CARTIF Annual Report 2023

Datos generales

What is CARTIF?

CARTIF is an applied and horizontal research technology centre with a clear goal: to offer innovative solutions to companies to improve their processes, systems and final products and services, thus improving their competitiveness in the business fabric and creating new business opportunities.

After almost 30 years of history , the centre´s research staff continues to work to perpetuate these premises and continue to carry the legacy of the technology centre forward.

CARTIF maintains the multidicisplinary character with which it was created and develops its activity in different sectors or areas of business, from industrial solutions, energy and environment, construction and infrastructures, to the agrifood, health and life quality.

Goal, vision and values

Our vision

Our goal

To be a benchmark in applied research, technologica l developmen t and innovation of processes, products and systems , offerin g integral multidisciplinary solutions that achieve a high impact due to their capacity for anticipation and systematic interaction with society, the business world and the university.

The results achieved in the research lines enable us to provide comprehensive services in technological development and innovation tasks to companies.

Furthermore, participating in strategic alliances with leading companies and technology centres allows us to exchange scientific knowledge and experiences.

Excellence. The search for the highest quality in all the activities carried out in order to to be perceived as a benchmark, both by the organisation itself and by the rest of the society.

Our values

Sustainability. Development of the organisation in order to meet the present needs without compromising continuity. All this with a clear focus on Corporate Social Responsability and contribution to the Environment.

Enthusiasm and Creativity. Behaviour of the group through a high level of involvement and motivation. Capacity to generate ideas and initiatives.

Commitment to regional development. Promoting the sustainable development of the region to improve the quality of life and increase its competitive capacity.

M embers of the CARTIF Foundation

Goverance

José Ramón Perán González. CARTIF general manager

Sergio Sanz Hernando. CARTIF deputy general manager

Patronate

Presidency. Huercasa

Vice-presidency . CEOE Castilla y León

Secretariat. Universidad de Valladolid

Members. Entrepinares, Gullón, Dragados, Grupo Matarromera, Prosol

Affiliates. Acciona, Aciturri, Ayuntamiento de Boecillo, Carburos Metálicos, Divisa IT, Iberdrola, Industrias Río S.L, Unicaja Banco, Veolia

Technology Advisors

D. Fernando Aldana Mayor.

Former Secretary General of the CYTED Programme

D. Jordi Aguiló Llobet.

Emeritus professor at the en University of Barcelona

Women

14,270,000 €

Total incomes

154 Projects with companies

5.1 M€

24 International projects

10.55 M€

ustomers 2023 C

Accreditations and certifications

CARTIF has two accredited laboratories in compound materials test, paints, barnishes, sealants, resines and wood pellets by ENAC (nº335/LE1276), and of non-metallic tests according to the aerospacial standar AS7003 by Nadcap.

In addition, has certifications by AENOR in quality and environment (ISO 9001 and 14001) and in R&D (ISO 166002).

latform, network and associations

Monitoring of the CARTIF Equality Plan

As stated in CARTIF´s Equality Plan , registered in november 2021, the centre maintains the objective of promoting an environment based on equal opprotunities for all staff by eliminating any barriers that may hinder professional development.

Through its Implementation Committee, CARTIF has implemented the following measures over the course of 2023:

Creation of a training module on the prevention of sexual and gender-based harassment for all staff, integrated into the Occupational Risk Prevention (ORP) training.

Inclusion of the technology centre in the Social Pact of the Junta de Castilla y León against gender violence.

Approval of new paid leave for staff.

The Equality Plan Monitoring Committee, set up since its approval, monitors the implementation of the agreed measures to determine their efficiency, effectiveness and viability.

CARTIF Success

Ranking of international projects

CARTIF is positioned as the first technology centre in Castilla y León , and second in Spain, in the participation in projects funded by the Horizon Europe programme of the European Commission according to its latest data. In turn, CARTIF is ranked 16th at national level behind prestigious universities, and 39th if we consider public and private technology centres in Europe.

This reality reflects the effort and perseverance of the technology centre throughout its almost 30 years of experience in its aim of transmitting and generating knowledge to the regional, national and international business network. All these steps have led CARTIF to become one of the reference agents in research and applied innovation, especially, in Castilla y León.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/

The centre develops its activity in areas of knowledge focused on very diverse economic sectors: energy, food, industry, construction and infrastructures, health and environment, with technological lines that respond to the main challenges in each of them. Its research staff works in a transversal way with the objective of offering enriched and competent solutions to its clients.

