciplinary training and mentoring programs in this context particularly in the field of cyber security. Such programs are missing both in education as well as in companies. Two examples of European projects with the participation of the author will be done to improve entrepreneurial education and training and encourage SMEs to be innovative. The programs are supported by digital learning platforms, and interdisciplinary trainers and mentors help the learners. The main method is interdisciplinary problem-based learning (IPBL).

Reflections on the regional approach for Open Science in Europe – EOSC-Pillar and the other “5b projects”

The H2020 project “EOSC Pillar” and its three “sister projects” (5b Projects) are an excellent example of how different European projects can effectively participate in the EOSC building process united in a serious, determined effort formalized by a consensual agreement between the projects. The regional approach, responding to individual, regional needs, has demonstrated the importance of jointly addressing challenges related to the European Open Science Cloud in order to reach the diverse and fragmented European research infrastructure landscape. The resulting FAIR data and conclusions are essential building blocks for continuing similar efforts.

From the Belovezhskiye Agreements to the Eurasian Economic Union: 30 Years of Experience

The article examines the reasons for the collapse of the USSR and the signing of the Belovezhskiye Agreements. The thirty-year experience of Eurasian integration in the post-Soviet space is summarized. There is an analysis of role of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the processes of regional economic integration carried out in the last decade of 20th century, in the context of the separation of the post-Soviet republics. It is shown that the members which are states of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization fully fulfill the obligations assumed within the framework of the Belovezhskaya Agreements upon secession from the USSR. The article reveals the objective conditionality of the participation of the CIS countries in anti-Russian, pseudo-European projects by a policy of different directions. New economic priorities of Eurasian integration, institutional problems and prospects of the Eurasian Economic Union are investigated.

Overall Exposure of European Adult Population to Mycotoxins by Statistically Modelled Biomonitoring Data

This study presents the exposure scenario to mycotoxins of adult population throughout Europe. The urinary biomarkers values were obtained by modelling data from two European projects. Exposure to AFB1, OTA, CIT, FBs, DON, NIV and T2/HT2 are presented. The main output obtained refers to a concern for public health about AFM1, FBs, T2/HT2 and NIV, and low concern for OTA, DON and CIT. The margin of exposure for AFM1 did not respect the reference value of 10,000 considered of low priority for risk; for Fusarium toxins, FBs and T2/HT2, probable daily intake (PDI) values resulted about ten times higher than their tolerable daily intake and NIV presented the most critical situation with a calculated PDI 30 times higher than the reference TDI value. North and South Europe scenarios were also depicted by clustering biomonitoring data. OTA and DON showed to be prevalent in Northern countries and the opposite was noticed for ZEN, higher in Southern countries. The critical issues of the availability of records feeding the dataset and of the accuracy of excretion rate for some mycotoxins are source of uncertainty for the reliability of the outputs, nevertheless the time is ripe for asking for more concrete HBM values and/or HBM-HBGV which would help in interpreting the burden of mycotoxins in Europe.

Co-creation Pathways to Inform Shared Governance of Urban Living Labs in Practice: Lessons From Three European Projects

Over recent decades Urban Living Labs (ULLs) have become a common space for co-creation processes' experimentation, whereby new approaches for sustainable urban development are highly connected to support evidence-based policy generation. Europe seems a particular 'hotspot' for this approach whenever it comes to public policy and specifically planning for urban transition. Systemic changes related to urban governance and different public participatory mechanisms, as in the case of ULLs, demand a growing interest from the stakeholders and deliberation in decision-making mechanisms. In this research paper, we analyze co-creation pathways and different shared governance mechanisms in three ongoing European projects: CLEVER Cities, Sharing Cities, and SUNEX projects from a practice perspective. This comparative study investigates stakeholder engagement (1) scales, (2) mechanisms, (3) methodologies of engagement, and finally the co-creation pathway challenges and pitfalls. From the analyzed ULLs' experiences, we identified key principles that suggest relevant clues to enable the consolidation of a forthcoming ULL 2.0 model and related innovation pathways for co-creating urban planning policies. We lastly reflect on the enablers and catalysts of co-creation processes to inform shared urban governance as major takeaways from our research.

EUROPEAN EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN KINDERGARTEN

The report examines the place of European educational projects in kindergarten and the opportunities they provide for the modernization of the educational process. The challenges posed to educators by the pandemic and the need to outsource teaching are presented. Successful practices related to project activities that provide opportunities for outdoor learning are described, as well as the steps taken in the kindergarten for more work in this direction. examples are given with successful strategies implemented in a pandemic environment aspects of interaction and interdisciplinary connections possible in the course of the work are considered. Ideas for further actions for the development of outdoor learning in kindergarten through European projects are also given.

Enabling strategies for mixed-used PEDs: energy efficiency between smart cities and Industry 4.0

The Green Deal places at the centre of its policies the need to act in order to achieve climate neutrality goals by 2050. In this context, the role of cities and, in particular, of already existing buildings is relevant. Although they are responsible for 40% of energy consumption, only 1% are involved in major restructuring processes. In the context of smart city strategies and to improve their performances, Europe proposes various approaches such as Positive Energy Districts and Industry 4.0. This paper analyses case studies and innovative European projects with the aim of identifying the most relevant strategic actions. Eventually, it presents a real case in the city of Bologna as a basepoint for the reflection proposed.