Università degli Studi di Messina

ERC-POC
SOLAR-H2 - Solar Artificial Trees for Hydrogen on-Demand Production

The ERC-funded SOLAR-H2 project aims to develop an artificial tree-like technology for the on-demand distributed production of H2. This solution would have near-zero operational costs by using solar energy and capturing reactants from the ambient air instead of high-purity water and grid electricity. To achieve this, the project will utilise photo-electrocatalysis along with a closed-loop CO2 recirculation system to improve sustainability and carbon efficiency.

MSCA Staff Exchanges
FEMENA - FEMale ENtrepreneurs in Asia: Innovation, Policies, Challenges and Opportunities in: Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam

FEMENA project will establish an interdisciplinary and international research programme focused on how female entrepreneurship is framed and supported across Asia. The project will develop a framework based on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, exploring how individuals in diverse contexts assess their opportunities and abilities rather than relying on overly specific or path-dependent categories.

MSCA and Citizens
MEDNIGHT - MEDITERRANEAN RESEARCHERS' NIGHT (2024 AND 2025 EDITIONS)

MEDNIGHT shows the attractiveness and importance of the researchers’ work and professions to the general public, with a focus on young people, carrying out a series of activities framed under the common umbrella of what we have come to call Mediterranean Science, a source of progress and well-being. Mediterranean Science relates to research developed in our territories but also the countless collaborations with other EU researchers.

MSCA and Citizens
MEDNIGHT - MEDITERRANEAN RESEARCHERS' NIGHT (2022 AND 2023 EDITIONS)

MEDNIGHT project will organise the Mediterranean Researchers’ Night aiming at generating a Mediterranean unity, providing awareness about common problems, fostering scientific careers, reinforcing researchers’ commitment and progress, and putting science and scientists at the cornerstone. Researchers call this ‘Mediterranean Science’. A special focus will be on youngsters and female researchers. Events and activities will cover pollution, climate, clean energies, nutrition and more. The MEDNIGHT consortium will include Valencia, San Juan, Orihuela, Torrevieja, Messina, Lesbos, Nicosia, Istanbul and other satellite cities around the Mediterranean sea.

MSCA-DN
TOPOCOM - Topological solitons in ferroics for unconventional computing
TOPOCOM is a network of leading European groups from different disciplines and sectors selected to provide comprehensive training on the integrative concepts underlying the science of topological solitons in ferroic materials and their application in unconventional computing. . TOPOCOM will establish innovative solutions for more sustainable information technology and educate the next generation of experts, highly qualified to tackle the technological key challenges of growing complexity in an important sector for EU economic development.
 

MSCA-DN
MetacMed - Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials for biomedical and energy harvesting applications

MetacMed aims to link basic research on acoustic and mechanical metamaterials (MMs) to health and well-being issues. MMs have some remarkable properties, though to make them properly applicable to the targeted applications, their design must be carefully tailored. This will be achieved by bringing together a range of supervisory expertise and creating a network of 10 doctoral candidates (DCs), some of whom will work in the industry. 
 

MSCA-DN
HOTBIO - A holistic approach to training a new generation of scientists in marine biodiscovery

Biologically active compounds produced by microorganisms that live in marine environments have the potential to be developed into new drugs and treatments for various diseases. These marine microbial natural products often have unique structures and biological activities. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HOTBIO project will train early-stage scientists to bring these products from discovery to commercialisation. This involves every stage of the drug discovery pipeline, including microbial isolation, compound purification, identification, analogue synthesis and drug development. The project’s goal is to create a new generation of scientists that can bring these promising compounds to the bedside, where they can have a positive impact on human health.
 

MSCA Staff Exchanges
FEEDACTIV - Bioactive compound-base feed for fish quality

FEEDACTIV focuses on the development of innovative aquaculture feed based on natural bioactive compounds to improve the immune system of farmed fish and reduce annual costs. The novel feed consists of various species of marine microalgae, seaweed and land-based herbal plants. It will be used as enrichment of the fish feed and feasibly as partial fishmeal substitution with low-cost ingredients. The project aims to form an international and inter-sectoral network of organisations working on a joint research programme. FEEDACTIV will bring together experts from industry and academia from Romania, Greece and Italy.
 

MSCA-DN
STRIKE - Comprehensive STRategIes to tacKlE malignant tumors: from nanomedicine and theranostics to precision medicine

The STRIKE project aims to develop a research and training network in nanomedicine/precision medicine, paving the way for a new generation of entrepreneurial and innovative multidisciplinary young researchers. The focus will be on the design and synthesis of nanostructured magnetic materials for the development of magnetic field-responsive nanotherapeutics for osteosarcoma combinational therapy. In addition, the developed nanomaterials will be investigated for liquid biopsy applications in breast cancer patients. The STRIKE objectives include training eight highly skilled doctoral candidates and strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation within the EU nanomedicine and precision medicine research networks.

Cluster 1 - Health
OBELISK - Fighting childhood obesity to stay healthy all over the life

The EU-funded OBELISK project aims to shed light on the causes of obesity and provide precision medicine for children with obesity. It will introduce innovations in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of causative factors that either enable or prevent the transition to obesity during childhood. It will also develop early predictive tools. OBELISK will collaborate with families, scientific and medical communities, schools, municipalities, and industries.
 

Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry & Space
TEMA - Trusted Extremely Precise Mapping and Prediction for Emergency Management

As weather-related disasters are on the rise, disaster management is more important than ever. The use of advanced technologies is considered essential. The EU-funded TEMA project will improve natural disaster management (NDM) by automating precise semantic 3D mapping and disaster evolution prediction. To that end, it will analyse and combine many heterogeneous extreme data sources and develop an integrated, ground-breaking NDM platform. TEMA will focus on real-time semantic extraction from multiple heterogeneous data modalities and sources and construct a semantically annotated 3D disaster area map, which will be constantly updated, allowing the personnel to visualise and evaluate different response strategies through simulation.
 

Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
THUMBS UP - Thermal energy storage solUtions to optimally Manage BuildingS and Unlock their grid balancing and flexibility Potential

Thermal energy storage (TES) makes it possible to store energy for use days or months later. TES technology stocks thermal energy by heating or cooling a storage medium. The EU funded THUMBS UP project will develop and demonstrate daily and weekly TES for EU buildings. By innovating at different levels, from modelling to materials and enhancing heat exchanger solutions, the project will design high-performance TES solutions in line with EU sustainable economy goals. Specifically, it will create bio-based phase change materials from raw materials currently wasted in the EU food industry and thermochemical materials relying on non-hazardous materials. The project will set up three demo sites in Spain and Sweden – in different EU climates and energy market contexts.

EIC - Pathfinder
CharCool - Rethinking the future of clean cooling through a revolutionary class of thermally-driven chiller based on a novel bio-based thermochemical material.

The EIC-funded CharCool project uses natural energy and nature-based methods to create a sustainable cooling system. It stores excess renewable energy or waste heat for seasonal use, aiming to transform the cooling industry with a flexible, reliable, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. This initiative aims to revolutionise the cooling industry by offering a flexible, reliable, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods. 
 

EIC - Pathfinder
SUPERVAL - SUstainable Photo-ElectRochemical VALorization of flue gases

The treatment of post-combustion emissions is currently economically unfeasible for achieving sustainability. The low concentration of CO2 in these streams renders the use of current carbon capture (CC) technologies impossible. Even if CC technologies are implemented, there are no practical uses for the captured CO2 apart from geological long-term storage. The EU-funded SUPERVAL project aims to tackle several aspects of this challenge by developing a new technology. The technology will be designed to provide scientific solutions using low-cost, non-critical raw materials and processes while also removing and valorising the NOx contaminants from flue gas. The project aims to capture harmful flue gas emissions and convert them into valuable chemicals using a solar-powered system, thereby limiting pollutants and generating added-value chemicals.

EIC - Pathfinder 
EPOCH - Electrocatalytic Production of liquid Organic hydrogen carrier and CHemicals from lignin

Although hydrogen was used to power combustion engines years ago, fossil fuel took over in most energy-driven sectors. Hydrogen offers a greener energy alternative as it does not emit pollutants or greenhouse gases. However, it must be generated from compounds that contain it from domestic resources and biomass, fossil fuels as well as from water. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the EPOCH project will develop a novel electrocatalytic device that requires less energy to produce hydrogen by loading it into specific chemical carriers. The improved energy efficiency and lower cost of the EPOCH device make it suitable for the valorisation of lignin waste streams for hydrogen production and storage
 

EIC - Pathfinder
ECLIPSE - ECL-based Infectious Pathogen (bio)SEnsor

The EU-funded ECLIPSE project aims to develop a new technological platform for pathogen detection. A phage-sandwich method will be used for detection of the whole pathogen and the surface cooperative hybridisation technique for detection of microbial and viral nucleic acids. Combined with electrochemiluminescence, this will grant the novel technology high affinity, selectivity and reliability. The objective is to prove the feasibility and adaptability of platform detection in the test cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Pseudomonas bacterium, and Leishmania protozoan parasite. The platform design allows rapid adaptation for the detection of other pathogens and (future/coming) pandemic agents.
 

• Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry and Space - Key Digital Technologies - KDT-JU
  ECS4DRES - Electronic Components and Systems for flexible, coordinated and resilient Distributed Renewable Energy Systems
  
  ECS4DRES targets the ambitious objective of pursuing flexible, coordinated, and resilient distributed energy systems developing several innovation activities, specifically:
  - realization of a multi-modal energy hub
  - exploiting renewable energy sources
  - realized by means of dedicated high-efficiency power electronics converters
  - multi-modal energy storage devices
  - sophisticated energy management algorithms enabling the local balances between energy production, storage, and consumption.
   
• Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry and Space - Key Digital Technologies - KDT-JU
  R-PODID - Reliable Powerdown for Industrial Drives
  
  Unexpected failures in industrial machines can lead to costly downtimes, energy waste and even safety risks. Many of these failures originate from electrical and mechanical faults in power converters, which are essential for driving production equipment. Traditional fault-detection methods often react too late, leaving little time for preventive action. To address this challenge, industries need a reliable way to predict short-term failures before they occur. In this context, the EU-funded R-PODID project is developing an automated, cloud-free system for forecasting failures in electric drives, power modules and power devices that can be exploited in many different applications. Predicting faults up to 24 hours in advance will allow energy-saving shutdowns during idle times and enhance safety in power systems using advanced semiconductor technologies.

• Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry and Space - Key Digital Technologies - KDT-JU
  NEUROKIT2E - Open source deep learning platform dedicated to Embedded hardware and Europe
  
  Key Digital Technologies play a crucial role in driving Europe’s digital sovereignty by enhancing European competitiveness in technological markets. In this context, the EU-funded NEUROKIT2E project will develop a deep learning platform for embedded hardware. The platform will be based on established European value chains and will provide AI hardware and software, enabling easy, rapid neural network design, optimization, and implementation on limited hardware targets. The aim of this platform is to streamline the exploration and development of AI applications integrated into specific hardware components from European players. As a result, NEUROKIT2E will equip Europe with the necessary tools to effectively compete with its US and Chinese counterparts.