Successful Horizon Europe Pillar 2 projects with New Zealand partners

The world's oceans hold an extraordinary, largely untapped reservoir of microbial life with the potential to yield new medicines, enzymes, and sustainable industrial compounds. Yet most marine microbes cannot be grown in the laboratory, and even those that can often keep their valuable biosynthetic "factories" switched off. As a result, promising drug candidates have lacked any reliable, scalable supply.

AIMARIA (Accelerating Innovation in Marine AI-powered Bioprospecting), a four-year Horizon Europe project, aims to change that. Bringing together twelve leading research institutions and companies across Europe and New Zealand, coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, with Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington as the New Zealand partner, the consortium is building a pipeline that turns rich genetic information from marine microbiomes into real-world products.

The approach pairs cutting-edge artificial intelligence, which sifts through more than a million genetic clusters to pinpoint the most promising candidates, with advanced synthetic biology that reconstructs and "wakes up" these pathways in engineered microbes and rapid cell-free systems. AIMARIA will target stalled cancer drug candidates such as peloruside A and pateamine A — compounds originally found in marine sponges — and aims to discover at least 25 entirely new bioactive molecules and hundreds of useful enzymes.

Crucially, the project is sustainable and non-extractive by design, producing valuable compounds without harvesting fragile marine ecosystems. It embeds environmental and economic assessment throughout, and emphasises responsible innovation.

By 2031, AIMARIA aims to deliver scalable, ethical routes to high-value marine compounds, create new high-skilled jobs, and position Europe and its partners as global leaders in a fair, sustainable blue bioeconomy.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project CLIMACARE. For further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project, contact Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit (FCSPRU), Charles Waldegrave waldegrave.c@fc.org.nz

The FCSPRU's primary role in this research programme is to develop a Heat Vulnerability and Readiness Indicator Framework and provide a Heat Vulnerability and Readiness Tool.

The indicator framework will consist of: heat metrics (long-term and event-related); environmental factors including shaded green spaces and cooling blue spaces (water); socio-economic factors like housing building type, income and energy access; health, including chronic disease and morbidity; and institutional readiness for climate change events and adaptation behaviours like water points, accessible shade, ventilation, etc. Local datasets will be drawn upon from the demonstration cities in the research programme. The information across the cities will be harmonised for comparability and replication.

The Heat Vulnerability and Readiness Tool will consist of a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will provide complex data in easy-to-recognise spatial maps. It will integrate the indicator framework and the harmonised datasets into a spatial representation through the GIS technology. Vulnerability scores will be devised for each indicator, i.e., the heat, environment, socio-economic, health, institutional readiness and adaptation. This tool will be piloted in the demonstration cities within the programme, where it will be further refined and eventually become a publicly accessible mapping tool for replication in other cities.

The FCSPRU will be working continuously through the research programme in 18 of the 19 work packages. They will have particular responsibilities for the evaluation and impact assessment of adaptation and preparedness capabilities throughout, and in enabling replication, capacity building and knowledge transfer. They will work closely in their region with Hutt City Municipality.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project, CLIMACARE. Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is here, or contact Hutt City Council (Richard.Hardie@huttcity.govt.nz or Dalila.Gharbaoui@huttcity.govt.nz).

Hutt City Council is a partner in this international research program, working closely with the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit and other global partners to support the development and application of tools that strengthen community resilience to climate change.

Within the project, Hutt City Council contributes local strategic planning and governance and practical implementation expertise to support the development and testing of a heat vulnerability and readiness framework and associated mapping tool. This includes working with local data, supporting pilot activities, and helping ensure that the tools being developed are relevant, usable, and responsive to real-world urban challenges.

As a replication council, Hutt City plays an important role in applying research insights to planning and decision-making at the local level. This includes supporting the integration of climate risk information into urban planning processes, strengthening preparedness for extreme heat events, and enhancing coordination across sectors and communities.

Participation in the project enables knowledge exchange between Aotearoa, New Zealand, and international partners. It supports the development of practical, evidence-based approaches that can be adapted and used in other cities facing similar climate risks and positions Aotearoa, New Zealand, alongside significant international research on climate change and adaptation behaviors.

This funding is used to pay for overheads associated with AUT as the New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project coAgent. This EU funded project (CoAgent : Cognitive computing continuum for large-scale distributed GenAI  agents, No. 101297191 - GAP-101297191) is intended to collaboratively  develop new methods for  distributed AI technology, named AI collaborative agents, and their applications across domain areas, including health, transportation, agriculture, environment, social services. This decentralised, hybrid and cognitive continuum technology, involving humans, physical devices and the Cloud,  will lead to safer, more power efficient and more effective AI applications for the benefit of the humanity. The project includes 22 partners from leading European countries, and also from two countries associated with Horizon Europe -  New Zealand and Korea.  The AUT team will develop new neuromorphic and brain-inspired agentic AI theory, methods and their applications for predictive AI, working with the other partners.  The team is led by the Science Leader Prof. Nikola Kasabov, FRSNZ, LFIEEE , joined by  A/Prof Maryam Doborjeh as a co-PI.

As stated in the project abstract: “CoAgent’s vision is to enable large-scale multi-agent GenAI applications to run effectively and energy efficiently on the cloud-edge computing continuum, to facilitate distributed agents in collaboratively solving complex real-world problems with emergent advanced intelligence, and ensure their trustworthiness and alignment. In return, such a multi-agent solution will also help manage and optimise an agentic cognitive continuum as the infrastructure for AI applications. This vision will support the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan of transforming Europe into a global leader in operating and provisioning agentic GenAI applications, and shift the EU’s GenAI workload to European cloud and edge infrastructure”.