Opening borders

This reality is reflected in two international projects that cross European borders and in which the centre´s research team is currently inmersed. Both clearly reflect CARTIF´s mission: to transfer knowledge.

One of them is the PLADEMI project, whose main objective is to provide a quality energy supply solution in isolated, non-interconnected areas of Latin America. A team of CARTIF

researchers travelled to Colombia in June 2023 to learn about the status of this proposed project and to determine the next steps to be taken.

CARTIF, together with the rest of the research team of the consortium, has worked on the development of a tool that allows the dimensioning of microgrids, taking into account both energy parameters of renewable origin and indigenous origin, as well as social parameters.

CIRAWA project is the other international project outside Europe that CARTIF is working on, which aims to improve agriculture in West Africa by promoting a more sustainable agri-food system through agro-ecology in Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal and Gambia.

During the month of July, the project consortium held a kick-off-meeting in Cape Verde to discuss the needs and actions to be carried out there. Sergio Sanz, deputy director general of CARTIF, and representatives of the project, attended the meeting to explain the steps to be taken and to visit the experimental field of Casa do Meio, where some of the practices of the project will be carried out.

Sergio Sanz, deputy director general of CARTIF, and Gilberto Correia Carvalho, Minister of Agriculture of Cape Verde

Research areas

More than 20 years working for the Food and Beverage Industry endorse CARTIF´s Food area , which offers a service tailored to process and product needs, identifying consumer demand, adapting to market demands and anticipating health trends.

Research lines

1.

Use of new protein sources and application of innovative technologies for modifying the technofunctional properties of ingredients and obtaining new food products.

2.

Development of healthy products through drying and preservation technologies .

New applications to ensure food quality and safety.

Research into the reformulation of products of nutritional quality and sustainability.

3.

4.

MEATING PLANTS

Project completed in 2023

The MEATING PLANTS Project was born with the aim of developing new meat analogues vegetable protein sources of leguminous plants native to Castilla y Léon. With the incorporation of by-products or vegetable waste, and the use of technologies such as extrusión or texturisation, the objective was to obtain new innovative alternative products

The activities have been carried out in four phases of action in which raw materials have been selected and evaluated, technological processes have been applied to formulations generated from them, the transformations of the proteins used in these formulation have been analysed, as well as the quality of the products obtained and the functionality of the ingredients and, finally, the prototyping of products aimed at the market has been obtained.

The results obtained have enabled conclusions to be drawn regarding the use of by-products or by-products of vegetable origin , which contribute bioactive principles to the functional characteristics of the end products, such as beetroot flour rich in betalains or corn flour with carotenoid content. These ingredients, in addition to increasing the nutritional and functional value of the products due to their contribution of antioxidants , provide an attractive colour that improves the organoleptic quality of the products.

R&D projects in effective collaboration between ctt and companiesCCTT4/20/VA/003

Overall project budget: 940,794.04€

CARTIF Budget: 874,938.46€

Number of partners: 4

Competitive call

CARNIQUS

Project started in 2023

CarniQus project arises as a response to the current needs of the meat sector in terms of the control of product spoilage parameters.

Through the use of NIRS technology and the use of different chemometric tools, the research team of this project aims to obtain global classification models of the final packaged product according to its shelf-life thresholds in terms of microbiological load and lipid oxidation of the products.

The aim is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of near infrared technology to discriminate cooked meat products according to shelf-life thresholds , as well as to slow down photo-oxidation through the use of natural antioxidants.

CDTI R&D Projects

Overall project budget: 722,302€

CARTIF budget: 478,236€

Number of partners: 2

Competitive call

The area of Biotechnology and Sustainable Chemistry advances in the research and implementation of applied solutions, both in the industrial sector (agri-food, chemistry, materials) and in the protection and improvement of the environment, from the point of view of the development of more efficient, sustainable and integrated products and processes in the useful life cycle.

Research lines

1.

Processes with chemical-catalytic reaction processes, heterogeneous catalysts and (bio)adsorbent materials.

