AI-powered robots help tackle Europe’s growing e-waste problem

To tackle a growing amount of electronic waste, researchers have created robots to make recycling smarter, greener and more efficient. © Stokkete, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers have developed adaptable robots that could transform the way we recycle electronic waste, benefiting both the environment and the economy. By Kaja Šeruga Just outside the historic German town of Goslar, a sprawling industrial complex receives an endless stream of discarded electronics. On arrival, this electronic waste is laboriously prepared for recycling. Electrocycling … Read more

Taking the heat off: breakthrough cooling technology tackles climate challenge

Existing cooling technology is more than a century old and bad for the environment, but researchers are developing a smarter and more sustainable system. © Martin Bergsma, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are developing a smarter system of sustainable cooling, replacing toxic refrigerants with safer, more efficient and recyclable metals. By Kaja Šeruga As a young engineering student contemplating the direction of his doctoral research, Jaka Tušek knew he wanted to push the boundaries of science. “I wanted to work on breakthroughs, tackle something new … Read more

Looking to the skies to navigate icy waters

Using satellite data to monitor sea ice and icebergs will significantly improve safety for ships navigating the Arctic region. © Nicolas Dubreuil, 2025

With sea traffic set to rise in a warming Arctic, EU-funded researchers are helping sailors plot a safer course through sea ice and icebergs thanks to more reliable satellite-based forecasts. By Andrew Dunne Nicolas ‘Niko’ Dubreuil, a veteran polar explorer with over three decades of experience in the Arctic, knows first-hand the dangers of navigating … Read more

New lease of life: transforming biowaste into a valuable resource

Biological waste products could be recycled to create new products in a waste-free circular economy. © New Africa, Shutterstock.com

EU-funded researchers are improving the tracking and certification of biological waste to help give it a second life as new bio-based products. By Gareth Willmer Central Macedonia, a region on the northern mainland of Greece, is an important producer of food. It generates a quarter of the country’s agricultural output and is the source of … Read more

From trade fair to advanced surgery: the research project that pioneered 3D printing in medicine

3D printing is now widely used in medicine, with accurate models of human bones and organs providing immense help for complex surgeries. © Scharfsinn, Shutterstock.com

One EU-funded project in the 1990s turned the medical world on its head by introducing 3D printing to healthcare. This led to much better outcomes for complicated surgeries, improving the lives of thousands of patients. By Tom Cassauwers In 1990, Fried Vancraen visited a German trade show and was captivated by a 3D printer displayed … Read more