Further information about this Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project is here:

https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/myarea/projects(external link)

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project GrassConnect.

GrassConnect addresses the growing pressures on European grass-based livestock systems by developing innovative, multifunctional management strategies that balance productivity with ecosystem services like carbon storage and water quality. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and decision-support tools, it aims to support farmers, policymakers, and industry in creating sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally friendly food systems.

The Bioeconomy Science Institute (AgResearch group) will receive funding to work with a NZ MAG-hub (Multi-actor Grassland Hub), the southern dairy hub, on managing wet soils.

Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project can be found on the BSI website or contact estelle.dominati@agresearch.co.nz

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (EP BrainHealth). Further information about this Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project is here (https://www.brainhealth-partnership.eu/(external link)) or contact ep-bh-nz@otago.ac.nz.

The vision of EP BrainHealth is improved brain health for all, developing scientific knowledge as the foundation to promote brain health throughout life, to prevent and cure brain diseases and to improve wellbeing of people living with neurological and mental disorders in Europe and beyond. To fulfil this vision, EP BrainHealth will be an efficient platform that drives innovation and progress in brain health by integrating existing knowledge, resources, global initiatives, funding authorities and relevant stakeholders.

The mission is to support brain health research and innovation by strengthening transnational collaborations to enhance understanding of the brain and to promote translation of results into tailored solutions for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care that is accessible for all.

The partnership pursues a holistic, collaborative approach towards brain-related research that covers both neurological and mental health disorders, while involving all relevant disciplines, including neurosciences, neurology, psychology, psychiatry as well as education, humanities, social sciences, epidemiology, and innovative and emerging technologies. Active participation of people living with brain disorders, healthcare professionals and society is fundamental for increasing the relevance of research, raising public awareness of the importance of brain health, and ensuring integration and implementation of findings for societal benefit. The platform will ensure effective and timely exchange of information between key players (such as brain researchers, industry, regulators, policymakers, private sector, healthcare system, etc.) that are instrumental in contributing to the vision of the partnership.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 projectFrom EU Soil to Outer Space: Regulation as an enabler for Spaceports. Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is here(external link) or contact info@stellarkinetics.space

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (CLEAR-WATER).  Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is here (insert link) or contact aotearoablueocean@gmail.com. Aotearoa Blue Ocean Research is developing a state-of-the-art litter model designed to simulate the current and future accumulation and ecological impacts of marine plastics, from nanoscale to large plastic debris, across European marginal seas. The model will be designed to integrate citizen science and data collected from diverse sources in a harmonised framework to produce a fit-for-purpose litter monitoring framework and governance roadmap targeting zero pollution by 2050. This model will be readily transferrable to Aotearoa New Zealand coastal waters, with broad potential applications within understanding and predicting current and future ecological (including fisheries) risks from marine litter within our Exclusive Economic Zone, supporting the development of a domestic Circular Economy.

The University of Canterbury (UC) has joined NEREUS, a €4 million Horizon Europe project developing next-generation green hydrogen technology. Led by Italian electrolyser company Antares Electrolysis, the consortium brings together 12 partners from 7 countries across Europe and New Zealand, funded through the EU's Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.

NEREUS is developing anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysers which for producing green hydrogen from renewable electricity. AEM electrolysers offer significant advantages over existing technology as they avoid the expensive platinum-group metals required by proton exchange membrane systems, while achieving higher efficiencies and more compact designs compared to traditional alkaline electrolysers. The project targets a hydrogen production cost below €3/kg, a key milestone for green hydrogen to compete with fossil-fuel alternatives.

UC's role is central to the project's materials development programme. Researchers at UC lead the benchmarking and analysis of commercial and experimental AEMs, characterising their ionic conductivity, chemical stability, and hydrogen crossover behaviour under industrially relevant conditions. UC also contributes to the development of novel membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and porous transport layers (PTLs). This work directly informs the design of the project's flagship demonstrator: a compact, modular electrolyser stack of at least 20 kW, designed for integration with renewable energy sources.

The project runs from March 2026 to February 2029. UC's participation strengthens New Zealand's connection to the European hydrogen research ecosystem and supports the development of expertise and intellectual property in a technology sector of growing strategic importance.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with the University of Canterbury's participation in Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project ROWER. ROWER delivers place-based and people-centred restoration solutions across from case-studies in New Zealand and 12 European countries. We combine a practitioner-led innovative blueprint for restoration actions, a digital twin and a scalability plan to turn proven restoration and protection methods into operational decisions for authorities. By the project end, 15 research organisations will, in close cooperation with 18 local authorities and management organisations, and engaging with >200 stakeholders, test and validate restoration in >5,000 km² of marine, coastal, estuarine and riparian systems, publish the Blueprint, run ≥15 digital twin simulations, analyse ≥10 scalability scenarios, and produce >50 FAIR datasets and services. Authorities will be able to use the digital twin to screen options, compare cost effectiveness, stress test climate risks and generate evidence for reporting and permitting. Citizen science and living labs support monitoring and uptake. A Long-Term Sustainability and Governance Framework links results to investment pathways for durable deployment. Researchers from the University of Canterbury will participate in this project using the Avon Heathcote Estuary a case study area for testing these innovative restoration solutions. For further information, please contact mads.thomsen@canterbury.ac.nz

