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Challenges and Solutions

To guide  I+D+i towards sectors with high added value and help companies solve their challenges and needs, the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI) prioritizes in its calls for aid in competitive competition those projects that are aligned with the conclusions of the Strategic Innovation Committee (CEI) and its specialized teams.

Composed of representatives of the scientific community, technology centers and the business community, this advisory body contributes to defining priority challenges and innovation opportunities to address the great challenges of the productive system.

Click on each button to see the challenges of each CEIE/CI:

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN AGRI-FOOD

Challenge 1

Production of healthier foods.

  • Availability and marketing of foods targeted at groups with allergies or intolerances.
  • Identification and obtaining of compounds as alternatives to sugars, fats, and salt.
  • Development of functional foods.

Challenge 2

Flexibility and safety in agri-food production.

  • Automation and robotization of manufacturing processes.
  • Development of classification and inspection systems.
  • Development of sensors and biosensors for online detection of pathogens and contaminants.

Challenge 3

Precision agriculture through production prediction and control technologies.

  • Optimization of phytosanitary treatments and eco-compatible products, promoting zero residue.
  • Planning for harvesting and detection of internal quality.
  • Optimal use of water and irrigation strategies.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN NUTRITION AND HOSPITAL DIET

Challenge 1

Redefinition and development of diets tailored to age and clinical situation (5S food: healthy, safe, satisfying, sustainable, and social).

  • New preparation processes to guarantee optimal organoleptic qualities for longer.
  • Sustainable systems to offer certain foods in single-dose format.

Challenge 2

Assessment of the patient’s nutritional status and enhancement of hospital nutrition as a tool for nutritional education.

  • User-friendly intelligent systems to characterize patients’ nutritional status.
  • Applications that inform patients about their prescribed diet and provide recommendations after discharge.

Challenge 3

Optimization of information management and traceability, especially for allergies and intolerances.

  • AI systems to create specific prescribed diets for patients.
  • Sensorized verification systems to ensure maximum traceability.
  • Alert systems to quickly identify at-risk patients or those not eating properly.

Challenge 4

Even healthier and more efficient kitchen services.

  • New cooking systems and/or equipment.
  • On-site food regeneration systems or systems for transporting food in optimal conditions.

Challenge 5

Minimization of food and plastic waste generation and its treatment.

  • Intelligent systems for quantifying waste and for waste sorting and recycling.
  • Computer applications that facilitate communication between the plant and the kitchen.

Challenge 6

Creation of more ‘friendly’ environments to reduce loss of appetite resulting from illness.

  • Materials and elements (furniture, tableware) with improved technical, design, usability and ergonomic properties.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

Challenge 1

Optimization of the vehicle’s thermal management systems.

  • Development of new materials to reduce weight, improve thermal insulation, and minimize noise.
  • Reuse of heat from exhaust gases.

Challenge 2

Optimization of electric vehicle charging.

  • Improvement in charging station communications to enable energy bidirectionality.
  • Enhancement of battery life cycle sustainability by optimizing recycling and/or developing second-life alternatives.

Challenge 3

Improvement of onboard vehicle communication platform.

  • Development of personalized and/or inclusive design interiors.
  • Development of systems that enhance the concept of the vehicle as a sensor.

Challenge 4

Improvement in urban and interurban mobility management as a service, integrating existing systems.

  • Integration of existing mobility systems for seamless urban and interurban transport management.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN DECARBONIZATION

Challenge 1

Replacement of fossil fuels in energy production and use.

  • Development and implementation of more efficient electrification technologies.
  • Development of technologies for the generation and use of green hydrogen.
  • Improvement of renewable energy integration and management in the energy system.
  • Increase in efficiency per unit area of renewable generation technologies, favoring distributed generation.

Challenge 2

Improvement of energy efficiency in production processes and mobility.

  • Intensification and redesign of processes for greater energy savings.
  • Development of air conditioning and thermal insulation systems in diffuse sectors.
  • Data management and control systems for energy consumption and efficiency.

