PROJECT NAME: Addressing the challenges in the process of developing hydrogen technologies to transition to a carbon-neutral society in Slovenia and Austria

PROJECT DURATION: 01.12.2023 – 30.11.2026
PROJECT BUDGET: 1.341.271,09€
ERDF CO-FINANCING 1.073.016,87 EUR

SHORT PROJECT DESCRPTION:

H2GreenFUTURE is a project aimed at addressing the challenges associated with developing hydrogen technologies for the transition to a carbon-neutral society in Slovenia and Austria. The project recognizes the increasing impact of climate change, emphasizing the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to low-carbon technologies like hydrogen.

Key aspects of the project include the development of pilot infrastructure for hydrogen technologies, fostering skills development in companies and among students, and building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem with a stable regulatory framework. The Quadruple Helix approach, involving government, industry, academia, and civil society, is central to the project’s strategy.

The project activities focus on three pillars: research and innovation, knowledge and competences, and the introduction of test mechanisms to adapt legislation for disruptive innovation. It includes a cross border H2 demo – pilot project to identify barriers in the cross-border area, a regulatory sandbox to establish a legislative framework, and initiatives for awareness raising and knowledge transfer.

H2GreenFUTURE aligns with the roadmap for hydrogen technologies in Slovenia and Austria Interreg region, building on the groundwork laid by the H2GreenTECH project (Interreg SI-AT). Continuous cross-border cooperation, innovative approaches such as pilot demonstrations and regulatory sandboxes, and a blend of digital and traditional education methods underline the project’s commitment to fostering hydrogen technology development in the region.

Main results of H2GreenFUTURE project are:

1. Cross-border H2 demo-pilot project and Roadmap on technological cross-border H2

cooperation

2. H2 Regulatory Sandbox simulation and H2GreenFUTURE Policy Brief
3. Pilot implementation of the H2GreenFUTURE training

PROJECT CONSORTIUM:

• NIC – Kemijski inštitut / National institute of Chemistry, Lead partner
• ŠGZ – Štajerska gospodarska zbornica / Styria Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• FB – Forschung Burgenland GmbH / Research Burgenland
• TU Graz – Technische Universität Graz / Graz University of Technology
• CUAS – Fachhochschule Kärnten GmbH / Carinthia UAS – non-profit limited liability company
• RDAZ – Regionalna razvojna agencija Zasavje / Zasavje Regional Development Agency

The H2GreenFUTURE project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Interreg Programme Slovenia-Austria.  

NEXT is the Erasmus+ KA2 CBHE project started on November 1, 2023; it finishes on October 31, 2026.

The project is being carried out by the consortium:

• Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STUBA) – coordinator
• Czech Technical University in Prague (CVUT) – consortium member
• Carinthia University of Applied Science (CUAS) – consortium member
• Dublin City University (DCU) – consortium member 
• Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (ISKPI) – consortium member
• Odesa Polytechnic National University (OPNU) – consortium member
• Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (IFNUL) – consortium member
• Cherkasy State Technological University (ChSTU) – consortium member
• Accenture (ACT) – associated partner
• Atos IT Solutions and Services in Slovakia (ATS) – associated partner

The objective of the NEXT project is to narrow the existing gap between the rapid pace of digital transformation, and the training of specialists from different fields, especially those that are not related to IT. The issue is that at present the aforementioned specialists are not sufficiently skilled to efficiently work with digital technologies and tools, and to understand possible pitfalls in their use, including mental health issues and legal matters.

• The specific objectives of the NEXT project include the following.
• Educating students of different specialities on the digital technology, soft skills, legal aspects, and mental health maintenance to help them in getting ready for changing requirements of the modern job market towards next-generation ‘digital’ jobs.
• Training academic staff to support learners with qualified coaches who can assist them in their studies for digital transformations.
• Developing innovative learning resources in line with the newest trends in digital technologies.
• Enhancing students’ teamwork as well as improving their digital skills through carrying out student projects contest.
• Establishing advanced multimedia laboratories in Ukrainian universities, which will support students by providing them an opportunity of gaining practical experience in using the newest hardware and technologies.