This funding is used to pay for overheads associated with a Callaghan Innovation's participation in the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project OCEOMICS.  For further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project contact paul.rose@callaghaninnovation.govt.nz

Marine environments offer untapped potential for developing sustainable natural products with unique properties. However, traditional marine bioprospecting exhibits low discovery rates and limited capacity to identify novel compounds. The incipient integration of digital methods and biotechnological tools is revolutionising marine bioprospecting by replacing trial-and-error approaches with targeted, data driven methods, accelerating biodiscovery and increasing the chances of identifying unique, sustainable marine compounds for high-value applications. Acknowledging the ocean's pivotal role in sustainable development and the urgency for action, the main goal of OCEOMICS is to establish a multidisciplinary, industry-driven approach to advance marine bioprospecting through the integration of digital technologies and biotechnological tools to discover, characterise, optimise, scale-up and demonstrate the production of a range of novel bioactive compounds (ribosomally synthesised precursor peptides, non-ribosomal peptides, mycosporine-like amino acids and terpenes) for high-value cosmetic product formulations with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, barrier and UV-protecting effects.

The project will integrate artificial intelligence and computational screening with biotechnological tools including bioprospecting, metabolic engineering, bioproduction and purification. OCEOMICS will adopt Safe and Sustainable by Design principles, ensuring safety for workers and end users, while delivering environmentally sustainable, cost-effective solutions that maximise social impact. The participatory approached, grounded on broad stakeholder engagement, will facilitate translation of blue biotechnology research into commercially solutions, creating a better framework for blue biotechnology innovations. Cooperation between northern and southern hemisphere partners will maximise access to unexplored marine biodiversity, fostering a future where economic growth aligns with sustainability.
 
Callaghan Innovation Biotechnologies Group will study and characterise marine bacteria samples from NZ-origin sites.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project "OCEOMICS".

OCEOMICS is a Horizon Europe funded project focussed on bioprospecting marine microorganisms in search of bioactive compounds that can be used in skin care applications. The goal is to find compounds that can be used in commercial products. Once promising compounds have been identified they will be produced at scale in bioreactors for product development. The consortium is led by Spanish AINIA and both Cawthron Institute and the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI) are involved here in New Zealand. Cawthron will focus on marine microalgae while BSI will study marine bacteria from New Zealand waters. This project will proceed in accordance with New Zealand’s relevant ethical, legal, and Māori engagement requirements for the collection and use of marine microorganisms.

To achieve OCEOMICS’ objectives, a multidisciplinary, industry-driven consortium covering the value chain including 12 partners from 8 countries has been built. The technical expertise and experience of consortium members, combining STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and SSH (social sciences and humanities), will ensure the optimal project implementation. The cooperation with New Zealand partners from the Southern Hemisphere will maximise access to unexplored marine biodiversity, fostering knowledge exchange and excellent research.

For further information about this project please contact Johan.Svenson@cawthron.org.nz or Cora.Hertzer@cawthron.org.nz 

STRONGBIONET mobilises and integrates stakeholders across Europe, fostering co-creation that strengthens connections, encourages collaboration and promotes mutual learning.
BSI as one of two non-European consortium partners brings NZ-EU linkages to STRONGBIONET aiming to build lasting international linkages between the New Zealand and EU bioeconomy initiatives and networks.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project Synchronous Southern Ocean Observatory (SYNCHRONY). Further information about this Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project: contact alexander.haumann@awi.de

Professor Inga Smith from the University of Otago will play a key role in the “Observatory Implementation” work package of this project. One of this work package's main objectives is to compile, harmonise, and enhance historical datasets across sea ice, ocean, atmosphere, ecosystems, and biogeochemistry to build a coherent foundation for Antarctic Shared Essential Polar Variables (SEPVs). As part of the task of enhancing the existing observatory to meet this objective, Professor Smith will lead the delivery of systematically compiling sea ice, pack ice observations from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research’s sea ice expert group Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate (ASPeCt) and fast ice records through the Antarctic Fast ice Network (AFIN). Professor Smith will also work closely with team members in Germany, Norway, and other countries regarding the hosting and dissemination of autonomous ice-tethered platform data through the existing Sea Ice Portal (AWI, Germany). Antarctica InSync is an international coordination activity to synchronise Antarctica and the Southern Ocean observations and research. SYNCHRONY will contribute to this effort, for example by improving the observing system through coordinated deployment of autonomous platforms and new technologies during Antarctica InSync.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with the University of Canterbury's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project, SYNCHRONY. Antarctica and the Southern Ocean play vital roles in the Earth system, human societies, and economies through their influence on global climate, marine life, and sea level. Over recent decades, this region has slowed global warming by absorbing excess heat and anthropogenic carbon; yet its physical, chemical, and biological systems are increasingly under threat. The continued ability of this region to buffer climate change is highly uncertain in light of unexpected extremes, abrupt shifts, and growing human pressures such as pollution, fisheries, and marine traffic. Large uncertainties stem from limited observations and the inability of models to capture the complex coupled ocean–ice–atmosphere system: a direct consequence of the challenges of working in this vast and harsh environment. SYNCHRONY addresses these gaps by establishing a robust, internationally synchronised Antarctic observatory for sustained climate and ecosystem monitoring, developed in collaboration with SCAR, SOOS, and other international partners. It will substantially improve the observing system through optimisation with modelling and AI tools, enhanced implementation, more accessible and interoperable data systems, new product creation, and international coordination. Training, capacity building, and ongoing system assessment will ensure long-term sustainability. Essential datasets will be made accessible via SOOSmap and EMODnet and feed into the Copernicus Polar Hub, supporting better models, integration with Earth Observation, and extraction of key climate and biodiversity indicators for evidence-based decision making. By fostering collaboration with European and international partners, SYNCHRONY will deliver critical knowledge for sustainable Antarctic governance, directly contributing to EU and global priorities. For further information, please contact Wolfgang Rack (wolfgang.rack@canterbury.ac.nz)

