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e^4 — tools in higher Education for an Embodied & creative Energy Education

Programme and Call for Proposals

ERASMUS PLUS – Call 2021 Round 1 KA2

KA220-HED – Cooperation partnerships in higher education

Open project

Brief description

Given the urgency of environmental and technological change in the face of challenges such as climate change, the main need recorded is raising awareness of possible solutions and necessary measures, also given the challenge of educating the coming generation in these matters.

We feel the urgent need for both supporting and reforming teacher education (for teachers of primary school and lower secondary or middle school levels) at academic institutions in matters concerning energy (energy solutions, energy and the environment, energy and society).

On this scenario, we intend to create:

  • Innovative materials for teacher education in the field of energy technology.
  • A network of academic institutions and external stakeholders dealing practically with matters concerning energy.
  • A dedicated web platform were both learning materials for university courses and material, knowledge, and opportunities provided by the network are available.

Objectives

  • Develop and/or enrich higher education curricula (in teacher education for primary and lower secondary school levels), following a didactic approach based on “tools of imagination” like storytelling, gamification, embodied simulation, digital simulation, and play to facilitate science communication;
  • train academics charged with teacher education in innovative pedagogies and approaches to teaching science courses (including the use of appropriate aids and materials);
  • promote learning and teaching partnerships between universities and the private energy sector;
  • upskill future science teachers with new approaches to teaching to encourage girls for scientific carriers and fight against gender stereotypes in scientific and engineering careers;
  • support the strengthening of science skills of EU citizens and professionals to make conscious choices and use creativity and a critical mindset to contribute to lower CO2 emissions towards EU 2050 targets.

 

Main Activities

  • Creating guidelines for a Network of academic and private/public partnerships.
  • “Imaginative course” Curriculum for teaching through imaginative tools.
  • Interactive web platform supporting the Curriculum and the Network.

Results

  • Increased competences and skills of partners’ staff.
  • Increased competences in teachers of primary and secondary schools: 20 teachers (5 for each of the 4 countries involved) will participate in a transnational training session to get acquainted with the offline workshop activities proposed.
  • 30 prospective teachers in each country will join local testing and implement full testing of the blended course (web and software-based activities plus workshop activities). We expect 75% to 85% of participating teachers to be women. Thanks to local testing the project will reach about 1000 students in the 4 countries.
  • 300 participants will be interviewed as part of project assessment.

We expect the project to produce a change in teaching approaches at all levels:

  •  At university level, improving academics’ science teaching approaches, also blending online and in presence courses, improving the efficacy of their courses both at university and jointly with the private and public energy sector.
  • At school level, helping student teachers and in-service teachers to be more motivated for and engaged in new imaginative teaching methods, will lead to innovation in school curricula. Teachers will be able to adapt their teaching approaches to the new generation’s learning capacities and skills needs through the application of creativity fostered by imaginative tools.

 

Lead partner

LIBERA UNIVERSITA’ DI BOLZANO (Italy)

Partners

– InEuropa Srl – Italy

– Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika W Toruniu – Poland

– Esciencia Eventos Cientificos Sl Aragón Zaragoza – Spain

– Universitat de Valencia – Spain

– Sustainable Innovation Technology Services Ltd Mid-West Castletroy – Ireland

– Università degli Studi Di Modena e Reggio Emilia – Italy

– Dublin City University – Ireland

Duration
The project will last 36 months (28 February 2022 – 27 February 2025)

Website
https://energy4teachers.eu/

Budget
The project received a grant of € 395 506,00

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Other Projects
SEAlgaePower

SEAlgaePower – Transforming Aquaculture Waste into Sustainable Microalgae Solutions

SEAlgaePower is an EU-funded research and innovation project that converts nutrient-rich wastewater from aquaculture and seafood processing into valuable microalgae-based ingredients. By cultivating carefully selected marine microalgae directly in these waste streams, the project simultaneously cleans the water and produces high-quality biomass rich in proteins, omega-3 oils, pigments, and polysaccharides.

