Although fossil oils are dwindling, they are still our main energy source and continue to dominate the global chemical industry. However, the European Union (EU)-funded research project ICON helped breed crops to produce high-value plant oils that are expected to break the chemical sector’s dependence on petroleum.

An EU-funded project has developed the high-tech software, measuring devices, machinery and processes needed to produce personalised shoes quickly and efficiently. The results will help Europe’s safety and sport shoe manufacturers innovate and stay competitive in a highly globalised world.

An EU-funded project has developed a way to quickly make customised corrective foot and ankle supports using 3D printers – and the results are already on the market.

COELUX EU-funded project recreates the physical and optical effects of natural light indoors by simulating the diffusion and transmission of sunlight through the atmosphere

EU-funded researchers have developed a more water-efficient technology to help convert sunshine in deserts into electricity. The technology removes the need for water in cooling systems, helping to make solar power generation cheaper and sustainable in sun-rich desert regions.

How buildings can affect a person’s health is often overlooked, despite the fact that people spend an average of 90 per cent of their time indoors – whether in homes, offices or other spaces.

The world population is rapidly ageing, which means the number of disabled and dependent people is increasing since these rates increase with age, particularly after the age of 80. This is the context in which the Tecnalia centre for applied research has designed a system of sensors which when fitted in a home, allows a person's habits and activities to be monitored and any changes in his/her habits and activities that could be a symptom of disorders relating to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's to be detected.

In recent decades the developed world has benefitted from a significant increase in the amount and variety of readily available food. But this abundance of food, often high in fat and sugar, may be also contributing to an increase in obesity.

EU researchers have used molecular tests to point the way to more effective therapy for patients with a previously untreatable form of colon cancer.

A gastric bypass without the surgery? Not as far-fetched as one might think. EU-funded research into the way the gut and stomach communicate with the brain has uncovered fresh insights into the mechanisms that drive food intake and points to new ways of preventing and treating obesity. The outcomes include a hormone cocktail that could offer all the benefits of a gastric bypass — without the trauma of a major operation.

EU researchers have developed new techniques to boost antioxidant levels in raspberries. Their work will help farmers grow healthier raspberries, for your table, your picnic basket and for markets worldwide.

Industry can be hazardous when it mixes corrosive, polluting and potentially explosive chemicals. Sometimes nature offers alternatives to the classic chemical approach, and enzymes, the proteins that speed up chemical reactions, are simple to use and environmentally-friendly.

You may have heard of the bioeconomy and wondered what it is all about. Discover it now!

Parts for cars, airplanes, machines and all types of devices are made with factory tools that must be not only strong and precise, but also exceptionally durable.

Developments in nanotechnology, achieved through the EU-funded IP NANOKER project, mean that new multifunctional materials can be manufactured at competitive prices. This has the potential to transform industries ranging from medicine to aeronautics.

Presentation of Ocean of Tomorrow projects and high level roundtable discussion

Cities are by definition concentrations of activity, and there should be no big surprise when they get congested and traffic grinds to a halt. But how can modern urban planners manage traffic so that people and goods can move freely, while keeping emissions low at the same time? A European Union (EU)-funded research project is finding answers by testing innovative solutions for more efficient and sustainable transport of cargo.

Bacterial meningitis is a potential constant threat to infant health. The agents most often responsible for the condition are common in the environment. The rapid onset of symptoms can include fever, irritability, rashes, stiffness and vomiting.

Objects showcased in museums or exhibitions are vulnerable to the effects of pollutants both from outside the building where they are housed as well as from potential substances found inside. Better measuring tools could enable curators and conservators of cultural artefacts to take the necessary steps to ensure their protection.

It is only two centuries since the concept of selective breeding was applied scientifically to farm animals, helping produce cows, sheep and goats with traits such as lean muscles, disease resistance and efficient reproduction.