The EU supports scientists, researchers and innovators in pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Discover some of the groundbreaking work in sectors such as governance, computer and information sciences, and ship design.
Project examples
The media have referred to water as Europe’s next crisis, with the region’s rivers, lakes, seas and groundwater under increasing pressure from pollution, exploitation and climate change. EU-supported research work is seeking to improve management of water in agriculture, industry, energy production and water utilities through innovative models explored in Living Labs.
International shipping generates around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, calling for future-proof designs that reduce environmental impact. A multi-country research effort saw widespread international collaboration across Europe to explore the likes of foldable steel and fibreglass ‘sails’ to harness energy from the wind on a cargo ship and the use of hydrogen power on a cruise ship.
Biodiversity plays a central role in everything from food production to climate regulation, human health and water quality. Given its importance, a collaborative research effort is exploring the interactions between people and nature, with the hope of encouraging policymakers to integrate biodiversity more into their decision-making. The team has been developing an app to support this, while finding that over 30% of our interactions with nature can bring about positive change.