The project’s work plan includes five work packages:

• WP1 Project management
• WP2 Analysis of ‘digital’ labour market requirements and ‘digital’ employee’s needs
• WP3 Capacity building for learner-centred informal ‘digital’ education
• WP4 Learning resources testing and validation
• WP5 Launching of learner-centred informal ‘digital’ education
• WP6 Building of the NEXT-Network
• WP7 Dissemination and exploitation More information is available at the NEXT project website (https://nextstudy.eu)

Contact information: next.project@stuba.sk, sulema.olga@lll.kpi.ua

The ETATEI-Project is dedicated to develop a Bachelor study program (210 ECTS) in automation engineering in five variations, in order to support Ethiopian government’s effort in the industrialization process as described in the “Home Grown Reform Agenda” and to contribute to Ethiopia/Djibouti’s commitments to the objectives of CESA, COMESA and SDGs. The ETATEI-Project goal is to establish automation education hubs in the regions of selected universities. Labs will focus on the variations in the automation engineering study program (agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, mining etc). A well-balanced education between theory, hands-on trainings and practical company experience guarantees that graduates meet the criteria of “academically trained professionals” as expected by potential employers. Debre Birhan University will host the ETATEI Training & Job Center as an umbrella organization that links industries to the ETATEI-Project Partners so that necessary adjustments in the study program can be communicated directly and accommodated accordingly. Additionally, it will coordinate trainings for industries in the five ETATEI labs (20 training places), certify trainers, teaching & training material and collaborate with university partners on periodic updates of curricula and respective courses. The cloud-based e-learning platform and the online glossary ensure sustainability. The ETATEI-Project will enhance the quality of higher education in the field of training, teaching, assessment mechanisms, quality assurance, knowledge base, digital and entrepreneurial capacities; improve the competences, skills, and employability of students; and contribute to the internationalization efforts of Ethiopian/Djibouti universities. The study program with its variations will be accredited by the national accreditation authorities. The certified courses for the LLLprocess together with the study program will reach 1,200+ students/trainees annually.

The EtD-FaM-Project is dedicated to develop five makerspaces at remote universities in Ethiopia and one at the University of Djibouti focusing on female lecturers and students to enable them to improve their practical (hands-on) skills and contribute to the economic development of their environments as well as to Ethiopia’s/Djibouti’s commitments to the objectives of CESA, COMESA and SDGs. The EtD-FaM-Project goal is to provide lecturers and students a company-like environment to acquire practical skills as requested by potential employers. The EtD-FaM-Project representatives with their background are setting the frame for the makerspaces towards civil engineering/construction, agriculture, manufacturing, veterinary medicine and business. All makerspaces will become an integral part in the respective study programmes and should encourage students to start working hands-on either for prototyping of tools/instruments needed for their work in the field or for products that will be further elaborated in incubation centers or in collaboration with industries. The EtD-FaM-Project is structured to collect best practices from European Partners’ makerspaces. The initial needs analysis has defined 10 topics important to be considered in the EtD-FaM-Project. Best practices from Europe on these topics will lead the design of the Ethiopian/Djibouti makerspaces. Based on the different focus of the makerspaces lists of tools and instruments are mapped. In a triple-approach the makerspaces will be equipped: (1) unused equipment from universities, (2) donations from companies, NGOs and individuals, (3) procurement of needed equipment. The EtD-FaM makerspaces will be established at the premises of the respective EtD-FaM-Partner (in-kind contribution). A Training-of-Trainer (ToT) session will educate certified trainers in the design, establishment and managing of makerspaces. The Association of Women in Business (AWiB) as Partner in the Project will provide specific leadership training. In general, certificates will be issued as digital badges. Special focus will be brought on the peer review and coaching sessions, where the women will support each other in optimizing the makerspace at their premises. It is the intention of the Project to set up the Horn Makerspace Institute (HMI) as an umbrella organization for EtD-FaM makerspaces. The HMI will offer consultancy and advisory services for universities in the Horn of Africa region and further to the COMESA member countries. Annual competitions of makerspace users will bring attention and visibility to the HMI, the users of the EtD-FaM makerspaces and should encourage female makerspace users to excel in their practical skills. The EtD-FaM-Project will enhance the quality of higher education in the field of vocational training, teaching and applying entrepreneurial skills; improve the competences, skills, and employability of students; and contribute to the internationalization efforts of Ethiopian/Djibouti universities. The makerspace becomes an integrated part in the education of the students at EtD-FaM-Project-Partner- Universities. The certified trainers will be available to multiply the makerspace efforts in different disciplines, regions and countries. Overall, the EtD-FaM-Project will have a direct reach-out to 1800 female lecturers/students/citizen-scientists. The outreach in numbers through conference participations and publication of produced documents during the EtD-FaM-Project implementation on the Ethiopian open-source repository (NADRE) will be indefinite around the globe.

