New COST Action proposals - Vlaanderen (FWO) … · BM1307 – European network to integrate...

New COST Action proposalsOpen Call - collection date 29 March 2013(OC-2013-1)

188th CSO Meeting13 - 14 November 2013, Brussels

EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Contents

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Contents

Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS) BM1306 – Better Understanding the Heterogeneity of Tinnitus to Improve and Develop New Treatments

(TINNET) .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

BM1307 – European network to integrate research on intracellular proteolysis pathways in health and disease (PROTEOSTASIS) ........................................................................................................................................... 6

BM1308 – Sharing Advances on LArge Animal Models (SALAAM): Sharing advances in genetic engineering and phenotyping of non-rodent mammals to develop predictive animal models for translational medicine ............................................................................................................ 7

BM1309 – European network for innovative uses of EMFs in biomedical applications (EMF-MED) ......... 8

Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies (CMST)

CM1305 – Explicit Control Over Spin-states in Technology and Biochemistry (ECOSTBio) .......................... 9

CM1306 – Understanding Movement and Mechanism in Molecular Machines… ............................................... 10

CM1307 – Targeted chemotherapy towards diseases caused by endoparasites ............................................... 11

Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM)

ES1306 – Connecting European connectivity research...................................................................................................... 12

ES1307 – Sewage biomarker analysis for community health assessment ............................................................. 13

ES1308 – Climate Change Manipulation Experiments in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Networking and Outreach (ClimMani) ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

ES1309 – Innovative optical Tools for proximal sensing of ecophysiological processes (OPTIMISE) .. 15

Food and Agriculture (FA)

FA1304 – Swimming of fish and implications for migration and aquaculture (FITFISH) ................................ 16

FA1305 – The EU Aquaponics Hub: Realising Sustainable Integrated Fish and Vegetable Production for the EU ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 17

FA1306 – The quest for tolerant varieties: Phenotyping at plant and cellular level ............................................ 18

FA1307 – SUstainable Pollination in Europe: joint Research on Bees and other pollinators (SUPER-B) ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

FA1308 – DairyCare ................................................................................................................................................................................ 20

Forests, their Products and Services (FPS)

FP1304 – Towards robust PROjections of European FOrests UNDer climate change (PROFOUND) . 21

FP1305 – Linking belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests (BioLink) ...... 22 FP1306 – Valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass side streams for sustainable production of chemicals,

materials & fuels using low environmental impact technologies ........................................... 23

Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (ISCH)

IS1307 – New Materialism: Networking European Scholarship on 'How Matter Comes to Matter’ ........... 24

IS1308 – Populist Political Communication in Europe: Comprehending the Challenge of Mediated Political Populism for Democratic Politics .......................................................................................................... 25

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IS1309 – Innovations in Climate Governance: Sources, Patterns and Effects (INOGOV) ........................... 26

IS1310 – Reassembling the Republic of Letters, 1500-1800 A digital framework for multi-lateral collaboration on Europe’s intellectual history ..................................................................................... …27

IS1311 – Intergenerational Family Solidarity across Europe (INTERFASOL) ..................................................... 28

IS1312 – Structuring Discourse in Multilingual Europe (TextLink) ................................................................................ 29

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

IC1305 – Network for Sustainable Ultrascale Computing (NESUS) .......................................................................... 30

IC1306 – Cryptography for Secure Digital Interaction ......................................................................................................... 31

IC1307 – The European Network on Integrating Vision and Language (iV&L Net): Combining Computer Vision and Language Processing For Advanced Search, Retrieval, Annotation and Description of Visual ....................................................................................................................................................... 32

Materials, Physics and Nanosciences (MPNS)

MP1305 – Flowing matter ..................................................................................................................................................................... 33

MP1306 – Modern tools for spectroscopy on advanced materials: A European Modelling Platform (EUSpec) ................................................................................................................................................................................ 34

MP1307 – Stable Next-Generation Photovoltaics: Unraveling degradation mechanisms of Organic Solar Cells by complementary characterization techniques (StableNextSol) ............................................. 35

MP1308 – Towards an Oxide-Based Electronics (TO-BE) .............................................................................................. 36

Transport and Urban Development (TUD)

TU1304 – WINd Energy Technology Reconsideration to enhance the COncept of Smart ciTies (WINERCOST) ................................................................................................................................................................... 37

TU1305 – Social networks and travel behaviour..................................................................................................................... 38

TU1306 – Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness (CYBERPARKS) ............................................................................................................................... 39

Trans-Domain Proposals (TDP)

TD1305 – Improved Protection of Medical Devices Against Infection (IPROMEDAI) ...................................... 40

TD1306 – New Frontiers of Peer Review (PEERE) ............................................................................................................. 41

TD1307 – EUropean MOdel Reduction NETwork (EU-MORNET) ............................................................................. 42

TD1308 – Origins and evolution of life on Earth and in the Universe (ORIGINS) .............................................. 43

TD1309 – Play for Children with Disabilities (LUDI) .............................................................................................................. 44

Participation of Non-COST countries .......................................................................................................... 45

Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS)

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Action BM1306 Better Understanding the Heterogeneity of Tinnitus to Improve and Develop New Treatments (TINNET)

Objectives The aim of the Action is the creation of a pan-European network to identify pathophysiologically and clinically meaningful subtypes of tinnitus and their neurobiological underpinnings. This will be facilitated by standards for clinical assessment and outcome measurement, by large-scale multi-centric data assessment and by data management in a quality controlled database. These data will be complemented by neuroimaging and by the search for genetic markers. Tinnitus is highly prevalent, can cause a high burden in concerned individuals and has enormous socio-economic impact. First promising new treatment approaches have been developed in the past few years, but their further development is hampered by the pathophysiological diversity of tinnitus, resulting in high interindividual variability in treatment outcomes. Thus the traditional research structure of many groups working largely in isolation and investigating small samples is insufficient for addressing the heterogeneity of tinnitus and for identifying valid subtypes.

Abstract Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an environmental acoustic stimulus. In Europe over 70 million people experience tinnitus and for 7 million it creates a debilitating condition. There are no established treatment approaches available for curing tinnitus. Better treatment is urgently needed. Brain research has created a paradigm shift by demonstrating that tinnitus is the consequence of altered neural activity in specific brain networks rather than an ear problem. Based on the understanding of tinnitus as brain disorder, first promising therapeutic approaches have already been developed by individual groups participating in this Action. However further development is hampered by the heterogeneity of tinnitus and limited knowledge about the neuronal underpinnings of the different tinnitus subtypes. This Action will foster the establishment of a pan-european multidisciplinary network with the major goal to facilitate (1) the identification of meaningful criteria for tinnitus subtyping, (2) the neurobiological underpinnings of the different tinnitus subtypes and (3) their relevance for response to treatment. This knowledge is essential for developing of new treatment approaches, their clinical investigation and the speed of translation into marketable products. This COST Action intends a stepwise approach which involves identification of (1) meaningful clinical and demographic characteristics for tinnitus subtyping, (2) tinnitus related changes of brain activity in the different forms of tinnitus, (3) intermediate genetic phenotypes for the identification of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of tinnitus and (4) predictors for response to various treatments. This approach requires a coordinated effort from basic scientists, technicians and clinicians of different disciplines working together in ongoing close collaboration.

Keywords: otolaryngology, neuromodulation, tinnitus database, pathophsyiology of tinnitus, psychiatry

Working Groups WG1 Clinical: Establishment of a standard for patient assessment and characterization WG2 Database establishment and implementation on the website WG3 Neuroimaging WG4 Genetics WG5 Standards for Treatment outcome measurement and central collection of results


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Action BM1307

European network to integrate research on intracellular proteolysis pathways in health and disease (PROTEOSTASIS)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to promote high-quality collaboration and valorisation among experienced and early-stage academic, clinical and industry-based European researchers involved in intracellular proteolysis research. The expected scientific impact of this initiative is twofold: to increase Europes leadership in this highly competitive field; and to translate scientific knowledge into cutting edge innovations that will improve human health.

Abstract Intracellular proteolysis is critical for cell homeostasis and to prevent pathologies such as cancers, immune diseases and neurological disorders. Its involvement in the control of almost every biological process has generated a huge interest amongst scientists from very diverse backgrounds, which in turn has resulted into both a tremendous advance of our knowledge and an important fragmentation of the field. The COST Action PROTEOSTASIS will coordinate and integrate the efforts made by European research teams to better understand intracellular proteolysis and to translate novel discoveries into products of clinical and/or economical values. It will gather all European academic, clinical and industrial partners willing to foster collaboration and training in the field through the organization of meetings, workshops and exchange programs. The implementation of different translational projects within the network will generate a “mind-agitating” atmosphere that will promote both creativity and reactivity. To help overcome the energy-barrier that too often limits development of novel and original ideas and concepts, a core dedicated think-tank created within PROTEOSTASIS will detect outstanding and clinically relevant projects that cannot be productively tackled by individual teams and help to assemble both the appropriate funding and workforce required to translate them into medically-valuable applications.

Keywords: Ubiquitin, Ubiquitin Proteasome System, Ubiquitin-like proteins, Proteases, Autophagy

Working Groups WG1 Protein modification in intracellular proteolysis: mechanisms, roles and regulation. WG2 Intracellular proteolytic systems: mechanisms, structures and regulation. WG3 Regulation of cell signalling. WG4 Protein quality control, misfolding and aggregation. WG5 Regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. WG6 Molecular bases of diseases, biomarkers, drug targets and biotechnology.


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Action BM1308 Sharing Advances on LArge Animal Models (SALAAM): Sharing advances in genetic engineering and phenotyping of non-rodent mammals to develop predictive animal models for translational medicine

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to create a European network of excellence with competence on all levels to create synergies, to optimize the use of human and financial resources and foster the value of large, i.e. non-rodent animal models for European R&D operations. This will be achieved by bringing together researchers from different European countries, who are currently working on different aspects of genetic engineering and phenotyping of large animal models as well as their ethical evaluation and communication to the general public.