Through laboratory screening, pilot-scale cultivation, and advanced biorefinery methods, SEAlgaePower develops sustainable ingredients and prototypes for:

  • Food & functional ingredients

  • Aquaculture feed rich in omega-3

  • Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical extracts

  • MedTech materials for wound care & regenerative medicine

  • Bio-based fertilizers

Comprehensive environmental, social, and economic assessments ensure every solution is sustainable, circular, and suitable for real-world adoption.

SITES leads project communication, stakeholder engagement, socio-economic evaluation, value-chain circularity assessment, and exploitation strategy—supporting visibility, impact, and long-term application of SEAlgaePower outcomes.

Start date: 31 August 2025
Duration: 3 years
Total budget: €3,008,028

 

project website: https://www.sealgaepower.eu/  

Sargassum Bioeconomy: From Coastal Biomass to Advanced Sustainable Materials

SARGEX 

SARGEX (Sargassum Bioeconomy) is a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges project designed to transform one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—massive Sargassum seaweed blooms—into a long-term opportunity for sustainable development, renewable energy, and circular bio-economy innovation.

Rising sea temperatures, shifting ocean currents, and nutrient loading have intensified Sargassum proliferation, creating ecological, economic, and social threats to coastal regions worldwide. SARGEX responds to this emerging crisis by developing scalable, eco-friendly, and zero-waste valorisation pathways that convert Sargassum biomass into high-value bioinputs, functional materials, and renewable energy solutions.

Project Objectives

Technological & Research Objectives

  • O1: Develop sustainable Sargassum collection and processing protocols with >95% efficiency.

  • O2: Create innovative agricultural bioinputs (biostimulants, biofertilizers) enriched with Sargassum-derived nutrients, natural zeolites, and encapsulated microorganisms, achieving a 20% productivity increase in field trials.

  • O3: Design and build a modular pilot plant with an integrated biodigester (250 L capacity) producing bioinputs and biogas.

  • O4: Validate cost-effectiveness, scalability, and reduce CO₂-equivalent emissions by 15%.

  • O5: Advance technologies to TRL 6, preparing them for commercial evaluation.

MSCA Staff Exchange Objectives

  • O6–O12: Strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance innovation transfer, train staff, deliver workshops, engage civil society, and disseminate results to over 1,000 stakeholders.

Project Description

SARGEX addresses the growing global challenge of Sargassum “golden tides,” which threaten biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal health. By building on advanced extraction, bioprocessing, and valorisation methods, the project transforms this invasive biomass into:

  • Agricultural bioinputs (biostimulants, biofertilizers)

  • Encapsulated microbial formulations

  • Bioactive compounds for functional applications

  • Biogas through anaerobic digestion

  • Sustainable materials for broader use

The project adopts a zero-waste circular economy model, integrating modular pilot plants, biodigesters, and sustainable harvesting techniques. Multi-omics, advanced analytics, and cross-sector R&I support the development of new materials and agricultural solutions while ensuring environmental safety and economic scalability.

Consortium Partners

Academic & Research Partners

  • Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) – Coordinator

  • Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA)

  • University of Antwerp (UANTWERP)

  • ICIMAR – Instituto de Ciencias Marinas

  • EEPFIH – Escuela Experimental de Producción de Flora y Fauna

Industry & Innovation Partners

  • SITES (Sustainable Innovation Technology Services Ltd)

  • AERIS Tecnologías Ambientales

  • BET – Blue Economy Technologies

  • FUH – Fundación Universitaria Hispanoamericana

Together, they bring expertise in marine ecology, biotechnology, process engineering, bioenergy, agricultural sciences, innovation management, and communication.

Project Budget and Duration

  • Programme: Horizon Europe – MSCA Staff Exchanges

  • Proposal ID: 101236659

  • Duration: 48 months

  • Start: January 2026

  • End: December 2029

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    SITES holds a central role in the project across innovation, exploitation, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

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      • Conduct socio-economic assessment and cost-benefit analyses.

      • Build commercialization strategies for bioinputs and pilot plant technologies.

      • Support SMEs in adopting new technologies.