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with DairyNZ's participation in the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 'Climate Smart Research' (CSR) project. CSR is a research and innovation project involving 29 Experimental Research Stations across Europe, the UK and New Zealand. It aims to accelerate the transition to climate neutral agriculture. The project will create new knowledge and tools to help farmers reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. It will test innovative climate-smart farming practices on Experimental Research Stations in five different climate zones, aiming to cut emissions intensity by up to 55% and move towards climate neutrality. Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project will be available from www.dairynz.co.nz from October 2025 or by contacting jane.kay@dairynz.co.nz.

This funding supported University of Canterbury (UC) participation in Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project RISE-IN (Resilient Investment for Sustainable Environments). Further information about RISE-IN can be found on the EU Funding Portal here:

EU Funding and Tenders Portal(external link) — European Commission

RISE-IN will assess solutions for flood management in response to the climate crisis, focusing on nature-based solutions (NBS). NBS aim to mitigate climate change, increase biodiversity, and improve human wellbeing when integrated into the wider ecosystem. To date, NBS projects have been small scale, meaning that thorough assessment of their impact and measurement of co-benefits has been limited, including in situations where they are used alongside other interventions.

Aiming for bankability-by-design, RISE-IN will assess a range of NBS and physical measures, mapping co-benefits and identifying innovative financing options. Solutions will be tested and demonstrated in Cesena (Italy), Christchurch (New Zealand), and Póvoa de Varzim (Portugal). They will then be further developed and replicated in Ghent (Belgium), Zhytomyr (Ukraine), Kadikoy (Turkey). RISE-IN will identify successful technology frameworks thereby facilitating bankability and implementation across the EU and internationally.

The earthquake damaged Red Zone in Christchurch makes as excellent location for this testing. The University of Canterbury (UC) will contribute to NBS that increase soil carbon storage, working closely with the other New Zealand partners and the wider project consortium.

Acknowledgement: RISE-IN receives funding from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and Horizon Europe, under Grant Agreement No. 101214441.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project ‘Resilient Investment for Sustainable Environments’ (RISE-IN). Further information about this Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project is here https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101214441(external link) or contact researchoffice@landcareresearch.co.nz

RISE-IN pioneers a new approach to climate adaptation by bridging the gap between environmental resilience and financial viability. Focusing on nature-based solutions (NBS) for flood risk management, the project introduces the concept of Bankability Readiness Level (BRL) – a novel metric to assess, enhance and unlock investment potential of climate-resilient solutions.

Through a unique blend of climate risk assessment, stakeholder co-creation, and social innovation, RISE-IN transforms cities into living labs for sustainable, scalable, and financially attractive interventions. Demonstrated across diverse contexts in Italy, Portugal, and New Zealand, and replicated in cities across Europe and beyond, RISE-IN not only mitigates climate risks – it redefines how we invest in our future.  The Bioeconomy Science Institute’s role in the project will involve investigating opportunities to enhance soil carbon and associated ecosystem services in Christchurch's Red Zone.

Acknowledgement: RISE-IN receives funding from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and Horizon Europe, under Grant Agreement No. 101214441.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project, "SOLAR-MOVE".

The SOLAR-MOVE project aims to contribute to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and minimising their impact in the power grid, by proposing solutions for different Vehicles Integrated Photovoltaic (VIPV) ecosystems in cities, in residential and service buildings, for passenger transportation, and on the open road. The SOLAR-MOVE project has followed three main targets:

• increase the range of the VIPV in 5 to 10 km/day compared to normal EVs,
• reduce the dependency on the grid (energy provided by the grid) from 20% to 50%, depending on the eco-system, and,
• create solutions with positive Net Present Value.

EPECentre, at the University of Canterbury, is proud to be contributing to this work through testing of solutions against our regulatory systems, as well as replicating trails in Portugal using VIPV in last-mile delivery vehicles, and comparing this to findings in Sweden.
Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project: SOLAR Photovoltaic to MOVE for Systems Integration(external link) — European Commission.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project Enhancing Europe's readiness for managing fall armyworm, an invasive pest threat. For further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project contact David.Teulon@plantandfood.co.nz

The fall armyworm (FAW) is a highly invasive and polyphagous pest native to the Americas, first detected in Africa in 2016 and which has since spread globally, including western Asia. The FAW arrived in New Zealand in early 2022, and by late 2023, FAW had reached mainland Europe, with detections in Greece and Romania. This pest now presents a major threat to European agriculture, as climate change and increased trade increase the likelihood of its establishment or presence across wide areas of Europe, and is impacting maize and corn crops in New Zealand. The aim of EUFAWREADY is to provide European agricultural stakeholders—including farmers, advisors, and phytosanitary services—with the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to potential FAW outbreaks. This involves tools to detect the presence of the pest the earliest possible and to effectively and sustainably manage the pest, thus minimizing the economic, environmental and social impact and the reliance on synthetic pesticides.  PFR will investigate the impact of specific agricultural practices such as planting dates, weed management, and crop debris destruction on FAW populations in NZ regions where FAW is established and where climatic conditions are similar to those in the EU. Based on the results and other data from the literature and on-going projects (e.g. the CABI Plantwise global project), agroecological and conservation BC strategies will be proposed. PFR’s contribution in EUFAWREADY will help establish connections to key expertise and knowledge for the future management of FAW (and similar pests) in New Zealand.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project HyDRA - Diagnostic Tools and Risk Protocols To Accelerate Underground Hydrogen Storage.  Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is available at the website below or contact GNS Science

HyDRA(external link)

Contact us(external link) — GNS Science | Te Pῡ Ao

The HyDRA project aims to understand how hydrogen-consuming microbes interact with geological formations used for hydrogen storage. This research seeks to establish guiding principles to mitigate risks and accelerate the development of porous underground storage systems for hydrogen.