Abstract The translation of novel discoveries from basic research to clinical application is a long, often inefficient and costly process. Consequently, “Translational Medicine” has become a top priority. Appropriate animal models are critical for the success of translational research. The choice of species will always depend on the specific problem that a research study aims to address. Although rodent models are widely used, they often fail to provide an accurate representation of the human disease. Thus, there is an urgent need for non-rodent animal models that mimic aspects of human anatomy and physiology more closely. Pigs, small ruminants and rabbits are excellent candidates. This Action will (i) share information and technology for the development of tailored large animal models; (ii) develop criteria for selection of the species most suitable as a model for the question under investigation; (iii) establish and validate standardized phenotyping protocols; (iv) create a database of existing models, tissue samples, and validated phenotypic assays; and (v) develop and communicate concepts for the scientific and ethical evaluation of experiments with large animals, including involvement of the regulatory authorities. In fostering translational research in Europe the Action supports the objectives of the Amsterdam Treaty.

Keywords: Large animal model; genetic engineering; phenotyping; standardisation; biobank

Working Groups WG1 Improved technology for tailoring large animal modelsWG2 Definition of the most pertinent models and standardization of phenotyping methods WG3 Database of models, tissues and protocolsWG4 Animal welfare, ethical issues and communication to the public


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Action BM1309 European network for innovative uses of EMFs in biomedical applications (EMF-MED)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to build an interdisciplinary European network for innovative uses of EMFs in biomedical applications.

Abstract

The Action will provide a cooperative framework to support the research on beneficial biological effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and their use in biomedical applications. Research on biological effects of EMFs has traditionally focused on health risks. Inspired by promising recent studies on useful biomedical EMF interactions and applications, this Action will focus on beneficial effects, aiming for breakthrough results, new discoveries and innovative biomedical technologies. The Action will provide a better understanding of underlying physical and biological interaction mechanisms, related to both cancer and non-cancer applications, filling the gaps in the present state of knowledge. Ultimately, the Action will aim to contribute to development and optimization of innovative EMF-based medical devices and procedures, which will be safer, more efficient and less invasive. Interdisciplinarity of the proposed topic and significance of the expected outcomes require a concerted research network at the European level.

Keywords: beneficial effects of EMFs, biomedical applications of EMFs, cancer and non-cancer interactions, EMF stimulation of cells and tissues, measurements and in silico tools for EMF dosimetry

Working Groups WG1 Cancer EMF interactions and applications WG2 Non-cancer EMF interactions and applicationsWG3 EMF dosimetry - in silico tools & measurements Non-COST participant: USA


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Action CM1305 Explicit Control Over Spin-states in Technology and Biochemistry (ECOSTBio)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to establish a European network of researchers dedicated to the understanding and application of spin-states in technological and biological applications. This will lead to the creation of the SPINSTATE database that is expected to have a long-lasting impact on the fields of bioinorganic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biology and technology as it will deliver a wealth of reference data with spin-state properties of a wide range of transition-metal complexes. This will also be relevant for the field of life sciences, materials science, and chemoinformatics, and hence may become important for pharmaceutical companies as well.

Abstract It has long been recognized that metal spin states play a central role in the reactivity of important biomolecules, in industrial catalysis and in spin crossover compounds. The latter offer many exciting possibilities for novel, switchable materials with applications in computer storage and display devices. Elucidating the role and effect of different spin states on the properties of a system is presently one of the most challenging endeavours both from an experimental and theoretical point-of-view. In this ECOSTBio Action we create a network of both experimental and theoretician research groups that will tackle a diversity of chemical problems where spin is an important factor. This will be achieved by the joint creation of a SPINSTATE database of systems with known spin states and spin-related properties. This freely accessible database will be of great benefit for the scientific community at large, and will lead to scientific and technological advances. Based on it we will exert explicit control of spin states of transition-metal compounds through rational design of ligand coordination. The interactions of theorists and experimentalists will create a synergy, helping theoreticians to validate their models and experimentalists to improve the performances of novel materials with desired properties.

Keywords: Spin-states, computational chemistry, metal-oxo complexes, spin-crossover compounds

Working Groups WG1 SPINSTATE database WG2 Enzymatic spin states WG3 WG4

Spin crossover Biomimetic spin states


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Action CM1306 Understanding Movement and Mechanism in Molecular Machines

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to bring together European researchers at the forefront of methodological developments in structural biology, spectroscopy and simulation in order to stimulate the development of these methods to the point where they can be routinely applied to resolve structure-dynamics-function relationships in complex biomacromolecular assemblies.

Abstract Structural biology has seen tremendous progress in the elucidation of static atomic structures of increasingly complex biomolecular systems, many of which are potential targets for future molecular medicine and biotechnology applications. However, understanding of biomolecular mechanism and function also requires knowledge of dynamics, both locally at active sites and more globally in terms of long range domain movements. These dynamic aspects are fundamentally important but difficult to study, often requiring both spectroscopic and structural complementary approaches and methods. Recent advances in the development of such methods make it timely to establish an EU network to bring together the spectroscopic and structural biology communities that will enable integration of the static and dynamic aspects of important biomolecules. This Action will promote the collaborations necessary to achieve this integration, and will disseminate knowledge and target research that will ultimately translate into new understanding of complex biochemical processes. Such knowledge will foster insights into disease states and lead to new biotechnology and future drug discoveries. It will consolidate and further enhance the world-leading role of European groups in these areas and provide a platform for training and promoting ESRs, through a tailored program of Summer Schools, Workshops, Short-Term Scientific Missions, and conferences.

Keywords: Time resolved structure determination (MX; SAXS; WAXS; EM), Time resolved spectroscopies (UV/visible; FTIR; NMR; neutron scattering; fluorescence correlation spectroscopy), Structural constraint spectroscopies (sm-FRET; EPR; NMR), Molecular Modelling, in situ imaging of Molecular Machines

Working Groups WG1 Methodology development in time-resolved structural biology WG2 Imaging and in situ biomolecular structure determination WG3 WG4 WG5

Methodology development in biomolecular spectroscopy Methodology development in biomolecular simulation Applications & Dissemination

Non-COST participant: Autralia, Rusia, USA


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Action CM1307 Targeted chemotherapy towards diseases caused by endoparasites

Objectives The aim of the Action is to define optimal strategies for the discovery of new bioavailable antiparasitic drug-candidates active against pathogenic protozoa and helminths which can be developed into clinically useful drugs for the treatment of parasitic diseases of humans and their farm animals.

Abstract Advances in the chemotherapy against human and animal parasitic diseases remain limited largely because drug candidates have low specificity and show poor in vivo bioavailability. The Action aims at uniting scientists with different backgrounds to create synergistic interactions paving the way for antiparasitic drug discovery for diseases caused by protozoa and helminths. The scientific aim is to bundle together the identification and validation of parasite drug targets based on the established genomes, medicinal chemistry including structure-based drug design, crystallography, bioinformatics, and drug targeting using chemical and nanotechnological approaches to improve drug performance. Also, rational assessment of the potential of natural product and other compound libraries will be used to identify new leads. Crucially, the Action will create an unprecedented combined forum for human health scientists and veterinarians, because of the enormous unmet needs in treating human and animal parasitic diseases and due to methodological homogeneity of their drug design strategies. The most promising compounds and formulations will be tested in established infection models before further preclinical and clinical development with emphasis on drug safety. Expected benefits include intensified cooperations between Academia and Industry. This will be achieved through focused conferences, networking, a dedicated website and training schools for state-of-the-art technologies.

Keywords: Medicinal chemistry, antiparasitic chemotherapy, chemical tools for parasite imaging, drug design, drug targeting

Working Groups WG1 Identification, characterization and validation of biological targets for chemistry (biochemistry/molecular

biology) WG2 Drug design and bio-oriented medicinal chemistry to design and synthesize new leads validating the

druggability of new targets WG3 Rational evaluation of potential anti-infective hits and lead compounds derived from natural sources WG4 Drug targeting to enhance efficacy and diminish toxicity of antiparasitic drugs

Non-COST participant: India, USA, Uruguay

Earth System Sciences and Environmental Management (ESSEM)

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Action ES1306 Connecting European connectivity research

Objectives The aim of the Action is to form an EU-spanning network of Connectivity scientists, to share expertise and develop a consensus on the definition and scientific agenda regarding the emerging field of water and sediment connectivity within Europe (and the diversity of European environments), and to identify potential for synergy with other disciplines and research applications in practise.

Abstract Successful prediction of pathways of storm runoff generation and associated soil erosion is of considerable societal importance, including off-site impacts such as water quality and the provision of related ecosystem services. Recently, the role of connectivity in controlling runoff and erosion has received significant and increasing scientific attention, though in a disparate and uncoordinated way. There is a wealth of experience and expertise in connectivity across Europe that could be harnessed to ensure that the potential already demonstrated in key studies can be more widely fulfilled; to move forward along agreed lines and identify emerging goals, and to benefit from cross-fertilization of ideas from the fields of Hydrology, Soil Science, Geomorphology and Ecology. COST is the appropriate vehicle for funding this activity because it will gather together existing expertise to advance the field of connectivity in a concerted way. The key benefit of this Action will therefore be to establish connectivity as a research paradigm. The Action will then permit transfer of current understanding into useable science, by developing its conceptual basis and transferring it into a series of monitoring and modelling tools that will provide the platform for indices that will inform holistic management of catchment systems.

Keywords: water and sediment connectivity in diverse environments; coordination and concerted action by defining connectivity indices and cross- fertilization of different disciplines; methodology development for measuring and modelling connectivity; the role of connectivity on sustainable land and water management; the role ecosystems on connectivity of water, sediments, nutrients and biochemical fluxes

Working Groups WG1 Theory development WG2 Measuring Approaches WG3 Modelling Connectivity WG4 WG5

Usable Indices for Connectivity Transition of connectivity research towards sustainable land and water management

Non-COST participation: Australia, Canada, USA


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Action ES1307 Sewage biomarker analysis for community health assessment

Objectives The aim of the Action is to develop and expand the existing pan-European inter-disciplinary SCORE network to provide insights into how sewage biomarker analysis can be used to inform on different aspects of community health. It is proposed that the action (i) delivers best practice advice for performing sewage biomarker studies, (ii) consolidates developments with respect to developing new approaches and techniques, (iii) facilitates greater interaction between different disciplines, (iv) identifies research needs, (v) facilitates the exchange of ideas and (vi) generates projects at the forefront of research, (vii) serves as forum for early stage and young researchers to network and present results and (viii) develops new transdisciplinary partnerships.