    • Lead WP5 – Dissemination, Communication & Networking

      • Develop and manage the project’s full communication and dissemination plan.

      • Engage policymakers, industry, civil society, and academic audiences.

      • Organize international workshops, outreach events, and multi-actor dialogue.

      • Coordinate branding, visual identity, and stakeholder visibility.

    • Participate in Staff Exchanges

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    Impact

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    • The EU Bioeconomy Strategy

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    • The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030

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    • Advance Europe’s position as a global leader in marine biomass innovation.

      project News

    • SARGEX Kick-off Meeting
Equal Arts project

EQUAL ARTS

 

A New Erasmus+ Project Takes Center Stage to Promote Gender Equality in Performing Arts Across Europe Through Research, Collaboration, And Innovation.

 

Project Name: Equal Arts project

Project Call: Call 2024 Round 1 KA2 - KA210-VET - Small-scale partnerships in vocational education and training (KA210-VET)

Project ID: 2023-1-IT01-KA220-ADU-000159913

Start date: 1st October 2024

End date: 30th September 2026

 

We are proud to announce the start of the Equal Arts project, a forward-thinking Erasmus+ initiative addressing gender inequality in the performing arts. The project officially began on 1 October 2024 and will run for 24 months, bringing together a diverse consortium of European partners to foster gender balance, empower women, and raise awareness across the cultural and creative sectors.

 

Background and Objectives 

The Equal Arts project (Project ID: 2023-1-IT01-KA220-ADU-000159913) was born out of the pressing need to tackle gender-based disparities in the performing arts sector—particularly within leadership and decision-making roles. Despite ongoing societal progress, women remain underrepresented in key managerial positions. The project sets out to identify existing gaps, explore good practices, and co-create strategies that promote equal opportunities in artistic environments.

With a focus on adult education, the initiative aims to enhance skills, support inclusive professional development, and contribute to the cultural sector's transformation. Planned activities include research, interactive toolkits, digital resources, stakeholder training, and public engagement through artistic performances and awareness campaigns.

 

Partnership and Collaboration 

The project is coordinated by InDance (Italy), and brings together a strong network of partners from across Europe:

 

  • InDance International - Project Coordinator - Applicant/Leading Organisation in charge of the project management and coordination, and referent for the Spanish NA.
  • SiTeS - Dissemination Coordinator - Leading Organisation for the Dissemination activities spread across the project, reporting to the Project Coordinator, defining and planning activities and their scheduling.
  • Le Voci di Astarte - Quality Assurance Coordinator - Leading Organisation in charge of Quality Assurance activities, the development of guidelines and research of good practices. It will also be responsible for developing the “Equal Arts Digital Portfolio” in the form of a digitized document.

 

Project Timeline and Activities 

Following the official project start on 1 October 2024, the consortium prepared internal frameworks and coordinated key project documents including the Quality Plan, Management Plan, and Risk Mitigation Strategy.

 

The Kick-off Meeting, hosted online by InDance on 3 December 2024, laid the groundwork for smooth cooperation. Partners introduced their organisations, reviewed the timeline, and agreed on next steps.

Key milestones to date include:

- 12 December 2024 – First Erasmus+ down payment received to initiate project activities

- 3 January 2025 – Branding and QA Plan (v1.0) completed

- 26 March 2025 – Landing page launched (https://eqa.levocidiastarte.com/), online questionnaire and Quality Plan published

 

Expected Impact 

The project is expected to produce a transformative effect across the European performing arts sector. It will benefit adult educators, cultural professionals, and civil society organisations by providing tools to address gender imbalances and promote inclusive leadership models.

Through knowledge sharing, training, and artistic engagement, Equal Arts will contribute to a more equitable and innovative cultural landscape—building momentum for long-term systemic change.

 

"The performing arts have long been a sector marked by significant issues related to the gender gap, particularly in managerial roles. The Equal Arts project aims to shed light on this challenge by building on the current context to design pathways toward genuine equality. This project is especially important to SITES, given its alignment with our core objectives." 

– Leonardo Piccinetti, Managing Director, SITES