Challenge 3

Improvement in energy storage and management.

  • Technologies for the transport, storage and use of hydrogen.
  • Electric batteries, supercapacitors and hybridization of technologies.
  • Energy management solutions for energy communities and electric vehicles.

Challenge 4

Promotion of alternative raw materials and circular economy for CO₂ reduction and capture.

  • Decarbonized raw materials or those with a lower carbon footprint.
  • Valorization of waste for fuel production and CO₂ emission reduction.
  • Carbon-neutral fuels (SAF, biopolymers, etc.).
  • Specific CO₂ capture and storage systems.
  • Development of green systems as natural carbon sinks.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN INTELLIGENT TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Challenge 1

More efficient measurement and awareness of factors related to climate change (carbon footprint).

  • Measurement systems that provide real-time data and improvement recommendations regarding these variables.

Challenge 2

Improvement of interaction with different tourist segments.

  • Non-intrusive emotion analysis systems in the different phases of the tourist process.
  • Scalable personalized offer systems interconnected with destination CMS and users.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Challenge 1

More sustainable consumer goods.

  • Collaborative software platform in ecodesign aimed at product families with design freedom.
  • New materials and technologies to extend the service life of equipment.
  • More sustainable packaging through simplification of multilayer structures; new rapidly degradable polymers.

Challenge 2

More efficient valorization of waste and expansion in the use of reclaimed water.

  • Intelligent systems for sorting and collecting solid waste, preferably urban.
  • Tertiary recycling techniques for agricultural waste, sewage sludge and metal-containing waste.
  • More efficient purification treatments that optimize the use-quality-technology relationship of reclaimed water.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN EMERGENCIES

Challenge 1

Improvement of communication channels with citizens, including early warning and self-protection systems.

  • Emergency apps compliant with current ETSI regulations, applicable in covered areas.
  • Geolocation and alert systems on smartphones for uncovered areas or during natural disasters.

Challenge 2

Optimization of real-time information capture and analysis for crowd and traffic flow control.

  • Information capture systems using physical and/or logical sensors in existing media.
  • Intelligent platforms to adapt information from various sources for emergency management centers.

Challenge 3

Improvement in protection against cyberattacks on emergency protection systems and critical infrastructures.

  • Threat monitoring and evaluation systems for emergency infrastructures.
  • Control and protection mechanisms for emergency infrastructure information systems.

Challenge 4

Improvement in PPE properties for emergency teams beyond regulatory requirements.

  • Enhanced PPE with new materials, technologies and manufacturing processes.
  • PPE with automated maintenance state detection and usage monitoring systems.
  • PPE with anthropometric requirements for integral adjustment to specific user needs.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN SUSTAINABLE HABITAT

Challenge 1

Optimization of the real behavior of buildings and homes to improve their performance and maintenance.

  • Sensor systems, monitoring, analysis and data management for energy/water consumption, air quality and comfort.

Challenge 2

Implementation of more sustainable construction materials and systems.

  • Energetically efficient, reusable, biodegradable, sustainable and safe materials.
  • Construction systems for industrialization: modular housing, prefabricated elements and industrialized assemblies.

Challenge 3

Nearly zero-energy buildings.

  • Customized systems for the use of renewable energy sources, both individually and collectively.
  • Passive conditioning systems integrated into buildings.

Challenge 4

Improvement in integrating the changing demands and needs of building and housing users.

  • Flexible and multifunctional systems for adapting interior spaces to users’ needs over time.
  • Shared and collaborative living systems.

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY

Challenge 1

Generate new space access solutions and new aerospace transportation and traffic management systems.

  • Innovative propulsion technologies (orbit modification, attitude control, space transportation, etc.).
  • Urban, interurban and regional air transport solutions.
  • Drone airspace solutions (U-Space).
  • New fuel storage systems in space.

Challenge 2

Enhancing sustainable mobility in the aerospace sector.

  • Zero Debris solutions (reusable vehicles, space debris detection and mitigation).
  • New, more sustainable propulsion systems (lower emissions, reduced acoustic impact).