Abstract Sewage contains the excreted biomarkers of endogenous human metabolism that directly reflects the exposure and stressors placed upon an entire contributing community. The quantitative measurement of these specific biomarkers in sewage from communities allows the averaged patterns of factors related to lifestyle, disease and environment to be used for the assessment of community health. The Action will develop and expand an existing pan-European inter-disciplinary network, bringing together experts from relevant disciplines interested in the application and development of using the quantitative measurement of human biomarkers in sewage to evaluate lifestyle, health and exposure at the community level. In order to achieve its objectives the Action will manage a common Europe-wide testing platform that will develop best practice, provide a significant increase in the comparable spatio-temporal resolution of available data, coordinate the development of new biomarkers in sewage with focus on new psychoactive substances and new biomarkers for the community assessment of factors such as environment, health, lifestyle and diet, and integrate sewage-based approaches with other available metrics. The Action will have a major impact on the development of this emerging field and ensure that the technology is used in a responsible and effective manner and its potentially fully exploited in collaboration with end-users.

Keywords: Sewage analysis, epidemiology, illicit drugs, biomarkers, health

Working Groups WG1 Sewage biomarkers analysis: methods and technology WG2 Innovative techniques for community health assessment WG3 Integration with epidemiology and social sciences


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Action ES1308 Climate Change Manipulation Experiments in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Networking and Outreach (ClimMani)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to improve the quality and appropriateness of experiments, data and modeling in climate change research, facilitate better use of experimental data for scenario building and process understanding and promote the training of the next generation of climate change researchers in experimentation and modeling. This ambitious goal will be achieved by bringing together a community of researchers designing and conducting climate change experiments and measuring and modeling the experimental impacts. This community will have a highly multidisciplinary profile including areas like plant-, soil- and community ecology, ecophysiology, microbiology, hydrology, genetics, biogeochemistry, bio-meteorology, physics, technical design, modeling and data management and therefore have the capabilities to provide holistic views and assessments of climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and how this can/should be studied. Climate change research is particularly challenged with the complexity in individual drivers as well as their combination and with providing interaction between data and modeling. This Action will deliver scientific syntheses of the current understanding of climate change impacts, identify gaps in knowledge and provide guidelines for future experimentation, especially focusing on new emerging challenges like multifactor pressure and extreme events. Further, the Action will address the key scientific challenges and produce guidelines for improved data and meta data facilities and better linkages between experimentalists and modelers.

Abstract

Many climate change manipulation experiments have been carried out in recent decades. However, several challenges still exist or have emerged which limit our understanding of ecosystem functioning under future climate change. These include inadequate representation of biomes, artifacts, incomparable experiments, and poor representation of relevant scenarios, in particular extreme events, lack of research communication sharing of results and lack of good data for modeling. This Action will develop a network for the experimental climate change research community brining experimentalists and modelers together in order to provide solutions to these recurrent. It will also provide added value to European climate change research by linking high level national research groups and projects to a supra-national level and provide strong links and interactions with the global research community.

Keywords: Climate change, experiments, modeling, terrestrial ecosystems, effects

Working Groups WG1 Frameworks and best practice guidance for future climate change manipulation experiments WG2 Climatic gradients as proxies for climatic experiments WG3 Data sharing and meta data WG4 Integrated ecosystem experimentation and modelling

Non-COST participation: USA


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Action ES1309 Innovative optical Tools for proximal sensing of ecophysiological processes (OPTIMISE)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to promote reflectance and fluorescence measurements of ecosystems as ground validation networks for Earth system models and global satellite observations, using innovative spectrometer and UAV platforms, and develop automated wireless communication systems with on-line spectral information storage, quality assurance and data product sharing portals.

Abstract Important European and international initiatives (SPECNET, BIOSPEC and COST Action ES0903) explored the use of proximal optical sensing of ecosystem where carbon and water vapor flux is estimated by eddy covariance techniques. Such optical observations provide data at the high spectral, temporal and spatial resolutions necessary to more fully comprehend the links between light use, plant physiology and ecosystem functioning and provide key validation datasets for satellite remote sensing, such as the Sentinel missions, and the flux communities.The recent advances in UAV platforms and optical sensors provide unprecedented opportunities for high spatial, spectral and multi-angular near-ground Earth observations. This will enable scientists to answer ecological and physiological questions at multiple scales through integrated empirical and modeling methods. Important progress is also being made in remote sensing of steady-state fluorescence, the most direct proxy for photosynthesis. The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) mission, selected for further studies, will also benefit as this Action will support FLEX validation and calibrations campaigns. Furthermore, scientists have recognized the need to develop a 'smart' on-line platform to process and analyses optical data along with biophysical and water/carbon flux measurements and share these with other scientific communities and stakeholders which will also be addressed in this Action.

Keywords: reflectance, fluorescence, hyperspectral sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, ecosystem observations, model data integration

Working Groups WG1 Spectral information system: metadata set definition, automated data collection, storage, quality assurance

checks and uncertainty estimates, information building and model data integration WG2 UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for upscaling proximal sensing ecosystem observations by means of

model data integration WG3 Reflectance and fluorescence: integrating proximal sensing reflectance and fluorescence observations


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Action FA1304 Swimming of fish and implications for migration and aquaculture (FITFISH)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to strengthen and improve our knowledge on swimming of fish and its applicability in improving the status of wild and farmed fish by bringing together research and industrial partners with policy makers. More specifically: To build capacity among the high-quality scientific research community involved in studying the swimming of fish and its implications for migration and aquaculture, to support its integration; to leverage national research investments; to address an issue of global relevance and to increase the impact of science and technology on policy makers, regulatory bodies and national decision makers; To promote participation of young talents and next generation leaders in science and technology, promote working opportunities for early stage researchers, provide gender balance, and foster inter-disciplinarity; To promote participation of COST Members Countries and Cooperating States and encourage European regions to develop their capacities and strengthen excellence in this area; By means of organising meetings, short term scientific missions, training schools, dissemination and publications. The synthesis of knowledge on swimming of fish in the natural environment that will be created with this COST Action will allow to assess environmental/anthropomorphic influences like the impact of climate change on the behaviour of natural migratory fish populations and the effectiveness of migration mitigation measures. Furthermore, this Action will determine the basis to classify induced swimming as a natural, non-invasive and economical approach to improve growth, flesh quality as well as welfare of fish in aquaculture: A fit fish for a concerned consumer. Besides the scientific and societal benefits of improved fish migration and fish welfare, as well as improved fish filet quality and human health, significant technological breakthroughs can be expected because of the multidisciplinary nature of this COST Action: Development of technologies to induce swimming; Development of technologies to measure swimming performance (swim-tunnels, individual video tracking, etc); Exercise raceway design; Fish migration bypass design; Improved telemetry and tracking software; Development of tailor made feeds for athletic fish; Development of robotic fish to lead the school.

Abstract The study of swimming of fish is essential for our understanding of the interplay between migration, growth and reproduction in wild fish but also has considerable interest for fish in aquaculture. The main objective of FITFISH is to develop a research network in which fish swimming in the wild and in aquaculture is studied for the first time under a multidisciplinary perspective. Scientists from various disciplines will work together under the umbrella of swimming exercise. FITFISH will provide the ground for technological breakthroughs (e.g. more accurate monitoring of migrant fish; design of exercise-“friendly” fish farming facilities), for establishing swimming as an essential factor determining welfare and for demonstrating that swimming can benefit quality production. By providing this knowledge FITFISH will have a societal (economic and cultural) impact in areas such as environmental and fisheries policy, industrial activity in aquaculture and even human health. FITFISH will add value to independent, nationally funded research activities by providing the means to exchange information, promote industrial activities and influence policies at a European level in a new common forum. Activities in FITFISH also include the training and exchange of early stage researchers in the area to create future leaders with a true multidisciplinary vision.

Keywords: Swimming exercise, Fish migration, Aquaculture, Early stage research training, Knowledge and technology transfer

Working Groups WG1 Functional mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of swimming WG2 Fish migration WG3 Exercise in Aquaculture WG4 Transfer of knowledge to end users WG5 Training of Early Stage Researchers


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Action FA1305 The EU Aquaponics Hub: Realising Sustainable Integrated Fish and Vegetable Production for the EU

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to to create a unique pan-European platform to facilitate the foundation of a competitive aquaponics sector in Europe. The EU Aquaponics Hub will act as a forum to assemble EU and world-renowned expertise in the new field of aquaponics drawing on the EUs excellent expertise in aquaculture and hydroponics. By combining the skills and expertise of its members, the EU Aquaponics hub network will significantly promote and build aquaponics capacity and facilitate the expansion of aquaponics science and technology in the EU.

Abstract Aquaponics is an innovative, sustainable food production system integrating aquaculture with hydroponic vegetal crops. Aquaponics has a key role to play in food provision and tackling global challenges such as water scarcity, food security, urbanization, and reductions in energy use and food miles. The EU acknowledges these challenges through its Common Agriculture Policy and policies on Water Protection, Climate Change, and Social Integration. A European approach is required in the globally emerging aquaponics research field building on the foundations of Europe’s status as a global centre of excellence and technological innovation in the domains of aquaculture and hydroponic horticulture. The EU Aquaponics Hub aims to the development of aquaponics in the EU, by leading the research agenda through the creation of a networking hub of expert research and industry scientists, engineers, economists, aquaculturists and horticulturalists, and contributing to the training of young aquaponic scientists. The EU Aquaponics Hub focuses on three primary systems in three settings; 1) ‘cities and urban areas’ – urban agriculture aquaponics, 2) ‘developing country systems’ – devising systems and technologies for food security for local people and 3) ‘industrial scale aquaponics’ – providing competitive systems delivering cost effective, healthy and sustainable local food in the EU.

Keywords: EU Aquaponics Hub, aquaponics, aquaponics hub, aquaponics systems development, aquaponics sustainable food production.

Working Groups WG1 Aquaponics Overview: Strategic Focus on Aquaponics in the EU WG2 Aquaponics Scientific Focus and Systems Development Think Tank: Reviewing the State of the Art and

Generating Innovation WG3 Aquaponics Economics, Environmental, Social and Sustainability Think Tank: Reviewing the State of the Art

and Generating Innovation WG4 Aquaponics Knowledge Transfer, Outreach and Training: The EU Aquaponics resource from the present into

the future Non-COST participation: Thailand, South Africa


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Action FA1306 The quest for tolerant varieties: Phenotyping at plant and cellular level

Objectives The aim of the Action is the improvement and exchange of scientific knowledge in plant phenotyping through the creation of a network between European interdisciplinary scientists and to use this network to: map valuable gene bank collections and breeding programs in Europe, train breeders and physiologists in screening techniques and data interpretation, get insight into the genetic basis of tolerance, to characterize current biodiversity and rank it according to tolerance levels and to apply the knowledge for agricultural management.

