Horizon Europe-funded projects poised to transform life in 2025

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-18 08:46:15 |

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Horizon Europe-funded projects poised to transform life in 2025

Horizon Europe-funded research in 2025 promises groundbreaking advancements, from solar energy beamed from space to genetic brain maps and self-repairing living bridges. These projects also aim to make cities more sustainable and cleaner.

In 2025, we might witness significant developments such as genetic mapping of the human brain, solar energy collection in space, and the construction of bridges made from electronically controlled fungi.

Horizon Europe-funded project aims to decode the brain’s genetics with AIThe Horizon Europe-funded Human Brain Project has produced highly detailed brain maps, which will become increasingly valuable in 2025. These maps will assist scientists and medical professionals in finding new treatments for brain diseases, according to Professor Katrin Amunts, a German neuroscientist at the University of Düsseldorf and Forschungszentrum Jülich. She led a ten-year project to create these maps, which offer the most detailed view of brain areas and cellular structures to date. New developments are expected to further enhance their potential.

Professor Amunts explained that by 2025, significant AI advancements, such as the JUPITER machine, will enable powerful computational capabilities. AI can be used to simulate the effects of therapies on the brain, benefiting patients by improving diagnosis and surgical planning. A key breakthrough she hopes to see is a better understanding of how brain cells function on a genetic level, ultimately helping bridge gaps in knowledge related to diseases affecting the brain.

Solar energy innovation through space-based solutionsHorizon Europe is combining AI with satellite data to create new opportunities for energy generation. Effie Makri, an electronic engineer and vice president of Research and Innovation at a Greek tech company, leads the Horizon Europe-funded RESPONDENT project. This project utilizes AI, satellite data, and mini-weather stations to enhance energy predictions from solar farms. She also envisions the possibility of space-based energy, where solar energy is collected in space and transmitted to Earth via microwaves or lasers.

Developing self-repairing, living materials for construction through Horizon fundingAs resources become more limited and climate concerns grow, Dr. Kunal Masania, an engineer at Delft University of Technology, is working on creating sustainable materials for construction. He is leading the Horizon Europe-funded AM-IMATE project, which aims to develop composite materials from fungi. These materials, which can be grown using waste products, could be used in household items, airplane components, and large infrastructure projects like bridges. The key innovation is using living materials that can sense stress and repair themselves, potentially revolutionizing construction methods.

Improving the future of bees and nature in EuropeHoneybees, essential for pollination, have been in decline. Professor Dirk de Graaf, a biologist at Ghent University, leads a Horizon Europe-funded project called B-GOOD to address this issue. The project aims to improve honeybee health by developing smarter algorithms that monitor bee health and send alerts to beekeepers, reducing the need for chemicals and increasing colony survival rates.

Greener and cleaner cities for a better futureDr. Annemie Wyckmans, an architect at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, leads the EU-funded CRAFT project, which focuses on creating greener and more sustainable cities. This initiative brings together artistic and cultural communities to drive transformation at the local level. The project is part of the broader European Green Deal, aiming to align urban design with nature and social interaction. Alongside CRAFT, other projects like Re-Value, Bauhaus Bites, and NEB-STAR are working to promote sustainability and art-driven change in cities across Europe. The New European Bauhaus initiative is inspired by the historic Bauhaus movement and strives to blend science, technology, art, and community to address urban challenges.