The project has 10 clearly defined objectives, including:

• Developing standardized protocols for field sampling and bio-geochemical laboratory methods.
• Mapping microbial taxonomic and functional diversity in Europe and New Zealand.
• Creating models to upscale laboratory findings for site-specific microbial risk assessments.
• Delivering a fast-track site selection tool with a predictive microbial risk index.
• Updating guidelines to support storage site operators in identifying and managing site-specific risks.

GNS Science, led by Dr Peter Rendel and Dr Karen Houghton, will work to identify microbes present in existing and potential hydrogen storage sites, understand their metabolic capabilities, and investigate geochemical interactions between hydrogen, reservoir rocks, and fluids. The team will also conduct combined microbial and geochemical experiments to assess how rock properties influence microbial activity and how microbial processes, in turn, affect the rock.

The GuardIAS project is an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming aquatic environment governance and management in Europe. Its primary goal is to align with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the IAS Regulation, focusing on mitigating the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health. GuardIAS plans to utilize advanced science, technology, and artificial intelligence to develop innovative tools and methodologies. These tools will be instrumental in preventing, detecting, eradicating, and managing IAS.

The project is set to advance through interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating data from various sources to create comprehensive IAS impact profiles and management strategies. A significant aspect of GuardIAS is stakeholder engagement and societal involvement. This will be achieved through Citizen Science initiatives and innovative engagement strategies (such as serious games and BioArtBlitz events), aiming to involve the wider community in addressing IAS challenges.

GuardIAS will also establish robust solutions for IAS management at multiple governance levels, from local to international. The project will include the development of beyond-the-state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, such as nano-coatings for marine vessels to prevent IAS spread and eDNA approaches for efficient detection. Additionally, GuardIAS will conduct macroecological and biogeographic analyses to assess IAS risks under various future scenarios, including climate change.

The project's comprehensive approach, encompassing science, technology, and community engagement, positions it as a key player in the EU's efforts to preserve biodiversity and protect ecosystems from the growing threat of invasive species. GuardIAS is not only a response to current environmental challenges but also a proactive step towards sustainable management and conservation of aquatic environments in Europe.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project, "GuardIAS".

Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project:

GuardIAS - Guarding European Waters from IAS(external link) — European Commission

Contact info@nai.org.nz

The University of Auckland is a proud leading partner in the Horizon Europe-funded project “Intercultural and Transcultural Competence Through Collaborative Cultural Expression” (INTRACOMP). This initiative addresses critical global challenges such as forced migration, social inclusion, and cultural diversity by fostering intercultural and transcultural competence through the performing arts.

Globally led by Professor Nicholas Rowe, the project brings together a consortium of 13 universities and arts organizations. At the University of Auckland, the research is led by Professor Marek Tesar, Principal Investigator and Lead Researcher. The University’s contributions focus on creating transformative educational frameworks and innovative policy interventions, particularly for global and regional arts education systems.

The INTRACOMP project integrates expertise from diverse disciplines, as It aims to challenge outdated cultural hierarchies and foster equitable spaces for cultural expression and collaboration. A key aspect of the University of Auckland’s involvement is its focus on redefining how arts education supports inclusion, diversity, and sustainability, extending the project’s insights to the Global South. Through a transdisciplinary approach, the University of Auckland is helping to develop comprehensive frameworks for lifelong learning in the performing arts. These frameworks aim to empower educators, learners, and cultural practitioners with tools to address the complex demands of global collaboration and cultural interaction.

By participating in INTRACOMP, the University reaffirms its dedication to transformative research and innovation, fostering equity and cultural democracy worldwide. This project represents a vital opportunity to bridge global divides, inspire creative solutions, and ensure that diverse voices find meaningful spaces to contribute to our shared futures. This commitment aligns with the University’s broader mission to engage in impactful research, address global inequities, and support inclusive societies through education and collaboration.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (OneSTOP). Contact philip.hulme@lincoln.ac.nz

The overarching objective of OneSTOP is to pioneer an innovative and joined-up approach to biosecurity for terrestrial invasive alien species, strengthening the interconnections between animal, plant, human and environmental health.

OneSTOP aims to harness current technologies and citizen science, while overcoming challenges posed by dispersed and fragmentary processes, policies, and knowledge, to deliver methods for identification, early detection and surveillance of invasive alien species. OneSTOP aims to achieve transformative results to minimise the introduction, establishment and spread of invasive alien species by integrating cutting-edge detection methods, underpinned by prioritisation and robust models, alongside stakeholder engagement to inform harmonised policies and facilitate knowledge exchange.