Abstract Crops have been bred to improve production, paying less attention to stress. Stress is mitigated by treatments such as irrigation, pesticides and fertilizers. These managements have reduced the use of plant genetic resources in overcoming crop limitations so that some species/varieties containing useful sources of tolerance are forgotten. However, the use of pesticides, fertilizer and water must be reduced and agriculture must become more sustainable. While significant progress has been made in molecular and genetic analysis of model plants, the quantitative high throughput screening for crops is a major bottleneck. Reliable identification of tolerant varieties and the understanding of their genetic diversity are urgently needed. Phenotyping is an emerging science that characterises plant behaviour and quantifies features such as growth and stress tolerance in a way that allows linking to genetic control. This Action will create a network of European scientists with expertise on phenotyping, various –omics areas and/or physiology to (re)discover tolerant varieties and to understand tolerance. The Action will survey knowledge about plant biodiversity with respect to stress tolerance and will share and group existing expertise into discussions and conceptual development of new tools in phenotyping by integrating information from the cellular level to the whole plant level.

Keywords: biodiversity, breeding, crop species, phenotyping, stress tolerance

Working Groups WG1 Phenotyping at the plant level WG2 Phenotyping at the cell level WG3 Integration of phenotyping at plant and cell level and translation into good practices for applied end use

Non-COST participation: Australia, China


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Action FA1307 SUstainable Pollination in Europe: joint Research on Bees and other pollinators (SUPER-B)

Objectives The main objective of the proposed Action is to understand, to raise awareness for, to stimulate research development and to promote Coppice Forest Management (CFM) as a resilient and adaptive multifunctional forest management system to meet specific actual and further needs of (rural) societies, bringing together knowledge and promoting activities on a European level, which are so far highly fragmented. As a major outcome a CFM policy paper will be produced.

Abstract SUPER-B will bring together scientific and societal communities involved in the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystem services mediated by pollinators. >70% of our crops need insects for optimal pollination; these include many fruits, nuts, oil crops, fibres and vegetables with some producing no yield without insect pollination. The direct economic value of crop pollination by insects in the EU is >14 billion euro annually. Moreover, >80% of wild plant species benefit from animal pollinators for fruit and seed production, making pollination a key service for ecosystem and biodiversity maintenance. SUPER-B will combine scientific evidence (existing and new knowledge) and social feedback for developing conservation strategies for pollinators. Specifically, the Action will (1) identify the role of insect pollination in agriculture and other ecosystems; (2) clarify best practices for mitigation of pollination loss, and (3) compare and contrast important drivers of pollinator loss (wild and managed species). SUPER-B will contribute towards maintaining natural ecosystems and achieving sustainable use of pollinators in agricultural production. Its results are relevant to all European countries and will be disseminated to a wide community of beneficiaries (scientists, farmers, beekeepers, industry, policy-makers, NGOs and the public).

Keywords: Pollination services, bee declines, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, food security

Working Groups WG1 Benefits of pollination services WG2 Pollination service delivery WG3 Mitigating pollination loss WG4 Exchanging approaches between wild bee and managed bee studies to explore drivers of pollinator decline Non-COST participants: Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa


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Action FA1308 DairyCare

Objectives The main objective of this Action is to improve the wellbeing of dairy animals through two mechanisms. Firstly, accelerated development and application of a range of relevant innovative technologies that assist and promote good husbandry, with focus on welfare-related biomarkers, activity-based welfare assessment and their combination and integration into "smart" husbandry support systems. Secondly, wider dissemination of established best-practice technologies, including from the dairy cow sector into niche sectors working with non-bovine and novel dairy animals

Abstract “Animal wellbeing is at the start of a chain that links to farmer profitability, product quality, consumer satisfaction and environmental sustainability”. This Action will focus the talents, skills and resources of researchers, industry partners and stakeholders in the dairy-foods chain onto the topic of dairy animal health and welfare. European dairy farms are getting larger. Dairy cows remain in focus, but there is growing interest in other dairy species. Milking technology is advancing, as is biotechnology relevant to animal wellbeing. European consumers prioritise animal wellbeing and product quality, whilst recognizing the importance of global food security and the need for increased milk production. Relevant research is happening across different disciplines (biological, ethological, technological) and in many different and diverse parts of Europe. The Action will maximum value from this research by networking, coordination and avoiding duplication. The Action’s scientific focus will be on new and emerging developments in welfare biomarkers, activity-based welfare assessment and their combination and integration into “smart” husbandry support systems that will ensure optimum welfare for dairy animals. The Action will disseminate outputs widely to researchers, industry, dairy farmer end-users, consumers, policy makers and society generally. It will ensure that European dairy research remains world-leading, that European dairy animals are the best cared-for in the world, and that European consumers can take pride in European dairy industries that are competitive, responsible and sustainable.

Keywords: dairy animals, health, welfare, dairy technologies, health biomarkers

Working Groups WG1 Biomarker-based Welfare Technologies WG2 Activity-based Welfare Technologies WG3 System-level Welfare Technologies Non-COST participants: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA


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Action FP1304 Towards robust PROjections of European FOrests UNDer climate change (PROFOUND)

Objectives The aim of the Action is to evaluate and improve our ability to predict the consequences of environmental change for European forests by addressing open questions regarding data needs, scaling, parameterization, and predictive accuracy of European forest models.

Abstract Changes in climate, environment and management are altering the world’s ecosystems. Forests are of particular importance in this context due to the significant economic, ecological and cultural services they provide. Projecting changes of these services for the next decades is crucial for a concerted European response to environmental change. There are a number of challenges to meet. Mechanistic forest models that can be extrapolated to new environmental conditions are still associated with considerable predictive uncertainty. The reasons are the lack of harmonized datasets at larger scales and the difficulty to obtain robust methods for parameterisation, evaluation and model comparison that make optimal use of the range of available data types and sources. PROFOUND addresses these problems by: 1) suggesting ways to harmonize and integrate European forest data for model projections 2) comparing forest modelling approaches in terms of scale, processes captured, data requirements and predictive uncertainty 3) developing standards for (Bayesian) model parameterisation, calibration, evaluation and comparison, and 4) facilitating probabilistic multi-model projections under climatic change. As a result, PROFOUND will strengthen the integration of forest modellers and data-providing experts across Europe and provide more reliable information about the uncertainty of model predictions to decision makers.

Keywords: Adaptation to climate change, parameterization and comparison of process-based forest models, sustainable forest management, Bayesian inference, multi-model projections

Working Groups WG1 Data integration and assimilation WG2 Uncertainty of process and scaling issues WG3 WG4

Model comparisons and multi-model assessmentsUncertainties in climate change impact modelling and implications for sustainable forest management

Non-COST participants: Russia, USA


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Action FP1305 Linking belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests (BioLink)

Objectives The main aim of the Action is to create a forum where current understanding of functional belowground biodiversity at different scales and trophic levels in European forests can guide the development of prescriptions for sustainable forest and tree crop management.

Abstract European forests are of immense importance to both society and the environment, providing a range of products and ecosystem services many of which are threatened by climate change. Our understanding of forest diversity, especially belowground, is currently limited and spread over distinct trophic levels. Little is known about the redundancy and functional diversity in forest soils. Numerous factors threaten existing belowground biodiversity, the simplification of forest ecosystems in pursuit of higher productivity being one of the prominent ones. There is an urgent need to link up existing scientific expertise at different levels to fully explain the connection between diversity, stability and function. Concurrently, forest modelling lacks coordinated activity aimed at bringing biodiversity into the fold - current emphasis is on yield and forest gap models. Elsewhere, food web models and ecosystem network models are well developed, but their application to forests is limited. This COST Action will provide a forum where current understanding of functional belowground biodiversity in European forests will be synthesised and its role communicated in a form suitable for modellers, policy makers and end-users.

Keywords: belowground diversity, ecosystem function, ecosystem services, climate change, forest management, tree crops

Working Groups WG1 Linking belowground biodiversity to ecosystem function WG2 Microbial and faunal functional biodiversity in belowground food-webs WG3 WG4

Belowground biodiversity in plantations and tree cropsFunctional diversity in forest models


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Action FP1306 Valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass side streams for sustainable production of chemicals, materials & fuels using low environmental impact technologies

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to develop low impact environmentally sound and cost-effective lignocellulose valorization technologies to be exploited in the production of industrially-relevant bio-derived chemicals, materials and fuels. An additional goal of the Action is to strengthen the scientific excellence in the area and to disseminate this information to European scientists, industry and other key stakeholders. The measurable deliverables will include Short Scientific Missions (exchanges) of young researchers, Workshops and Training Schools and joint publications in the focus areas. The scientific impact will have a long term effect on the transformation of the European industry towards bio-based products as a base for a European BioEconomy.

Abstract Scientists are prompted to seek alternative methodologies for the production of materials, fuels and chemicals using low environmental impact technologies and greener methodologies with comparable efficiencies to those currently available in view of the expected resource scarcity and future oil economy. Lignocellulosic residues can constitute a highly promising (and currently largely under-utilised) feedstock with a significant potential to be converted into useful end products. However, a joint multidisciplinary effort from several disciplines including (bio)chemistry, biology, (bio)chemical and biological engineering, forest products sciences as well as environmental sciences and experts in economic assessment in liaison with industry is required to appropriately address the efficient transformation of such residues. The main objective of this COST Action will be to develop a solid European multidisciplinary network able to provide a range of innovative alternatives to the valorisation of lignocellulosic residues to chemicals, fuels and materials making use of environmentally sound protocols from pretreatment/fractionation to conversion to valuable end products. Thus, this Action will bridge gaps between academic disciplines as well as between academia and industry by bringing together skills and expertise that cross scientific borders interconnecting different technology hubs across Europe, overcoming technological barriers, going beyond current lignocellulosic waste exploitation/management approaches.

Keywords: Valorisation of Lignocellulosic Biomass Residues, Biorefinery, Forest Products, Catalysis, Sustainability

Working Groups WG1 Preatreatment/fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass WG2 Valorisation of hemicellulose derived streams (xylan/xylose) WG3 WG4

Valorisation of lignin derived streams Life cycle analysis & techno-economical perspective


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Action IS1307 New Materialism: Networking European Scholarship on 'How Matter Comes to Matter’

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to network European new materialisms. How do they look, and what can they innovate?