2.

Thermochemical processes and intensification of pressure processes for the transformation of plastics, biomasses and recalcitrant waste into value-added products.

3.

Development of biobased materials with applications in polymers , adhesives and coatings with special properties.

4.

Development of advance fermentation process (with sustrate in liquid phase and/or

5.

Application of advanced chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis processes for waste and lignocellulosic biomass treatment.

6.

Development of new applications and microbiological tools.

7.

Extraction and purification of active ingredients and proteins by biocatalysis and/or GRAS solvents.

H2METAMO

Ongoing project in 2023

The H2MetAmo research team has been working on the development of compact and efficient plants for the generation of hydrogen carrier molecules .To do this, it has focused its research on two main lines: methane generation and ammonia production.

Its activity has been based on the synthesis of efficient and low-cost catalysts for obtaining methane from renewable hydrogen; on the determination of the yields and reaction kinetics of new catalysts for obtaining methane, as well as the study of the effects of operating conditions and strategies for improving activity and stability.

At present, the project advances on the development of specific catalysts for the methanation reaction, that allows the creation of methane on the basis of hydrogen and CO2, which includes the analysis of different type of catalysts through the development of activity and stability test, with the aim of determine key parameters of the process such as selectivity, conversion and productivity, over time and in different reaction conditions.

Investment. (C17.I1) of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience plan

Overall project budget: 2,698,246€

CARTIF budget: 341,190€

Number of partners: 6

WOODLI

Project started in 2023

Woodli Project develops bioadhesives with for use in the manufacture of wood-based panels used, among others, in the construction sector. Unlike traditional commercial bioahesives, these will be of renewable origin and will not present toxicity problems associated with the emission of volátile substances into the environments, such as formaldehyde.

To reach the objective, the project team will establish a lignin extraction and purification protocol that takes into account the efficiency and reduction of the environmental impact of the process, as well as the substitution of environmentaly unfriendly compounds that are toxic to human health.

CARTIF will be responsable for the analysis of Wood lignin extraction and purification methods and their specifications for use in reformulation, chemical modification to increase its reactivity in the formulation of bioadhesives, and collaboration in the fine-tuning of the process at pilot scale , among others.

CDTI Eureka

Overall project budget: 685,735€

CARTIF Budget: 180,000€

Number of partners: 3

Natural Resources and Climate area develops its lines of research around processes and technologies that contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources and the improvement and protection of the environment, paying special attention to those aspects that contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Research lines

Research into water purification solutions using soft technologies (water biofilters) and sustainable drainage systems.

Research in techniques of water sustainable use and recovery processes.

Research in techniques and technologies of renaturalization of industrial and household spaces (inside and outside).

Development of natural solutions for the improvement of air quality (inside/outside)

Research in forestal management through quantification of ecosystemic services of forest stands and their action facing climate change.

Development of decontamination (mainly NOX removal) and potabilisation processes (trihalomethanes, radionucleides,etc.)

Research in new systems and improvement of crops.

8. Research in bio-phyto remediation of degraded soils through ecological restoration, metal recovery (bio-mining),etc.

10.

Research in bioproducts (biofertilizers, biostimulants and biopesticides) with agrifood origen.

9. Research in soil restoration solutions , sustrates formulation, technosoils, amendments and composting processes.

LIFE MYBUILDINGISGREEN

Project completed in 2023

The impacts of climate change are seriously affecting the well-being and health of children and the elderly. In response to this need, the LIFE myBUILDINGisGREEN Project was created with the aim of increasing the resilience of educational and social buildings through Nature based Solutions (SbN). These actions have been carried out in buildings in Spain and Portugal.

The CEIP Gabriela Mistral in Solana de los Barros, Badajoz , was the educational centre where the SbN actions in Spain were carried out. Following the research, the number of green implemented has increased by more than 140%.

These changes have resulted in a considerable reduction in the temperatura inside the school, especially in the classrooms under the roof. Some of the average values recorded for July 2020 comapred to 2022 have been a reduction of -12.9% or -11.9% on the first floor east and outside east, respectively.