Challenge 3

Development of algorithms and applications using data from satellites, pseudosatellites and drones.

  • High value-added algorithms for productive sectors (transport, agriculture, etc.).
  • Use and sharing of aerospace observation data, integrating AI techniques.
  • Support for surveillance, prevention and emergency management systems.

Challenge 4

Optimization of advanced aerospace navigation and communication systems.

  • Improvement of advanced communication and satellite navigation systems.
  • Innovative navigation systems as alternatives to satellite navigation.
  • Innovative solutions for space navigation and ground-to-air interconnectivity.

Challenge 5

Coordination and participation in Earth observation, communications, and space exploration missions.

  • Scientific equipment and instruments for Earth and space observation.
  • Cost-optimized solutions for shared use of Earth observation resources.
  • Development of complete missions.

Challenge 6

Incorporation of transversal technologies into the aerospace sector.

  • Advanced manufacturing systems and materials for extremely hostile environments.
  • Infrastructure for the design, integration and validation of satellites.
  • Hardware and software platforms for space, airborne and ground segment applications.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN MOBILITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Challenge 1

Detection of infrastructure conditions and maintenance needs to improve safety.

  • Infrastructure monitoring methodologies using remote or non-invasive techniques.
  • Prediction systems, early warning and artificial intelligence.
  • Innovative tools and processes for the training of detection and maintenance personnel.

Challenge 2

Design, construction and operation of resilient infrastructures to mitigate the effects of climate change.

  • Nature-based technological solutions.
  • Multifunctional or high-performance materials.

Challenge 3

Reduction of CO₂ emissions in the life cycle of infrastructure and transportation services.

  • Low ecological footprint waste or materials.
  • Processes for reducing energy demand and generation through clean energies.
  • New forms of energy or more efficient propulsion modes in public transport vehicles.

Challenge 4

Improvement of service, experience and safety for public transport users.

  • Technological solutions that facilitate the automation of information flows.
  • Intelligent management systems for transportation services, focusing on multimodality.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN HEALTH

Challenge 1

Control and/or prevention of frailty-chronicity through AI and/or Big Data tools applied to electronic medical records.

  • New non-invasive monitoring systems for metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric and musculoskeletal pathologies.

Challenge 2

Optimization of surgical processes to be less invasive and with fewer associated side effects.

  • New surgical instruments, robotic systems, detection systems and surgery assistance simulators.

Challenge 3

Prevention of nosocomial infections.

  • New resources/materials with bacteriostatic and/or fungicidal capacity.
  • New coatings with bacteriostatic capacity for healthcare furniture.
  • Early detection systems for colonizations.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN UNDESIRED SOLITUDE IN VULNERABLE GROUPS

Challenge 1

Motivation of individuals belonging to vulnerable groups in their search for support.

  • Personalized recommendation and reinforcement systems using AI and/or argumentation and persuasion technologies.

Challenge 2

Prioritization of cases with a higher risk of social isolation.

  • New and/or improved processes in the collection and processing of information about affected individuals.
  • Tools for semantic and emotional analysis in the detection and prediction of risk.

Challenge 3

Promotion of empowerment, training, and the social value of individuals belonging to vulnerable groups.

  • Technologies that promote social connections among groups through mentoring or capitalizing on the value of these individuals.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

Challenge 1

Optimization of operations in companies through the incorporation of digitalization technologies.

  • Adaptation and improvement of IoT system development standards and best practices.
  • Integration of systems and communications for industry.
  • Improvement and implementation of IoT devices and systems.
  • Advanced analytics models and data visualization to aid decision-making (Business Intelligence).

Challenge 2

More robust artificial vision technologies through the development of algorithms, preferably based on Deep Learning.

  • Development of demonstrator prototypes based on advanced artificial vision algorithms.

Challenge 3

Efficiency in the generation, storage and management of renewable energies.

  • Improving energy efficiency of power generation and storage systems, preferably using new materials.
  • Real-time data processing for active network management.