As of today, Europe has taken the first steps into its future. The agreement between the institutions has finally arrived and – after the agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021 – 2027 – on Friday 11 December the Parliament and the Council agreed on the Horizon Europe funding programme. It will replace Horizon 2020 and represent the largest allocation of funds in European history for research and innovation, with more than 95 billion made available (30% more than the 2014-2020 period). Horizon Europe will play a central role in achieving Europe’s policy priorities, supporting the transition to sustainable development and identifying solutions to climate change. Commissioner Mariya Gabriel (Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth) summarised the importance of Horizon Europe:
It is our main tool to strengthen our scientific and technological base, develop solutions for healthier living, drive digital transformation and fight climate change, for our collective resilience.
Horizon 2020 has already had a strong positive impact in achieving the Green Deal objectives. ETG Risorse e Tecnologia is a proud partner of the Passepartout project (Photonic Accurate and Portable Sensor Systems Exploiting Photo-Acoustic and Photo-Thermal Based Spectroscopy for Real-Time Outdoor Air Pollution Monitoring), together with other international members and the project coordinator: the Cork Institute of Technology. The aim is to develop an intelligent technology capable of monitoring the main pollutant gases in real-time. Multiple analysis points located in the urban environment will be developed, including fixed, mobile and drone stations. ETG Risorse e Tecnologia is taking care of the development of the analytical sensors, thanks to the experience accumulated over the years in the field of industrial emissions. Another element of innovation is the direct involvement of citizens, which, with the creation of an application for mobile devices (by the Politecnico di Bari), aims to have a strong social impact. The first tests will take place on Italian soil, in the city of Bari; a region where air quality is a very important issue. The Passepartout project is an innovation that can contribute to the priorities of the European Commission, including increased digitisation and climate awareness