Lincoln University will contribute expertise in biosecurity culturomics and e-biosecurity by assessing the trends in public information on biosecurity in multiple regions of the world, assess its accessibility to the general public, identify the sector interests most heavily represented and explore temporal trends in information content. The outcomes will be relevant for invasive alien species policy, noting the importance of enhancing collaboration and coordination across local, national, and regional scales, recognising that geographic boundaries do not confine the impact of these species. By adopting a holistic and interconnected approach, we will establish a strategy to achieve rapid and transformative progress in detecting, eradicating and controlling invasive alien animals and plants, ultimately contributing to a more secure and resilient environment.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (REDESIGN). Contact andreas.wesener@lincoln.ac.nz

REDESIGN will support the transformation of local urban food systems by creating Food Value Systems (FVS). FVSs aim to strengthen urban resilience through food-led green urban and peri-urban infrastructure enhancement, foster participation in the food system of local communities, contribute to the quality and beauty of living places, and mitigate climate change through the integration of urban agriculture with the built environment. The FVSs will operate through the development and application of a “Learning Loop” methodology to accelerate innovation in all the steps of the food system and expand beyond the notion of ‘food chain’ to integrate the cultural, social and political dimensions of the transformation. To do so, it will feed on a newly created network which will consist of three main groups of actors: ‘observation’ cases, ‘implementation’ cases, and a board of cities.

The observation cases exemplify consolidated best practices involving local stakeholders. The implementation cases will become Living Labs, through which innovation in local food value networks will scale up at metropolitan and international levels enhancing the observation cases (closing the ‘learning loop’), and informing policy innovation and learning. Results will include regenerated neighbourhoods in the implementation cases, the setting of three Living Labs steering the Food Value Network, and a Learning Loop methodology, all scalable and replicable in other contexts.

Lincoln University (LU) is a specialist land-based university with focus areas in agriculture, ecology, landscape architecture, and environmental management. The School of Landscape Architecture at LU contributes expertise in urban design and resilience, urban agriculture and community gardens, urban ecology, and the design of integrated green-grey infrastructure.

The VALPOP project employs a multidisciplinary approach grounded in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) to better understand the fundamental transformation experienced by society, economics, and politics due to rising autocratisation and the global expansion of authoritarian rule.

The overarching aim of the VALPOP project is twofold. First, to explain how the structure of societal networks allows sub-groups to skew the creation and distribution of public goods in their favour. Second, to explain how the rule of law and populist politics affect the outcomes of such misappropriation and the attempts to turn public goods into club goods.

The project’s aims are broken down into 4 objectives that all contribute to safeguarding the democratic governance of institutions distributing public goods:

1. raise awareness about the importance of networks for constraining access to public goods,
2. enhance the control mechanisms governing the access to public goods,
3. increase the transparency of institutions, and
4. strengthen their legitimacy and trustworthiness through active citizen participation.

The VALPOP project will improve the under-standing of the creation and distribution of public goods and, thus, contribute to safeguarding fundamental rights related to active citizenship. It will ensure greater accountability, transparency, efficiency, and trustworthiness of institutions. This protects the rule of law and democracy in the context of public institutions and bridges gaps be-tween regions and generations regarding their access to public goods.

For further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project, please contact Associate Professor Matt Raskovic at Auckland University of Technology at matt.raskovic@aut.ac.nz

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (micro2MACRO).  Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is available from tim.woodfield@otago.ac.nz 

Joint damage and tissue degeneration leads to osteoarthritis (OA) – the most prevalent of all musculoskeletal diseases – affecting 10-15% of all adults globally over the age of 60. The economic burden of OA-related care is rapidly increasing, putting pressure on already burdened global healthcare systems. Currently, the only real treatment for damage to joints, such as the hip or knee, is total joint replacement.

Emerging approaches to repair damaged joints only temporarily resolve symptoms and are not suitable for long-term repair or prevention of OA. A fundamental limitation is an inability to generate engineered tissues which mimic the complex structure and function of normal healthy musculoskeletal tissues (e.g. articular cartilage, meniscus), required to support joint-loading and pain-free joint motion.

Advances in 3D bioprinting have underpinned numerous important developments in the field of musculoskeletal tissue engineering, allowing more complex patient-specific implants and cellular architectures to be fabricated. However, current bioprinting strategies fail to address the different stages of tissue development known to direct functional tissue formation.

The goal of this micro2MACRO (m2M) project is to develop a new 3D bioprinting platform capable of printing cellular aggregates into personalised load-bearing grafts and guiding tissue growth into fully functional tissues, even within damaged or OA environments. This will be achieved via bioprinting aggregates into guiding scaffold structures in a highly accurate, scalable and automated manner. These scaffolds further organise tissue formation and provide medium-term (3-5 years) mechanical support to the regenerating tissue. These ambitious goals are realistically achievable as they build on the vast expertise of the project team in the field of bioprinting and cell-therapies.

The d@rts project aims to find out whether performing art forms such as music, dance and drama can help people to create dialogues and live together better across different cultures. The 3 year project is led by NORD University, Norway and involves 10 Research Partners and 17 Associate Partners. It is organized into 9 works packages, each with a leader, a team of researchers and with distinct outputs.

Dance Studies at University of Auckland, is one of the research partners and involved in 5 of the Work packages. The staff involved are Dr Sarah Foster-Sproull and Prof. Ralph Buck. Aotearoa/NZ is one of the Non-European countries invited to participate, valuing our expertise in developing dance curriculum and researching pedagogies within decolonial contexts.