Abstract

Scholars presently exploring ‘how matter comes to matter’ call themselves new or neo-materialists. They do radically interdisciplinary research based on the conviction that the current economic, ecological and political crises as well as technological advances and everyday practices do not allow a conception of ‘matter’ as (an) object(s) that could be captured along traditional disciplinary lines. Stock market crashes, earthquakes and the increasing complexification of political and social systems (and their breakdowns) demonstrate active interventions of materials previously regarded mute or socially constructed. Meaning-making (‘to matter’) does not occur only in the linguistic frameworks academic research applies to phenomena and crises in a retrograde move. The current European new materialist scene is vibrant but remains largely dispersed compared to the U.S.A., which dominates discussions at the moment. This COST Action wants to network European new materialisms: how do they look, and what can they innovate?

Keywords: New materialism, Neo-materialism, Interdisciplinarity, Europe, Materiality and Meaning-making

Working Groups WG1 Genealogies of New Materialism WG2 New Materialism on the Crossroads of the Natural and Human Sciences WG3 WG4

New Materialism Embracing the Creative Arts New Materialism Tackling Economical and Identity-Political Crises and Organizational Experiments

Non-COST participants: Australia


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Action IS1308 Populist Political Communication in Europe: Comprehending the Challenge of Mediated Political Populism for Democratic Politics

Objectives Despite the rise of populism across Europe, the presence and impact of populist political communication has not been at the centre of scientific interest until now. The primary objective of this COST Action therefore is to produce up-to-date knowledge on this issue via a coordinated, comparative, comprehensive and concerted scientific effort. This includes defining and explaining populist communication as well as examining the similarities and differences between European societies with respect to 1) populist actors and populist communicative strategies, 2) the role of old and new media and 3) the effects on citizens, and more widely European societies and the European public sphere. This Action is specifically designed to provide a problem-oriented and policy-relevant response to this phenomenon.

Abstract This COST Action brings together researchers to investigate populist political communication and its impact on democratic political life across Europe. This is necessary not only in light of recent populist backlashes in many democracies against governments and political and economic developments, but also in respect to changes in national media and communication systems. In order to comprehend this poorly understood aspect of contemporary political communication this Action will examine three interconnected but distinct aspects of populist political communication: First, populist political communicators and their strategies. Second, the media and populist discourses and frames. Third, citizen’s engagement with populist political messages and the effect of these messages. This Action will provide a thorough critical review of existing knowledge, much improved research co-ordination, widen co-operation between scholars, bridge gaps in existing knowledge and strengthen dialogue with various societal stakeholders, benefiting media organizations, NGOs and policy actors as well as the wider scientific community.

Keywords: populist political communication, news media, media effects, democracy, comparative research

Working Groups WG1 Populist actors as communicators WG2 The media and populism WG3 Citizens and populism


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Action IS1309 Innovations in Climate Governance: Sources, Patterns and Effects (INOGOV)

Objectives The main objective of this Action is to enhance Europe’s potential for innovation in the climate governance domain. This implies a need to explore the scope for states, working together with non-state actors, to stimulate the societal change needed to address climate change through engaging in innovative forms of policy, against a backdrop of more polycentric systems of climate governance. It does so by bringing together researchers that investigate the conditions under which new policies and governance forms such as emissions trading emerge (are invented), how they produce new patterns of governing as they diffuse, and what effects they produce, including issues of legitimacy and transparency. By levering greater value from previous research investments it will build, in consultation with key practitioners, a new, more interdisciplinary coalition of European researchers to address these challenges and, ultimately, inform the EUs quest for international leadership in this area.

Abstract Set against scientific predictions, the current governance responses to climate change are widely perceived to be inadequate. There is a growing perception that climate governance is becoming more polycentric, but far less agreement on how it will be coordinated and where the necessary leadership will originate. This is deeply problematic, because in theory innovative and cost effective policies should prevent losses arising from climate change and better capture any benefits. To address this gap, this Action will help build the capacity for innovating in climate governance by: identifying effective ways of stimulating and diffusing policy and governance innovations; building a stronger evaluation capacity to assess such innovations; and spreading usable knowledge in innovative ways such as via open access course materials. To do all this, it will create a new network of scholars and practitioners that have operated in a fragmented way thus far, specifically those that have focused on the ‘sources’ of policy innovation, those that know about their diffusion (‘patterns’), and those who are able to evaluate their ultimate ‘effects’. A COST Action is the perfect vehicle to defragment knowledge of these topics by extracting greater value from and better integrating across previous research investments.

Keywords: Innovation, governance, climate change, policy, leadership

Working Groups WG1 Sources WG2 Patterns WG3 WG4

Effects Synthesis

Non-COST participation: Australia, Canada, Georgia, USA, South Africa


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Action IS1310 Reassembling the Republic of Letters, 1500-1800 A digital framework for multi-lateral collaboration on Europe’s intellectual history

Objectives The immediate aim of this COST Action is to coordinate the discussions needed to plan a state-of-the-art digital system within which to collect, analyse, and visualise a pan-European pool of highly granular data on the Republic of Letters, and to experiment with the potential of such a system to facilitate new forms of radically multilateral scholarly collaboration and to communicate the fruits of that collaboration to the general public.

Abstract The early modern communications revolution allowed scholars to scatter correspondence across Europe, knitting together the international, knowledge-based civil society crucial to that era’s intellectual breakthroughs and formative for many of modern Europe’s values and institutions. The current IT revolution provides means for reassembling and disseminating this precious literary heritage for the first time while fostering new forms of scholarly cooperation. In pursuit of these aims, this COST Action will (1) undertake a historiographical reconsideration of the place of the Republic of Letters in Europe’s cultural formation; (2) coordinate the intensive discussion amongst librarians and archivists, IT experts, and scholars needed to plan a state-of-the-art digital system within which to collect a pan-European pool of highly granular data on the Republic of Letters; (3) design tools for navigating, analysing and visualising this huge pool of data, and for facilitating new forms of international and interdisciplinary scholarly collaboration, thereby consolidating a new virtual Republic of Letters; and (4) experiment with using this system to engage the broader public with the cutting-edge technical and scholarly work on this key phase of European cultural and intellectual integration.

Keywords: International communication and collaboration; European integration and identity; Cultural heritage resource enhancement and discoverability; Digital infrastructure.

Working Groups WG1 Space and Time WG2 People and Networks WG3 Texts and Topics WG4 Documents and Collections WG5 WG6

Data Exchange and Strategic PlanningSynthetic Studies and Outreach


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Action IS1311 Intergenerational Family Solidarity across Europe (INTERFASOL)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to synchronize, integrate and improve European research in the field of intergenerational family solidarity as well as to build bridges and promote knowledge transfer between the researchers, practitioners and policy-makers communities. This innovative Action will raise a multidisciplinary community to develop collaborative pan-European research to: i) determine the extent and benefits of intergenerational family solidarity across generations, in key life domains, for providers and recipients, ii) explore ways and identify best practice to strengthen family solidarity between generations, and iii) explore the opportunities for the development of cross-national studies that includes European countries from different and underexplored localizations.

Abstract Societies are urgently required to develop mechanisms, programmes and policies that will foster and nurture solidarity between the young, middle and older generations. Although there is growing activism in this field, our understanding of the benefits gained by different generations from the same family in distinct settings, such as in education, work, health and human development, is disaggregated and understudied and requires an interdisciplinary knowledge interchange and coordination between European countries. This Action will synchronize, integrate and improve European research in the field of intergenerational family solidarity, its benefits in key life domains and the ways in which it can be strengthened across generations. The knowledge exchange will improve the interdisciplinary communication between researchers from different countries to advance research in the field, and will promote exchange between research, practice and policies. The Action will launch a series of activities that includes an Action website, workgroups, scientific meetings, training visits and publications.

Keywords: Intergenerational family solidarity, Multidisciplinary and inter-country network, Researchers, practitioner and policy-makers communities

Working Groups WG1 Relationships between intergenerational family solidarity and key life domains WG2 Intergenerational Family Solidarity across European countries WG3 Nurturing family solidarity between generations WG4 Informing key stakeholders

Non-COST participation: USA


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Action IS1312 Structuring Discourse in Multilingual Europe (TextLink)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to make a European portal available of cross-linguistically monolingual or parallel corpora that have been enriched and made interoperable and co-searchable through annotation of discourse-relational devices and the information they convey.

Abstract Effective discourse in any language is characterized by clear relations between sentences and coherent structure. But languages vary in how relations and structure are signalled. While monolingual dictionaries and grammars can characterise the words and sentences of a language and bilingual dictionaries can do the same between languages, there is nothing similar for discourse. For discourse, however, discourse-annotated corpora are becoming available in individual languages. The TextLink Action will facilitate European multilingualism by (1) identifying and creating a portal into such resources within Europe – including annotation tools, search tools, and discourse-annotated corpora; (2) delineating the dimensions and properties of discourse annotation across corpora; (3) organising these properties into a sharable taxonomy; (4) encouraging the use of this taxonomy in subsequent discourse annotation and in cross-lingual search and studies of devices that relate and structure discourse; and (5) promoting use of the portal, its resources and sharable taxonomy. With partners from across Europe, TextLink will unify numerous but scattered linguistic resources on discourse structure. With its resources searchable by form and/or meaning and a source of valuable correspondences, TextLink will enhance the experience and performance of human translators, lexicographers, language technology and language learners alike.

Keywords: multilingualism, discourse relational devices, portal development, resources for corpus annotation and search, contrastive linguistics

Working Groups WG1 Resources WG2 Interoperable Annotation Guidelines WG3 Assessment of Empirical and Cognitive Soundness WG4 Tools

Non-COST participation: Argentina


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Action IC1305 Network for Sustainable Ultrascale Computing (NESUS)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to coordinate European efforts for proposing realistic solutions addressing major challenges of building sustainable ultrascale computing systems (such as application programmability, adaptive runtimes, big data, energy saving, and resilience, while guaranteeing performance), as well as the development of collaborative activities among the involved research groups. While most of current research projects address specific types of systems, this Action targets cross-layer issues in the system software and applications design to offer a unified view of ultrascale platforms, with emphasis on sustainability and usability of those systems.