LIFE Programme· LIFE17 CCA/ES/000088

Overall budget project: 2,854,102€

CARTIF Budget: 506,733€

Number of partners: 6

Competitive call

CIRAWA

Project started in 2023

CIRAWA project , coordinated by CARTIF, will develop its activity in West Africa , where the team will work on the implementation of agro-ecology, facilitating the transition of the population towards a more sustainable food system. These solutions will be implemented in Cape Verde, Ghana, Senegal and Gambia , due to their climate variability and the dependence of their agriculture on rainfall.

This Project will provide new solutions by assessing various strategies, such as the production of high quality seeds , the valorisation of waste and biofertiliser products, the phytoremediation of saline soils and the adoption of sustainable soil and water management practices.

The CARTIF research team involved in this Project will be responsable for the definition of the study plots, the design and development of an integrated Risk Assessment System with site-specific fertilisation recommendations; and training for the farming community.

Horizon Europe - 101084398

Overall budget project: 6,947,466€

CARTIF Budget: 888,500€

Number of partners: 15

Competitive call

Circular Economy CARTIF area seeks to decouple the traditional linear approach to processes in favor of a circular approach based on implementing the concept of zero waste. Its research teams works on the sustainable management of waste flows and by-products, as well as on the research on new products alternatives that include this approach.

Its actions cover the recovery of waste, the implementation of effluent treatment and reuse techniques and the minimisation of polluting atmospheric emissions.

Research lines

1.

Design and development of biological processes for organic waste treatment : anaerobic (co)digestion with/without pre-treatment, microalgae, dark fermentation and bio-electrochemical processes.

2.

Development of separation/upgrading technologies for gaseous mixtures.

Design and development of thermochemical processes for the treatment of organic waste (biomass and plastics).

Design of r esidues pretreatment strategies (lignocellulose and others).

5.

Development of depolimerization of plastics processes: obtaining monomers and gases.

6.

Development of composite valorization technologies: fibre recovery.

7.

Recovery of nutrients of residual currents and second life cycle as fertilizers (struvite, digestate, biologically stabilised manure).

9.

8. Research on metal recovery processes from batteries, brine, electronic and other waste streams and equipment.

Reuse of water: advanced treatments for the removal of emerging and recalcitrant pollutants.

3.

4.

HOUSEFUL

Project completed in 2023

HOUSEFUL Project emerged to turn the housing sector around through the circular economy. The main objective of this initiative was to develop and demonstrate an integrated systemic service made up of 11 circular solutions that would focus on circular management and the efficient use of water, energy and materials used in all phases of the life cycle of buildings.

CARTIF was in charge of the development of the methodology for the evaluation of circularity in the sector, of the co-creation actions of the HOUSEFUL services, as well as of the large-scale demonstrators in buildings.

This initiative has demonstrated a reduction in landfill waste , recycling of rainwater, black and grey water for the production of reusable water and biogas, and CO2 emissions.

H2020-IND-CE-2016-17 Nº 776780

Overallproject budget: 8,535,247.50€

CARTIF Budget: 474,419.30€

Number of partners: 16

Competitive call

ELLIPSE

Project started in 2023

The ELLIPSE project aims to address the valorisation of two heterogeneous waste streams generated in large quantities in Europe to produce cost-effective polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for the agriculture and packaging sector. The integration of these waste streams as biorefinery feedstocks will reduce the volume of waste destined for landfill or anaerobic digestion.

To carry out this project, the CARTIF team will be in charge of the optimisation of the acidogenic fermentation to produce AFVs , the testing of the innovative membrane reactor technology (AnMBR), the recovery of nutrients from the cultivation of microalgae in hybrid systems, and will also advise on the environmental impact of all the project's actions, as well as its final results.

Horizon Europe - 101112581

Overall project budget: 7,113,497.50€

CARTIF budget: 526,750€

Number of partners: 13

Competitive call

With the aim of moving towards the 'factory of the future' philosophy, CARTIF's

Industry 4.0 area is working on the development of innovative enabling technologies that allow companies to improve their production processes, the interconnection of all the agents present in the factories and the correct management of the value chain (suppliers, customers, logistics, etc.).

Research lines

1.

Research in modelling and diagnosis in predictive maintenance of actives under varying operating conditions.

2.

Research in prediction of actives life cycle models under constant operating speeds.