The research question driving the 3 year project is: How can performing arts education, in formal and non-formal contexts, reimagine cultural literacy as a dialogical practice that enhances social cohesion and inclusion? That is, can dance, drama, music help people be more tolerant, understanding, empathetic in school and non- school contexts, and therefore help build more inclusive and cohesive societies.

dialoguing@rts(external link)

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project EU-CIEMBLY: Creating an Inclusive European Citizens' Assembly.

EU-CIEMBLY addresses the need for the introduction of new forms of citizens’ participation and deliberation in EU political life and, particularly, an EU Citizens’ Assembly whose design and implementation fully addresses issues of intersectionality, inclusiveness, and equality.

This project focuses on creating new ways for EU citizens to participate in politics, through an EU Citizens' Assembly that prioritises inclusion and equality.

While there has been interest in improving how citizens can take part in EU democracy, past efforts have often failed to ensure all groups, especially marginalised ones, are included. This project aims to address these gaps.

It will create a framework and prototype for a Citizens' Assembly, which can be used at both the EU level and adapted for national and local use across EU member states.

The consortium includes the University of Coimbra (Portugal), University of Essex (UK), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), European Citizens Action Service (Belgium), University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg (South Africa), Institute for Methods Innovation (Ireland), Aspon Consulting (Cyprus), Universita' Degli Studi Di Bergamo (Italy) Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand), University of Waikato (New Zealand) and Make.Org (France). The total funding is EUR 2,998,845 for 48 months.

The funding was used to pay for overheads associated with the University of Waikato’s participation in the Horizon Europe project titled EU-CIEMBLY: Creating an Inclusive European Citizens’ Assembly (“Horizon Europe Project”).

This Horizon Europe Project focuses on enhancing the participation of EU citizens in the political process through the development of an inclusive and equitable EU Citizen’s Assembly.
 
While prior initiatives have explored avenues for increased citizen engagement within the EU, ensuring the inclusion of all groups, particularly those facing multiple, intersectional disadvantages, has often proven challenging. This Horizon Europe Project aims to address these shortcomings. At EU-CIEMBLY, the team is dedicated to advancing the principles of intersectionality, inclusiveness, and equality in deliberative democracy.

Creating an inclusive European Citizens’ Assembly(external link) — University of Waikato

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation's participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (STELLA - Digital technologies for plant health, early detection, territory surveillance and phytosanitary measures).  Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is available on the Horizon Europe NI website or contact Armin.werner@lincolnagritech.co.nz 

Pillar Two(external link) — Horizon Europe NI

Plant diseases cost the global economy >NZ$360 billion per annum. The project objective is to provide tools to establish a digital monitoring system for crop diseases and pests, focussing on eight diseases in six EU countries and New Zealand. Combining data from multiple sources, such as remote and proximal sensing of a crop, STELLA will develop models to assess the risk of a crop becoming infected with a targeted disease in any given season. A monitoring system that can access data from multiple sources to detect early disease outbreaks will contribute to global food security.

Lincoln Agritech is one of 14 research partners from research, SME, and governance contributing to this four-year project. Lincoln Agritech brings expertise in digital crop assessment for decision support, including early detection of the apple disease Neofabraea alba, which causes apple bull's eye rot in storage before export. 

Lincoln Agritech will lead one of STELLA’s six pilot use cases. The pilot will be established in two commercial orchards in Hawkes Bay to monitor the rain-splash spread and infection of N. alba and the impact of the disease on crop management and canopy features (e.g. density) in-orchard. 

The STELLA project complements work undertaken by New Zealand’s apple industry, including a Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures-funded project on N. alba. The STELLA project is enhancing New Zealand's research and development capabilities through new collaborations with international researchers. With 50% SME partners, the STELLA project also facilitates new European industry connections for New Zealand.

This funding was used to support the University of Otago’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project: ERDERA - European Rare Diseases Research Alliance. This is a significant consortium dedicated to improving the lives of people with rare disorders.

More than 170 organisations from 37 countries are members of the consortium, and this is the first time New Zealand has been able to join such an initiative.

The University of Otago will represent New Zealand in accessing advanced systems and approaches to help improve diagnosis rates for people with rare disorders both here and internationally. Additionally, the University of Otago is being funded to establish an inclusive national group to share knowledge, activity and provide momentum to help drive improvements for diagnosis and care for rare disorders in New Zealand.

ERDERA - European Rare Diseases Research Alliance(external link)

Contact: louise.bicknell@otago.ac.nz

Minority Report will develop and implement a co-creation framework, which will support the design and development of an integrated, people-centric technology platform, integrating:

1. innovative predictive digital technologies,
2. rigorous scientific baselines and models for risk (including vulnerability and uncertainty) assessment and categorisation,
3. advanced weather forecasting and early warning for climate events,
4. BIM, digital twins, monitoring systems and decision support tool,
5. energy simulations and behavioural models based on Artificial Intelligence (AI),
6. and newly developed approaches from social sciences and humanities (SSH).

The final objective is to deliver the Minority Report technology platform for a functional, environmentally, and economically sustainable circular value chain for the construction and renovation of built environments, which enables to develop climate change and natural risks mitigation, and resilience enhancing strategies to improve climate change mitigation (heat waves, category 5 storms, wildfire) and disaster resilience (floods, earthquakes, etc.), through AI-assisted holistic solutions, that combine building adaption and renovation and Nature-based Solutions (NBS), at city and building scale. These types of solutions will be co-selected and co-created with the participation of citizens by means of the Minority Report people-centric technology platform, targeting expert and non-experts to collaborate over bespoke interventions for each site, ensuring the most impactful and appropriate interventions that are most acceptable to the local community and most effective for mitigating disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations are applied, within the project’s innovative co-creation framework.