Abstract Ultrascale systems are envisioned as large-scale complex systems joining parallel and distributed computing systems that will be two to three orders of magnitude larger that today´s systems. The EU is already funding large scale computing systems research, but it is not coordinated across researchers, leading to duplications and inefficiencies. The goal of the NESUS Action is to establish an open European research network targeting sustainable solutions for ultrascale computing aiming at cross fertilization among HPC, large scale distributed systems, and big data management. The network will contribute to glue disparate researchers working across different areas and provide a meeting ground for researchers in these separate areas to exchange ideas, to identify synergies, and to pursue common activities in research topics such as sustainable software solutions (applications and system software stack), data management, energy efficiency, and resilience. Some of the most active research groups of the world in this area are members of this proposal. This Action will increase the value of these groups at the European-level by reducing duplication of efforts and providing a more holistic view to all researchers, it will promote the leadership of Europe, and it will increase their impact on science, economy, and society.

Keywords: Ultrascale computing sustainability, programmability of ultrascale applications, energy efficiency, data management, resilience.

Working Groups WG1 State of the art and continuous learning in Ultra Scale Computing Systems WG2 Programming models and runtimes WG3 Resilience of applications and runtime environments WG4 Energy efficiency WG5 Applications

Non-COST participation: Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, USA


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Action IC1306 Cryptography for Secure Digital Interaction

Objectives The main objective of this Action is to bring together European experts in the different sub-areas of cryptography, with special focus on closing the growing gap between theoretical and practical research, and with the main goal of designing, analyzing and implementing cryptographic algorithms that allow citizens and entities to interact securely with each other.

Abstract As increasing amounts of sensitive data are exchanged and processed every day on the Internet, the need for security is paramount. Cryptography is the fundamental tool for securing digital interactions, and allows much more than secure communication: recent breakthroughs in cryptography enable the protection - at least from a theoretical point of view - of any interactive data processing task. This includes electronic voting, outsourcing of storage and computation, e-payments, electronic auctions, etc. However, as cryptography advances and becomes more complex, single research groups become specialized and lose contact with “the big picture”. Fragmentation in this field can be dangerous, as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. To ensure that the ideas produced in Europe’s many excellent research groups will have a practical impact, coordination among national efforts and different skills is needed. The aim of this COST Action is to stimulate interaction between the different national efforts in order to develop new cryptographic solutions and to evaluate the security of deployed algorithms with applications to the secure digital interactions between citizens, companies and governments. The Action will foster a network of European research centers thus promoting movement of ideas and people between partners.

Keywords: Cryptography, Security, Interactive Computation, Secure Data Processing.

Working Groups WG1 Protocol Design WG2 Protocol Analysis WG3 Implementation WG4 Cryptographic Primitives


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Action IC1307 The European Network on Integrating Vision and Language (iV&L Net): Combining Computer Vision and Language Processing For Advanced Search, Retrieval, Annotation and Description of Visual Data

Objectives The main objective of the Action is the creation of an interdisciplinary European vision-language research network targeting scientific advances and societal benefits in the four focus themes of (i) Integrated Modelling of Vision and Language for Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing Tasks; (ii) Applications of Integrated Models; (iii) Automatic Generation of Image and Video Descriptions; and (iv) Semantic Image and Video Search.

Abstract The explosive growth of visual and textual data (both on the World Wide Web and held in private repositories by diverse institutions and companies) has led to urgent requirements in terms of search, processing and management of digital content. Solutions for providing access to or mining such data depend on the semantic gap between vision and language being bridged, which in turn calls for expertise from two so far unconnected fields: Computer Vision (CV) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). The central goal of iV&L Net is to build a European CV/NLP research community, targeting 4 focus themes: (i) Integrated Modelling of Vision and Language for CV and NLP Tasks; (ii) Applications of Integrated Models; (iii) Automatic Generation of Image & Video Descriptions; and (iv) Semantic Image & Video Search. iV&L Net will organise annual conferences, technical meetings, partner visits, data/task benchmarking, and industry/end-user liaison. Europe has many of the world’s leading CV and NLP researchers. Tapping into this expertise, and bringing the collaboration, networking and community building enabled by COST Actions to bear, iV&L Net will have substantial impact, in terms of advances in both theory/methodology and real world technologies

Keywords: Computer Vision and Language Processing, Integrated Modelling of Vision and Language, Automatic Annotation of Image/Video, Language-driven Image/Video Search, Cross-media Data Management and Mining.

Working Groups WG1 Integrated Modelling of Vision and Language for CV and NLP Tasks WG2 Applications of Integrated Models WG3 Automatic Generation of Image and Video Descriptions WG4 Semantic Image and Video Search WG5 Industry and End-User Liaison


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Action MP1305 Flowing matter

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to support the scientific research for the development of a unified picture of flowing matter.

Abstract Flowing matter lies at the crossroads between industrial processes, fundamental physics, engineering and Earth Sciences. Depending on the microscopic interactions, an assembly of molecules or of mesoscopic particles can flow like a simple Newtonian fluid, deform elastically like a solid or behave in a complex manner. When the internal constituents are active, as for biological entities, one generally observes complex large-scale collective motions. The phenomenology is further complicated by the invariable tendency of fluids to display chaos at the large scales or when stirred strong enough. A fundamental understanding of flowing matter is still missing impeding scientific progress, effective control on industrial processes, as well as accurate predictions of natural phenomena. Flowing matter frequently presents a tight coupling between small-scale structures and large-scale flow urging for a unifying approach. The Action will coordinate existing research efforts into a synergetic plan of collaborations and exchanges to develop an innovative multi-scale approach able to encompass the traditional micro-, meso-, and macro-scales descriptions. Breakthroughs in the understanding of flowing matter will impact on fundamental key scientific issues, such as the glass, the elasto-plastic and the jamming transitions, as well as industrial applications including health, energy, cosmetics, detergents, food, paints, inks, oil and gas.

Keywords: Fluid dynamics, soft condensed matter, active matter, transport phenomena, complex rheology.

Working Groups WG1 Experimental techniques WG2 Numerical techniques WG3 Analytical techniques WG4 Applications, dissemination and outreach


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Action MP1306 Modern tools for spectroscopy on advanced materials: A European Modelling Platform (EUSpec)

Objectives The main objective of this Action is to gather theory activities in the field of spectroscopy to supply outstanding high level and up-to date support for demanding and sophisticated spectroscopy experiments using advanced large facility or laboratory radiation sources performed within academic as well as industrial fundamental and applied research.

Abstract This Action called EUSpec brings together the expertise of experts working in the science of advanced materials in order to build a coherent theory and computing platform with a new common data format to model sophisticated spectroscopy experiments performed at advanced radiation sources (ARS) as well as at academic and industrial research laboratories. Complementary theoretical approaches will allow to deal with a wide variety of materials. Ultimately, the accurate interpretation of spectroscopies will provide the means to access the intimate origin of the macroscopic behavior of materials, for which a detailed knowledge of the electronic, magnetic and geometrical structure at the atomic level is a prerequisite. The platform established through this Action will be widely available to academic as well as industrial users. Close contact with them will be kept through an extensive webpage, a series of workshops and a network of contact points at European synchrotron radiation (SR), X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) centers and neutron sources (NS). As the Action primarily aims at coordinating and synchronizing on-going developments and research activities as well as enhancing the interaction between theory and experiment in the wider field of spectroscopy, COST is the most suitable framework to reach these goals.

Keywords: Computational Materials Science, Theory of Spectroscopy, Advanced Radiation Sources research, Time-Resolved Spectroscopies

Working Groups WG1 Correlation WG2 Spectroscopy WG3 Time-resolution WG4 WG5

Platform Experiment

Non-COST participation: Japan


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Action MP1307 Stable Next-Generation Photovoltaics: Unraveling degradation mechanisms of Organic Solar Cells by complementary characterization techniques (StableNextSol)

Objectives The Action aims to create a highly interdisciplinary network of academic and industrial research laboratories to study the degradation mechanisms in state-of-the-art OPVs. The Action will draw on and expand the current expertise of the partners and generate fundamental knowledge and expertise to foster unconventional solutions to these problems and to develop innovative, highly stable, flexible OPVs. The Action will promote network collaboration among partners from academia and industry by the organization of workshops, meetings and industrial days. It will also give special emphasis on the training of ESR through training schools and short-term scientific missions. The main scientific impact of this COST Action is the identification of the principal mechanisms of degradation in state-of-the-art OPVs, in order to develop highly stable next-generation OPVs. It will broaden the knowledge within the European and international communities and will speed up the market entry of OPVs. The impact of the Action may extend beyond specific areas outlined in this proposal, as the limited lifetime of organic electronic materials remains a problem in many optoelectronic applications. The Action will also influence young researchers to continue the research and understanding of photovoltaic cells, and module reliability and stability, in close collaboration with industry partners.

Abstract Organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) have major potential as a principal source of clean electricity for the future. However, the large-scale introduction of OPVs onto the market is currently limited by their stability. Initial reports indicate that the required lifetime of more than 20 years is theoretically feasible. However, progress in this area has been slow, because the complex and hierarchical degradation paths involved can only be understood by applying complementary chemical and physical characterization techniques. The Action StableNextSol aims to create a highly interdisciplinary network of academic and industry researchers to study the degradation mechanisms occurring in state-of-the-art OPVs, based on the use of complementary analytical techniques. The Action seeks to integrate and generate fundamental knowledge and expertise to foster disruptive innovations targeted to mitigate device failure, and aims to develop new concepts for OPVs that are more stable and reach lifetimes longer than 20 years. The added value of this COST Action will be the contribution of photovoltaic researchers at the European (EU) and international levels along the entire value chain, and of public-sector decision makers who will promote the implementation of specialisation policies and standards currently lacking in this area. This Action will contribute to the development of the new generation of researchers in the field by supporting the cooperation and interaction between different laboratories and large European infrastructures.

Keywords: Organic solar cells, polymer solar cells, stability, degradation protocols, characterization.

Working Groups WG1 Technology Monitoring WG2 Organic solar cells and test structure fabrication WG3 Solar cell and test structure degradation following protocols. WG4 WG5 WG6

Non-destructive analysis of degraded devices Destructive analysis of degraded devices New Device Engineering

Non-COST participation: China, Russia, USA


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Action MP1308 Towards an Oxide-Based Electronics (TO-BE)

Objectives The TO-BE Action will network nationally-funded and EU-funded researches on metal oxides within the ERA, allowing to: define targets, strategies and methods; reduce fragmentation; aggregate communities with complementary know-how; attract and train a new generation of researchers; establish a regular know-how transfer with corporations; disseminate knowledge on metal-oxide-based science and technology among national and EY Entities and the Public Society.