3.

Development of data acquisition systems for the supervision of processes.

4.

Development of new sensors addressed to IoT .

5.

Optimisation of operations management in manufacturing.

CAPRI

Project completed in 2023

The CAPRI project was born to develop, test and experiment an innovative cognitive automation platform (CAP) to achieve the digital transformation of the process industry and the improvement of its performance and flexibility. Its main objectives have been to reduce raw material use, energy consumption and carbon footprint. The project consortium has worked in three pilot industries belonging to the chemical, steel and minerals sector.

The innovative solutions obtained throughout the project and exploitable on the market have been:

Mineral industry: development of cognitive sensors to determine the bitumen content in recycled asphalt, as well as the amount of filler and control of the dryer.

Steel idustry: development of a cognitive steel solidification sensor for continuous casting processes.

Chemical industry (tablets): development of a process for prediction of critical quality attributes, as well as prediction of test results and uniformity of dosage units, measurement of granule size distribution, system failures or deviations from quality attributes.

H2020-EU.2.1.5e3.

Overall project budget: 7,050,276.25€

CARTIF Budget: 653,750€

Number of partners: 12

Competitive call

ARISE

Project started in 2023

The ARISE project aims to create resilient and sustainable work environments between humans and robots in industry through HRI (human-robot) interaction s in their processes.

The aim is to strengthen the capabilities of factories, taking advantage of the opportunities of artificial intelligence and robotic ecosystems. It will be implemented through open source, real-time middleware for industrial robotic applications based on powerful standards such as FIWARE and FastDDS. The aim is to make it easier for companies to create robotic applications in an agile and robust way so that human-robot interaction becomes a reality in different types of workplaces, always respecting ethical and safety standards.

In order to achieve this, the project will deploy industrial HRI in four test and experimentation facilities and more than twenty workplaces in different parts of Europe.

Horizon Europe · 101135784

Overall project budget: 9,984,510€

CARTIF budget: 511,875€

Number of partners: 10

Competitive call

In order to respond to the needs of the sector, CARTIF's Infrastructures area develops technological solutions focused on sustainable and smart construction. Its research team works on the sensorisation and monitoring of infrastructures, integration of renewable energies in building, 3D technologies in construction, IoT devices and networks, rehabilitation and preventive maintenance of buildings or the development of new materials with innovative properties, among other solutions.

Research lines

Development of IA based solutions for the support decision-making in construction.

Development of solutions for the improvement of structural health through vibration control.

Development of solutions of infrastructures digitalization.

Development of robotic solutions , 3D data process and additive manufacturing for the construction sector.

PORTABLE 3DPRINTER

Project completed in 2023

The Portable 3DPrinter project has developed a new "in situ" production process using additive manufacturing technologies and an agile management methodology that allows the printing of construction elements with reduced energy and material costs. Together with CARTIF, Moroccan entities (TPF, the University of Fez or Hiba Beton) and the Spanish Construction Technology Platform (PTEC) have collaborated in the project.

The research team has worked on a portable 3D printing system that is easy to use and can be assembled and disassembled quickly, allowing this resource to be available on site, thus reducing transport needs and the corresponding energy consumption. Having such agile and flexible systems, fully integrated into a BIM environment and ready to adapt quickly to these situations, improves responsiveness to potential problems and reduces the time, material and energy costs associated with such unforeseen events.

The development of this project has reinforced CARTIF's line of research related to 3D printing and has allowed the establishment of a Spanish-Moroccan collaboration that makes it possible to open up to new markets.

Overall project budget: 825,396.60€

CARTIF budget: 48,850€

Number of partners: 5

CLEAN PORTS 5.0

Project started in 2023

The Clean Ports 5.0 project is born with the mission to improve the logistics processes of complete handling of goods at multimodal level (containers, bulk, pallets and last mile parcels) through the incorporation of artificial intelligence and collaborative robotics in the automation of processes, platforms, new more sustainable vehicles, and the incorporation of renewable energies.

The CARTIF team will be in charge of monitoring the bulk loading process , optimisation of transport flows in shipyards, sustainability of port processes, and intelligent loading of last mile vehicles.

