Eye@RIS3: Innovation Priorities in Europe

This Strategic innovation area (SIA) includes new solutions for green energy transition and future housing.   This SIA will be based mainly on the distinct strengths and innovative activities of Wallonia in the engineering, design and simulation of more energy-efficient systems and parts, energy storage and integrated management of energy production and consumption flows within industrial production, buildings and integrated communities ('smart grids'), integrated traffic flow and network management, innovative solutions for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, specifically new insulating materials and/or energy sensors, digital solutions related to security, modelling, simulation and monitoring of energy consumption and performance of buildings, as well as skills in biomass valorization. #Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry #Renewable Energy #Energy Storage and Distribution #Design and Simulation of Energy-Efficient Parts/Systems/Components #Low-Carbon Mobility #Green Chemistry #Eco-Sustainable Construction

Innovative activities to support the emergence of high value-added and market potential products and services within a sustainable and circular agro-food system. Wallonia’s current strengths in research and innovation in the agri-food sector are focused on: food quality and safety; sustainable and circular agri-food systems; nutritional and functional ingredients; and industrial biotechnologies (white biotechnologies).   In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of natural ecosystems (soil health and water cycle), the Walloon potential in the field of environmental ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring services, agroecology and sustainable agricultural/forestry innovation will be strengthened. Healthy Food – Food Quality – Food Safety – Food Systems – Logistics – Nutritional and Functional Ingredients – Industrial Biotechnology – Technologies for Environmental Health – Monitoring Environment - Water Cycle - Soil Restoration

It brings together innovative activities related to the “circularization” of materials, with a view to reducing resource consumption, increasing regional autonomy and developing new market opportunities. These activities are based on the regional technological expertise in materials processing as well as the presence of recoverable natural resources. Circular materials are inert or bio-sourced materials that can be processed at different stages to ensure their future waste status is time-shifted or completely avoided. This priority also focuses eco-design with second generation materials, industrial symbiosis and the stimulation of the economy of re-employment, of the repair of these materials by mobilizing the actors of the social economy innovation in the recycling of materials through new technologies, and also other forms of organisation or financing.