Digital predictive systems have advanced our ability to forecast the impact of disruptive climate events. However, significant areas remain vulnerable due to data limitations and the intricate nature of urban environments. Factors such as climate change, burgeoning urban populations, and inadequately prepared building stocks further compound these challenges. In this context, the EU-funded Minority Report project seeks to address these issues by developing a technology platform centred around people.

This platform will integrate predictive digital technologies with robust risk assessment models, weather forecasting, building information modelling, digital twins, monitoring systems, and AI-driven behavioural models. The goal is to support a functional, environmentally and economically sustainable value chain for the construction and renovation of urban environments, enabling the development of dedicated strategies to improve climate change mitigation and adaptation and disaster resilience through holistic solutions. Implementation will initially focus on demonstration sites across three locations: Dublin (Ireland), Patras (Greece) and Wellington (New Zealand).

University of Canterbury (UC) will firstly contribute to rigorous scientific baselines and models for risk assessment, quantification and mitigation. This involves characterising (i) the dynamic multi-hazard physical fragility and vulnerability buildings & urban infrastructure, and (ii) the dynamic multi-hazard social vulnerability. Secondly, UC will play a key role in the development of the people-centric resilience & adaptation toolkit, with a focus on the development of the mobility & behavioral prediction module. Lastly, UC will contribute to the demonstration site implementation.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with New Zealand organisations' participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (Minority Report). Further information about this Horizon Pillar 2 project is available by contacting niall.byrne@iesve.com

Urban Intelligence Limited (UI) leads key technical components of this international project, including the development of data-driven resiliency models and an early-impact system for climate-related events. Working alongside The University of Auckland, University of Canterbury, and Wellington City Council, UI contributes to developing innovative predictive technologies that will help vulnerable infrastructures and communities prepare for and respond to environmental disruptions.

As part of New Zealand's demonstration site team, UI plays a crucial role in testing and validating these digital solutions in real-world conditions. Our work focuses on creating practical tools that will help communities better understand and prepare for climate-related risks, while ensuring solutions are accessible and effective for the people who need them most.

Through this international collaboration, UI is helping to advance technology that will protect communities and infrastructure from climate-related events, contributing to a more resilient future for New Zealand and beyond.

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project (Randomised Controlled Trial of Preventive Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus).

Professors Philip Hill and Katrina Sharples at the University of Otago are the senior epidemiologist and statistician respectively on this world-first trial. They led the design of the study and play a leadership role in its execution. The goal is to identify whether preventive treatment against the development of tuberculosis should be a priority for people with diabetes mellitus who live in a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis.

About the PROTID Project(external link) — protid-africa.com

Contact: Philip.Hill@otago.ac.nz

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project UPWEARS.

The textile industry is facing major challenges. It is one of the most polluting industries, and consumers, as well as regulators, are pushing for change. Global demand is changing, and consumers expect more sustainable and smart textiles.

UPWEARS is a four-year EU research and innovation funding programme aiming to develop new fabric materials from hemp, cork, flax and byproducts of paper production for e-textile and sportswear uses. To demonstrate the e-textile, the team will create high-performance clothing for biking that is abrasion and tear-resistant, waterproof or repellant, stretchable, and breathable. The project will also develop ways to recycle and reuse textile waste. The overall aim is to contribute to a sustainable economy by unlocking the potential of bio-based and hybrid fabrics.

Led by INRAE, France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, Scion is among 15 partners globally and is leading a work package to modify and functionalise biomaterials for e-textile applications.

Scion will utilise expertise in sustainable materials and electronics to create flexible sensors and functional materials from biomaterials for integration into fabrics, sending temperature and humidity data to a user’s device. Scion is supporting turning recovered textile waste into filament or pellets for 3D printing meaning the clothing will be recyclable and zero-waste. In addition, Scion is also contributing to AI/machine learning activities to optimise the production process reducing waste and increasing zero-defect products.

Overall, the project will help transition to a modern textile fabrication process using natural fibres and reducing waste during and postproduction. It will also tackle the huge textile waste problem and contribute towards achieving a circular economy.

Contact: funding@scionresearch.com

This funding was used to pay for overheads associated with a New Zealand organisation’s participation in a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project VITAL (‘Virtual Twins as tools for personalised clinicAL care’).

VITAL will deliver a comprehensive clinically validated multi-scale, multi-organ modelling platform that is driven by and can represent individual patient data acquired both in the clinic and from wearable technology. The platform will create a virtual human twin for individualised and sex-specific optimisation of medical (pharmacological) or surgical (interventional) therapy for complex, multifactorial cardiovascular disorders (systemic hypertension, heart failure and atrial septal defects) that have systemic impact and high risk of comorbidities. User-friendly interfaces, co-created with healthcare professionals, will provide access to the technology. By the end of the project, the predictive value of the platform in optimising the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disorders will have been validated through five clinical studies in Europe involving more than 200 patients. Each clinical study will investigate a scenario where predicting treatment response is a strong unmet need.

The Auckland Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland is leading a work package on multi-scale/multi-organ model development. This includes creating computational models that integrate neuro, mechanical, and drug modulation of cardiac function, and developing multi-scale models of the arterial and venous systems that incorporate the effects of the autonomic nervous system on vascular function. These models will be used to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of cardiac disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other vascular diseases, and to identify new therapeutic targets.

Horizon Vital Project(external link)

Contact: P.Hunter@auckland.ac.nz