The objective is to obtain, through this project, a prototype for monitoring draught marks on bulk carriers, an intelligent module for automatic palletising and depalletising by means of collaborative robotics, as well as to develop a digital twin of the shipyard, and to optimise its energy consumption.

CDTI Science and Innovation Missions

Overall project budget: 3,825,175€

CARTIF budget: 775,538€

Number of partners: 7

Competitive call

Heritage area has been working for more than 20 years in this sector with the aim of caring for, conserving and restoring Cultural and Natural Heritage through the development of technological solutions. The application of innovation in this field has contributed throughout the history of the centre to the development of the economic and social environment, especially in Castilla y León, a region so rich in heritage from prehistoric times to the present day.

Research lines

Development of solutions and customized studis of rural and urban regeneration based in cultural and natural heritage.

Development of solutions based in multiscale image processing and multispectral and 3D data.

Research in HBIM modelling and application of digital technologies for the natural and cultural heritage.

Research in new techniques for the culture and intelligent tourism.

Development of methodologies for the technical inspection of historic buildings and real estate.

RURITAGE

Project completed in 2023

The RURITAGE project has developed a methodology for rural regeneration using the unique value of cultural and natural heritage as endogenous resources and drivers of local development and sustainable growth. Rural areas are conceived as cradles of cultural and natural heritage, and essential poles of sustainable development, exploring ways, tools and methods to create a sustainable future for them in the short term.

CARTIF's main contributions have been the active participation in the definition of completely new key performance indicators with a global perspective, the design and development of a robust monitoring platform to collect the data related to these indicators, and the evaluation of the impact of the project on the data collected, providing evidence of heritage-based rural development , with the possibility of replicating and scaling up the results across the EU and third countries.

H2020-SC5-21b-2017

Overall project budget: 9,975,651.25€

CARTIF budget: 393,925.55€

Number of partners: 40

Competitive call

RURACTIVE

Project started in 2023

The RURACTIVE project aims to foster just transition and sustainability of rural areas through the development of smart, inclusive, tailor-made and community-led solutions under the consideration of multi-actor rural innovation ecosystems in 12 pilot areas.

The central objective of the project is to enable rural communities to act proactively for positive change in their territories by making available knowledge on smart solutions that integrate various forms of innovation; enhancing the capacities and skills of these rural communities; providing training, capacity building and knowledge transfer; and providing a fertile ground for change in rural areas.

CARTIF's role focuses on establishing the monitoring programme, defining a novel and comprehensive set of key indicators together with early warning indicators. It will also coordinate the development of a set of tools based on open data to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the smart solutions to be developed for the envisaged ecosystems.

Horizon Europe · 101084377

Overall project budget: 6,452,255.63€

CARTIF budget: 215,625€

Number of partners: 26

Competitive call

Welfare and Health area has almost three decades of experience in improving the quality of life and autonomy of people, especially the elderly, frail or dependent, and in various areas of their daily lives such as nutrition, mobility, rehabilitation or education.

His team is working on two main lines of research: on the one hand, the robotics line, which covers social interaction and the interaction of forces between robots and people, for the development of social and health care services; and on the other hand, the 'decision support' line, for the management of resources and processes in the socio-care field.

Research lines

Development of systems based in humanoide robots for social applications.

Development of robotic applications and integrated systems physical rehabilitation.

Development of digital enablers to improve socio-assistance processes.

Development of digital enablers to improve the management of socioassistance processes.

IDET

Project completed in 2023

The IDET project is an experimental initiative that arose to create a set of technologies to facilitate the creation of rehabilitation therapies for robotic systems through virtual environments. Also, within the framework of this project, a robotic system was designed for the recovery of wrist movement.

The project consortium has managed to go a step further in the field of rehabilitation with the creation of a robot or module that could be integrated in future virtual reality therapies.

In addition, the CARTIF team involved in this proposal has been responsible for the presentation of a scientific article on the designs proposed in the project, as well as the presentation of the results at national congresses on the subject of automation, robotics applied to rehabilitation, rehabilitation or robotics.

Collaboration Challenges 2019 · RTC2019-007355-1

Overall project budget: 305,080.50€

CARTIF budget: 254,103€

Number of partnes: 2

Competitive call

EIAROB

Project started in 2023

The EIAROB project arises from the need to prevent situations of risk and aggravation of the dependence of elderly and dependent people. To achieve this, this project proposes to promote autonomy and improve the quality of life of these groups of people, both in their homes and in living units in residential centres, through social robotics.

