The EU supports scientists, researchers and innovators in pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Discover some of the groundbreaking work in sectors such as soil fertility, maritime security and cultural heritage preservation.
Project examples
The food industry is contributing to mountains of process waste, leading to pollution and soil degradation. Researchers are looking at a wide range of options to turn these residues into bio-based soil enhancers. It is believed that this could not only address waste but also reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers by up to 80%.
After a common EU platform for tackling threats at sea, including smuggling and illegal fishing, was launched in 2024, the next stage was to integrate surveillance seamlessly with border control and customs agencies. A pan-European collaboration is working to enhance border management and handle illegal activities, such as cross-border trafficking.
Europe’s ancient monuments and other cultural heritage face major environmental threats, from human-made climate change and pollution to natural events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and extreme weather. Aided by AI, researchers developed innovative tools to analyse these impacts and ultimately help preserve this valuable cultural heritage.