Abstract Transition-metal-oxide-based films and heterostructures are at the core next-generation nanoelectronic, microelectromechanical and macroelectronic devices expected to revolutionize fields of major social relevance as digital information and communication technologies, microactuation/microsensing and energy conversion. Such class of materials is characterized by an unprecedented wealth of functionalities, often being relevant to different fields of application, found in compounds that are extremely similar to each other in terms of chemistry, crystal structure and fundamental mechanisms. The necessity to handle the unprecedented complexity of these materials rescales efforts of solid state scientists to a higher level and poses challenges that no individual Institution or Nations can face. The approach of the Action is based on the belief that fundamental and technological unsolved issues lie on grounds that are common to all transition metal oxides. The know-how progress should therefore not be addressed independently by separate communities concentrating on understanding single phenomena or exploiting single functionalities, but resorting, in view of the above mentioned similarities, to a thoroughly multidisciplinary approach. The TO-BE Action will network nationally- and EU-funded researches active on synthesis, analysis, modelling and applications of transition metal oxides within the ERA, allowing to: define targets, strategies and methods; reduce fragmentation; aggregate communities with complementary know-how; attract and train a new generation of researchers; establish a regular know-how transfer with private corporations and other stakeholders; built the future oxide electronics community by fostering the participation of early stage researchers and tackling gender unbalance. The success of the Action will strengthen the innovative capacity of EU industry by making qualitatively new enabling technologies accessible for commercial exploitation.

Keywords: Multifunctional oxide materials, films and heterostructures,nanoelectronics, microelectromechanical systems, macroelectronics.

Working Groups WG1 Fundamental Understanding (FU)WG2 Growth Control (GC) WG3 Towards Applications (TA)


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Action TU1304 WINd Energy Technology Reconsideration to enhance the COncept of Smart ciTies (WINERCOST)

Objectives The WINERCOST Action objective is from one side to foster and accelerate long-term enhancement of Built environment Wind energy Technology (BWT) in Europe by scrutinizing the wealth of knowledge on Wind Energy Technology (WET) accumulated during the last decades and from the other side to investigate and propose strategies of societal acceptance for the acceleration of the application of such BWT systems.

Abstract WINERCOST Action aims to merge the efforts of the European research groups working on the Wind Energy Technology and the pathways to introduce it by means of robust applications to the urban and suburban built environment, thus enhancing the concept of Smart Future Cities. This Action revisits safe, cost-effective and societally accepted wind energy technology for consideration in the design and development of the future urban/suburban habitat. The principal objective of the WINERCOST activity is to collect the existing expertise on the Built environment Wind energy Technology (BWT) recently developed as a follow-up of the Onshore/Offshore Wind Energy Technology (ON/OFF-WET) and to investigate effective adoption methods for enabling the concept of Smart Future Cities.In addition, the utmost important issue of the social acceptance strategy will be scrutinized in close collaboration with municipality authorities, industry, manufacturers as well as the international wind energy organisations and platforms. A meticulously developed dissemination plan centrally based on the Action's website, scientific publications in international journals, conferences and training schools, as well as the motivation of senior prominent experts, early stage researchers and opinion makers and involvement of industry and city authorities leaders to enhance the relevant social acceptance strategy.

Keywords: Built environment Wind energy Technology, Wind Energy Technology, Sustainable Energy Systems, Social Acceptance of Wind Energy Technology, Smart Future Cities

Working Groups WG1 Wind simulation, characterization etc. issues (CFD, Maps, etc) with reference to theoretical, experimental

and numerical research approaches WG2 ON- and OFFSHORE WET projects and the respective accumulated expertise WG3 Non-technical issues of WET including societal acceptance, European energy policy and municipalities-

researchers-industries dialogue Non-COST participation: Canada


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Action TU1305 Social networks and travel behaviour

Objectives This COST action aims to initiate a new collaboration framework for the various EU research groups in urban transport and urban networks including sociology, transport research, urban planning, architecture, geography and IT science to develop a new transport paradigm based on ICT social networks and their subsequent travel behaviour. Through this collaboration we expect the COST partners to focus their research on exploring the relationships among ICT social networks, social travel behaviour, and spatial configuration In particular, the goals are to explore the ways in which social activities become mobilised in space, to identify the ways in which social ties affect the integration of local public transport into urban patterns, to establish a linkage between social networks, travel behaviour and urban structure and to broaden the theoretical and practical framework of the field, taking into account both urban structure, and jointly performed social activities.

Abstract The past decade has gone through rapid ICT developments, which had wide societal impacts. ICT enhanced the shift from social groups defined by location to individually-based social networks. High-speed telecoms allow for ad-hoc personalised networks that affect travel behaviour. Unfortunately, research has lagged behind ICT advances, as our understanding of current travel behaviour is limited and existing urban mobility solutions cater to population behaviour that no longer exists. The transport demand models used today are based on inadequate understanding of the new social structure. A new transport paradigm is needed for the ultra-urbanized smart city. This COST action aims to initiate a new collaboration framework for the various EU research groups that develops a new transport paradigm based upon ICT social networks and their subsequent travel behavior in the urban environment. The goals are to explore ways in which social activities become mobilised in space, identify how social ties affect the integration of local public transport into urban patterns, and develop a rigorous conceptual framework for new ideas and methodologies. This work will be achieved by creating a joint discussions platform that includes seminars, thematic working groups, discussion sessions, workshops and publishing scientific results.

Keywords: Social networks, travel behaviour, urban development, ICT, transport system

Working Groups WG1 Social networks and travel behaviour analysis, to identify the gaps within current theories and paradigms for

analysing ICT based social networks including privacy issues WG2 WG3 WG4

Scenario building and simulations, of various alternative developments in land use and urban structure Urban analysis, that relates to social aspects and transport behaviour in the built environment Dissemination, uptake and policy measures, including privacy and data security


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Action TU1306 Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness (CYBERPARKS)

Objectives CyberPark aims at sharing and advancing knowledge on the interactions among public spaces - urban design - urban sociology - behaviour research - ICT. It focuses on: - Coordinating and enhancing research efforts in how to deal with opportunities and/or risks of ICT usage in public spaces, and the meaning for design practice, - Enhancing and testing research methodologies into a new context, considering the social function of public spaces, - Establishing links and promoting collaboration among experts, e.g. creative industry, practice and consultancy. - Forming self-sustained empirical knowledge which emerges from use of ICT by place users, and via experimental research gaining empirical knowledge and synthesising the impacts of ICT on public spaces into a set of guidelines for city planners, urban developers, and urban policies, regulatory and decision-making bodies. Thus considering ICT as: - a potential for social innovation and well-being and as method for social research: What changes and challenges do ICT pose for urban spaces and therefore also for human behaviour? - innovative tools for better, bottom up/participative design: How can we create contemporary public spaces that are thrilling and attractive for cyber enthusiasts and which encourage people to enhance social contracts and practice physical activities outdoors? What help can ICT offer to reduce wrong usage of ICT (e.g. internet-addiction) and bring more people outdoors? - A potential for enhancing and building up (digital) sense of (real) place: How to use ICT and urban games to connect virtual and real places and bring (new) users outdoor? - a motor for changes (1) in the urban environment (urban spaces, streets, infrastructure , street furniture, etc.),and (2) on social networks for private topics and family, for business and school, for fun and leisure.

Abstract The Action's main objective is to create a research platform on the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the production of public open spaces, and their relevance to sustainable urban development. The impacts of this relationship will be explored from social, ecological and urban design perspectives. ICT is a driving force, media and tool, which operates as a mediator between users and their virtual and real worlds. Public spaces have multiple functions, including social gathering places where outdoor interactions between people can occur and communication and information exchange can take place. The relationship between ICT devices and public open spaces is not new but is growing at a rapid pace, becoming a challenge for ICT experts, spatial planners and social scientists. ICTs cause and enable innovative outdoor social practices which challenge spatial and social experts to use them in policies, methodologies, design and research to produce responsive and inclusive urban places. The Action deals with opportunities and risks ICTs offer to the user, via the appreciation, design and usage of public spaces. It exploits the benefits of interweaving a green experience with digital engagement via sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas, and analysing public spaces.

Keywords: ICT, Mobile Technology and Social Networks, Public Open Space, Place Design and Users, Spatial Development and Urban Resilience, Location Based Gaming, Biophilia

Working Groups WG1 Digital methods WG2 Urban ethnography WG3 Conceptual reflection WG4 Creating CyberPark WG5 Networking & dissemination


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Action TD1305 Improved Protection of Medical Devices Against Infection (IPROMEDAI)

Objectives The COST Action aims at (1) investigating the scientific, engineering and clinical issues that have been identified as the key challenges in addressing the problem of DAI; (2) finding dedicated solutions for the unmet needs in the translational process to applications (points (a)-(e) above); (3) identifying novel designed biomaterials/surfaces with enhanced antimicrobial device functionality and improved long- term stability; (4) documentation of comprehensive sets of standard and novel test methods with appropriate reference materials allowing for comparison of outcomes; (5) establishment of structure/property/function relationships and correlations between in vitro and in vivo data and (6) providing dedicated and integrated training programs across the technical disciplines and socioeconomic aspects of the field.

Abstract Device-Associated Infection (DAI) constitutes one of the key reasons for clinical failure, impaired functionality, and reduced lifetime of medical devices, resulting in high distress for the patients and huge socioeconomic costs. The prime objective of this Action is the identification and assessment of recently developed anti-DAI approaches in a comprehensive Pan-European effort. Understanding and combating DAI is a device-dependent, highly complex and transdisciplinary challenge requiring collaborations between clinics to define the practical boundary conditions and unmet needs, material and surface engineering to elaborate on enhanced material/drug combination systems, pharmacology and (micro)biology to explore novel antimicrobial active compounds and establish advanced, DAI-relevant test systems in vitro as well as in dedicated animal models. The most promising concepts and engineered prototypic devices are finally evaluated in a preclinical setting. Action Members from the medical device industry and insurance business will proactively exchange knowledge on technical, regulatory, risk analysis and economic issues, all of which are of utmost importance for a successful translation of academic innovation to engineered systems that fulfil the overall requirements of the different stakeholders involved. This Action will provide an extensive, interdisciplinary training program including scientific/technical, regulatory, market and social skills contents; this will contribute to strengthen the interactions within the Action consortium and improve the chances of early-career researchers on the job market. Overall, success in this Action will contribute to improved healthy-life expectancy of patients, reduction in health care costs, and increase the competitiveness of the European medical device industry on the world market.