The CARTIF team, in addition to coordinating the project, is working on the integration of social robots as support elements for the resident, to develop a system that offers care, therapy, leisure, physical stimulation and access to remote living services, as well as to develop an experimental robotics observatory for independent living in Castilla y León.

In addition, this project aims to facilitate the work of the professionals in charge of their care, as well as to reduce the costs associated with their care.

Innovation Projects GSS-Next Gen · Projects.IN./22/M/01

Overall project budget: 4,000,000€

CARTIF budget: 2,899,999.99€

Number of partners: 4

Competitive call

CARTIF's Industrial Solutions area provides companies with resources and innovative measures that favour efficient manufacturing and the transition to the factory of the future, in accordance with the needs of an increasingly demanding and competitive market.

To this end, it focuses its efforts on flexible manufacturing solutions, intelligent manufacturing processes, collaborative robotics and advanced automation. All this from the perspective of profitability and market positioning, which always benefits its customers.

Research lines

1.

Development of designs and prototypes of new mechanic and structural systems.

2.

Development of user support solutions for assembly lines based on the Poka Yoke system.

3.

Development of new solutions in artificial vision for the control of quality at the industry based in Deep Learning.

4.

Development of assistance systems for the collaborative robotic , such as IA modules of task management based in physical and mental charge.

5.

Development of new controllers for the optimization of control systems through the advance automatic control of processes.

6.

Development of solutions for the digitalization of information provided by plant operators.

DAMPERDOOR

Project completed in 2023

The Damperdoor project, in collaboration with ADINOR , was created to provide a solution for the damping of doors with a forced final closure, avoiding knocks. To do this, the team worked on a passive magnetic damping design (without energy) and free of friction.

This solution involves the arrangement of several hidden elements within the guide or rail along which the door runs, and they work together on the basis of two magnetic phenomena: the Focault currents and the Gaussian Canyon.

The prototype that was developed was adjusted to a specific door weight and considering human actions of a trained and intuitive subject, without using any damping element. However, when considering other parameters - heavier doors and abrupt actions - it was considered to include a small damper and thus enhance the forced closure with larger plates included in the guide.

ICE · 04/18/V/0147

Overall project budget: 80,188.60€

CARTIF budget: 55,000€

Number of partners: 1

HUMAIN

Project started in 2023

The HUMAIN project aims to achieve greater efficiency in the value chain of factories , through Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and artificial vision. To achieve this, it proposes to unite vertical enabling technologies, such as the additive manufacturing of metal parts and their post-processing, with new processes based on collaborative robotics.

CARTIF will be responsible for the analysis of risks and threats posed by these changes, as well as for the research of intelligent traceability mechanisms in decentralised production processes. Finally, it will carry out the implementation and validation of the use cases.

The aim of all these steps is to develop an intelligent module for automatic palletisation , to develop AI services for the extraction of information from the physical environment at the end of the line, including a prototype with different box formats in a collaborative environment.

CDTI Science and Innovation Missions

Overall project budget: 2,148,420€

CARTIF budget: 145,784.36€

Number of partners: 5

CARTIF's Energy Systems area works on the hybridisation of technologies and the development of solutions that integrate generation with renewables on different scales. The centre develops technological solutions that help in the management of heating and cooling networks, making it possible to improve the operation of generation, distribution or consumption elements, including the exploitation of the potential of industrial waste heat recovery.

The research team in this area optimises the communication and operation of renewable generation plants, in particular through the identification of grid faults in generation or industrial plants. It also develops solutions for the integration of hydrogen as a key vector in the transition towards the decarbonisation of the global

Research in hybrid strategies of renewable systems.

Development of advance technologies of production, storage and distribution Research at the application of fuel batteries in residential microgeneration.

Development of advance strategies of hybrid generation systems and management heat grids of low temperature.

Development of recovery and valorization of residual heat strategies in industrial processes.

Development of industrial digital twin and energy optimization of industrial

SUNHORIZON

Project completed in 2023

The SunHorizon project responds to the need to drive innovation and reliability in the field of heat pumps, through technologies such as thermal compression, adsorption and reversibility.