https://etd-fam.arsiun.edu.et/

Ziel des Projekts ist die Entwicklung und Untersuchung von Online-Laboren für die naturwissenschaftliche Aus- und Weiterbildung an Österreichs Schulen. Online-Labore werden über das Internet ferngesteuert, sind ortsunabhängig sowie rund um die Uhr erreichbar und bieten einen niederschwelligen Zugang zu Übungen und Experimenten. In Zeiten steigenden Bedarfs an Distance Learning-Angeboten kann auf diese Weise ein Praxisbezug zur Theorie hergestellt und der Unterricht bereichert werden. Durch die wissenschaftlich-didaktische Begleitung der Pädagogischen Hochschule Steiermark wird sichergestellt, dass die Lernumgebungen der Online-Labore didaktisch fundiert und strukturiert an die Lernendenperspektiven der Zielgruppen angepasst werden.

EDU-CIRC ist eine Sensibilisierungs-/Schulungsmaßnahme, um das langfristige Potenzial der Kreislaufwirtschaft und Dekarbonisierung in Produktionsunternehmen zu forcieren. Ziel ist es Jugendliche aus Berufs- und Oberschulen, Hochschulgänger, Lehrkräfte als auch Fachkräfte aus Industrie und Handwerk in Grundprinzipien, Methoden, Instrumenten und Best Practice Anwendungen zu qualifizieren und somit grenz- als auch generationsübergreifend die aktuell vorhandene Bildungslücke zu schließen und damit den Wandel in Richtung einer zirkulären und CO2-neutralen Produktion zu beschleunigen. Die im Projekt entwickelten Lehrunterlagen, Lehrmethoden und Aus-/Weiterbildungsmaßnahmen weisen dabei eine hohe Praxisrelevanz auf, da sie auf 3 für den Alpenraum bedeutenden Wertschöpfungsketten basieren: (1) Holzverarbeitung, (2) Bauwesen und (3) Automotive. Nach einer anfänglichen Analyse und Kartierung der Beschaffung, Verwendung und Wieder-/Weiterverwendung von Materialien aus den Unternehmen werden zielgruppenspezifische Lehrunterlagen erstellt und auf dem EDU-CIRC Portal offen zur Verfügung gestellt. Die Entwicklung und Umsetzung von Aus- und Weiterbildungsangeboten, Circular-Factory Tours sowie grenzübergreifende Circularity-Hackathons runden die Initiative ab.

The EU Chips Act aims to increase Europe’s global production share of semiconductors to 20% by 2030, leading to a need for a skilled workforce to support this growth. Additionally, the EU’s Green Deal initiative focuses on a transition to sustainable and energy efficient technologies, further emphasizing the need for expertise in sustainable chip development and green applications. There is an EU wide shortage of skilled workers in microelectronics. Addressing this shortage will be crucial in meeting the goals of both the EU Chips Act and the Green Deal. Furthermore, the next generation of students is largely interested in contributing to a sustainable environment. Providing them with the opportunity to gain deeper expertise in this field will align their skills with the industry’s future needs. The proposed project “GreenChips-EDU” supports the aforementioned goals by addressing the needs and challenges of a green and digital transition in the microelectronics industry. The consortium, made up of 15 key players from 7 EU countries, aims to build an attractive education ecosystem in green microelectronics by integrating the knowledge triangle of excellent education, industries needs and research challenges. The consortium includes 6 Unite! partners working on a harmonized curriculum focusing on energy efficiency and the development of sustainable integrated circuits. The project addresses all objectives from the call by offering a wide range of degree programs including mutual recognition as well as self-standing modules, implementing staff and student mobility, digital learning formats and upgrading infrastructure. About 600 students are planned to receive degrees or certificates in green electronics. In addition, summer schools, sustainability hackathons, learn-repair cafés as well as expert lectures by the partner companies and research institutions are organized to attract and train students to counteract the skills shortage in microelectronics in the EU.