Keywords: Life science, medical device, infection, implant, functional material, smart coating, antimicrobial, antibiotic, nanocontainer, drug release, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, biosensor, biocompatibility, toxicity, in vitro assay, in vivo study, regulatory aspect, nanomaterial, bioabsorbable polymer, surface analysis

Working Groups WG1 Antimicrobial Material & Surface Strategy WG2 Antimicrobial Active Compounds (AACs) WG3 Mechanistic Studies, in vitro Testing, Sensing and Modelling WG4 WG5

Advanced in vivo Testing and Preclinical Studies Clinical Background and Needs

Non-COST participation: Australia


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Action TD1306 New Frontiers of Peer Review (PEERE)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability of peer review through a trans-disciplinary, cross-sectoral collaboration.

Abstract Peer review is a cornerstone of science, whose quality and efficiency depends on a complex, large-scale collaboration process, which is sensitive to motivations, incentives and institutional contexts. Recent proofs of the failures of peer review, due to judgment bias and parochialism and cases of misconduct, have contributed to calls for a reconsideration of the rigour and quality of the process. This Action aims to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability of peer review through a trans-disciplinary, cross-sectoral collaboration. The objectives of this Action are: (i) to analyse peer review in different scientific areas by integrating quantitative and qualitative research and incorporating recent experimental and computational findings; (ii) to evaluate implications of different models of peer review and to explore new incentive structures, rules and measures to improve collaboration in all stages of the peer review process; (iii) to involve science stakeholders in data sharing and testing initiatives, (iv) to define collaboratively a joint research agenda that points to an evidence-based peer review reform. Not only can a better peer review system improve the self- regulation processes of science to benefit all science stakeholders, it can also increase the social recognition and credibility of science in Europe.

Keywords: Peer review, models of peer review, peer review reform, transparency, bias, science stakeholders, cross-sectoral collaboration, cross-methodological research, incentives, reviewers, scientific misconduct, scientific publishing systems, data sharing

Working Groups WG1 Theory, analysis and models of peer review WG2 Data sharing and testing WG3 Research and Implementation Agenda Non-COST participation: Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, USA


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Action TD1307 EUropean MOdel Reduction NETwork (EU-MORNET)

Objectives This COST Action will address the challenge of significantly bringing down computation times for realistic simulations and co-simulations of industrial, scientific, economic and societal models by developing appropriate ‘model reduction’ methods for linear and nonlinear, autonomous and non-autonomous, parameterized and non-parameterized models, with or without variability and/or additional experimental data, and enabling optimization of designs. The Action will also lead to a unified framework of ‘model reduction’ techniques to achieve this challenge.

Abstract

This proposed COST Action Network will bring together all major groups in Europe working on a range of model reduction strategies with applications in many of the COST Domains. The increasing complexity of mathematical models used to predict real-world systems, such as climate or the human cardiovascular system, has led to a need for model reduction, which means developing systematic algorithms for replacing complex models with far simpler ones that still accurately capture the most important aspects of the phenomena being modelled. The COST Action Network will emphasize model reduction topics in several themes: 1. design, optimization, and control theory in real-time with applications in engineering; 2. data assimilation, geometry registration, and parameter estimation with a special attention to real-time computing in biomedical engineering and computational physics; 3. real-time visualization of physics-based simulations in computer science; 4. the treatment of high-dimensional problems in state space, physical space, or parameter space; 5. the interactions between different model reduction and dimensionality reduction approaches; The focus of the COST Action Network is methodological, however, a wide range of both scientific and industrial problems of high complexity is anticipated to motivate, stimulate, and ultimately demonstrate the meaningfulness and efficiency of the proposed action.

Keywords: model reduction, numerical mathematics, systems and control, stochastics, parametrization, tensor analysis, reduced basis methods, Krylov methods, balanced truncation

Working Groups WG1 Conferences WG2 Education & Training WG3 Case Studies WG4 Membership & Publicity

Non-COST participation: Russia, USA


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Action TD1308 Origins and evolution of life on Earth and in the Universe (ORIGINS)

Objectives This proposed COST Action addresses three basic questions that fascinate and intrigue scientists, and the general public alike, questions that are pivotal to our understanding and appreciation of our place in the universe. Where, when and how did life emerge and evolve on Earth? What are the conditions under which life can exist? Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe and, if it does, how can it be detected and identified?

Abstract Where, when and how did life appear on Earth? Has life developed elsewhere in the Universe? These fundamental questions have fascinated humanity since antiquity. However, it is only now that results from recent solar system and exoplanets space missions (e.g. Mars Science Laboratory, Cassini-Huygens, Curiosity, CoRot, Kepler, Rosetta, etc.) have provided the opportunity for an integrated research programme that can answer , at least partly, these crucial questions. Such a programme necessitates a transdisciplinary approach involving: Astronomers investigating the formation and evolution of

stellar systems hosting potentially habitable planets, Astrochemists studying the formation of complex molecules

of prebiotic interest in extraterrestrial environments, Planetologists investigating the habitability of planets and

their moons, Space scientists and engineers preparing missions to Solar

System planets and developing technology for remote sensing of biomarkers on exoplanets,

Geologists studying how the early Earth formed and evolved into a habitable planet,

Chemists studying the transition from abiotic organic chemistry to biochemistry,

Paleontologists investigating the first traces of life, Biologists investigating the extent and limits of biological

diversity on Earth and how life emerged, evolved and diversified in early times,

Philosophers and historians of science exploring the origins of life to answer the central question: «what is life»?

Such a transdisciplinary approach requires a framework within which to develop the research, training and outreach necessary for such a scientific programme and a COST TDP Action is certainly the best (unique) structure for launching such a European programme.

Keywords: early earth environment, traces of life, origin of life, early life evolution, limits of life, space exploration, habitable planets

Working Groups WG1 Understanding the formation and evolution of planetary systems and habitable planets WG2 Searching for the origins of the building blocks of life WG3 Tracing the origin and evolution of life on Earth and finding its limits WG4 Detecting life on other planets and satellites

Non-COST participation: Australia, Canada, South Africa


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Action TD1309 Play for Children with Disabilities (LUDI)

Objectives The main objective of the Action is to spread awareness on the importance of giving children with disabilities the opportunity to play, while ensuring equity in their exercise of the right to play and by putting play at the centre of the multidisciplinary research and intervention regarding the children with disabilities.

Abstract LUDI network aims at the creation of a novel and autonomous field of research and intervention on play for children with disabilities. The network has three main objectives: a) collecting and systematizing all existing competence and skills: educational researches, clinical initiatives, know-how of resources centers and users’ associations; b) developing new knowledge related to settings, tools and methodologies associated with the play of children with disabilities; c) disseminating the best practices emerging from the joint effort of researchers, practitioners and users. Play for disabilities is the object of a fragmented set of studies and it has given rise, in different countries and at different times, to niche projects (i.e. social robotics for autistic children, adapted toys for children with cognitive and motor disabilities, accessible playground areas). This theme is not yet a recognized area of research because of two main factors: a) disability represents a set of heterogeneous functioning frames; b) play is not leading the educational and rehabilitation contexts. The multi-disciplinary cooperation of researchers and practitioners in the fields of psycho-pedagogical sciences, health and rehabilitation sciences, humanities, assistive technologies and robotics as well as the contribution of end-users’ organizations will grant the right to play even for children with disabilities, and finally establish play as the main element for children’s development. LUDI will devote specific attention to the societal challenges identified in Horizon 2020 (i.e. the transfer of knowledge to clinical practice, the enhancement of the functionalities of children with disabilities through the implementation of technologies and practices).

Keywords: play, children with disabilities, technology

Working Groups WG1 Children’s play in relation to the types of disabilities WG2 Tools and technologies for the infant play of children with disabilities WG3 Contexts for play of children with disabilities WG4 Methods, tools and frameworks for the development of the child with disabilities’ play

Non-COST participation: Canada, Colombia, Russia

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Participation of Non-COST countries

Biomedicine and Molecular Biosciences (BMBS) BM1309 – USA (US) .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and Technologies (CMST) CM1306 – Australia (AU), Russia (RU), USA (US) ................................................................................................................................................. 10

CM1307 – India (IN), USA (US), Uruguay (UY) ...................................................................................................................................................... 11

Earth System Science and Environmental Management (ESSEM) ES1306 – Australia (AU), Canada (CA), USA (US) ................................................................................................................................................. 12

ES1308 – USA (US) ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Food and Agriculture (FA) FA1305 – Thailand (TH), South Africa (ZA)............................................................................................................................................................. 17

FA1306 – Australia (AU), China (CN) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18

FA1307 – Argentina (AR), Australia (AU), New Zealand (NZ), South Africa (ZA) .................................................................................................. 19

FA1308 – Australia (AU), Canada (CA), New Zealand (NZ), USA (US) ................................................................................................................. 20

Forests, their Products and Services (FPS) FP1304 – Russia (RU), USA (US) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Individuals, Societies, Cultures and Health (ISCH) IS1307 – Australia (AU) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

IS1309 – Australia (AU), Canada (CA), Georgia (GE), USA (US), South Africa (ZA) ............................................................................................ 26

IS1311 – USA (US) .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28

IS1312 – Argentina (AR) .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) IC1305 – Australia (AU), Canada (CA), India (IN), Mexico (MX), USA (US) .......................................................................................................... 30

Materials, Physics and Nanosciences (MPNS) MP1306 – Japan (JP) .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 34

MP1307 – China (CN), Russia (RU), USA (US) ...................................................................................................................................................... 35

Transport and Urban Development (TUD) TU1304 – Canada (CA) ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 37

Trans-Domain Proposals (TDP) TD1305 – Australia (AU) .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 40

TD1306 – Ukraine (UA), Brazil (BR), Canada (CA), USA (US) ............................................................................................................................... 41

TD1307 – Russia (RU), USA (US) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 42

TD1308 – South Africa (ZA), Canada (CA), Australia (AU) ..................................................................................................................................... 43

TD1309 – Russia (RU), Canada (CA), Colombia (CO) ........................................................................................................................................... 44

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New COST Action proposals - Vlaanderen (FWO) … · BM1307 – European network to integrate...

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