Its main objective has been to establish high-efficiency heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial buildings, thereby reducing carbon emissions, energy costs and dependence on fossil fuels. To achieve this, it has relied on the optimisation and design of advanced technologies, as well as the implementation of an intelligent monitoring system for heating and cooling (H&C).

After their implementation in demonstration environments -Madrid, San Cugat (Barcelona) or Riga (Latvia)- a significant improvement in comfort conditions inside buildings has been obtained, a reduction in costs for end-users has been perceived after the integration of these technologies, and furthermore a capacity for improvement and replicability in building renovation projects has been demonstrated.

H2020 · LC-SC3-RES-5-2018

Overall project budget: 25,000,000€

CARTIF budget: 581,250€

Number of partners: 21

Competitive call

THUMBS UP

Project started in 2023

The Thumbs Up project is based on a process of storing thermal energy on a daily and weekly basis, with the aim of increasing its energy efficiency, exploiting Power-to-Heat approaches and ultimately turning EU buildings into grid flexibility actors..

The project consortium will test this technology in three demonstrators - one single-family building and two multi-family buildings - located in areas of the EU with different climates and influenced by different energy markets, with the aim of optimising thermal comfort and energy efficiency.

The actions to be carried out by the CARTIF team are based on the evaluation of the monitoring and control of the infrastructures in the demonstrators, in addition to achieving the environmental benefit of the solutions and the Scientific Quality Assurance and Management Plan.

Horizon Europe · 101096921

Overall project budget: 7,631,369€

CARTIF budget: 661,250€

Number of partners: 20

Competitive call

Energy Efficiency area works on the design and maintenance of buildings in new construction or refurbishment projects, near-zero energy buildings and energy-positive districts. To this end, its research team integrates innovative technologies to model, characterise and propose advanced solutions that combine the best technologies available on the market.

In addition, its ICT developments allow buildings to be managed more efficiently by modelling and digitising their information and implementing advanced control strategies to optimise the use of energy resources and improve comfort conditions.

Research lines

Research in advance and intelligent strategies for the management, operation and maintenance of buildings based in AI/ML/DL for the generation of decision support systems.

Application of digital enabling technologies for the improvement of buildings sustainability and intelligence.

Building digitalization and generation of digital twins.

Application of blockchain technology in the energy area.

BIM-SPEED

Project completed in 2023

The BIM-SPEED project arose out of the need to improve the comprehensive renovation processes of residential buildings while reducing the associated time and costs through the application of BIM technologies.

The CARTIF team has focused on processes such as Scan-to-BIM, with the development of 3DASH tools for the automatic creation of BIM walls using point clouds as input data; BIM-to-BEPS (Building Energy Performance Simulation), or the BIM-to-BACN (Building Automation Control Networks) process, as well as the combination of Machine Learning techniques with BIM to automate decision making in renovation projects.

H2020-NMBP-EEB-2018

Overall project budget: 6,997,781.25€

CARTIF budget: 371,407.89€

Number of partners: 22

Competitive call

BUILDON

Project started in 2023

The BuildON project aims to take a further step towards the energy transition with an integrated, renewable energy-based energy system for smarter buildings and improved energy efficiency.

In order to help build the 'next generation of EU smart buildings', BuildON will have five demonstrators located in Valladolid (Spain), Helsinki (Finland), Gdynia (Poland), Moret Loing et Orvanne (France) and Athens/Thessaloniki (Greece).

The CARTIF team will be responsible for the development of analytical services to evaluate the energy performance of buildings, optimal control algorithms to improve energy efficiency in the management of the building's thermal resources, as well as the generation of digital twins for the simulation and control of the building, among other tasks.

Horizon Europe · GA101104141

Overall project budget: 5,999,951€

CARTIF budget: 632,875€

Number of partners: 20

Competitive call

Smart Cities area supports, helps and collaborates with cities on the path towards energy transition, in the medium and long term (2030 - 2050) through strategic plans, such as the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (PACES) and the Integrated Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (PIMUS) for municipalities.

Its research team has extensive experience in the deployment of different innovative solutions, such as urban platforms, fostering interoperability between city infrastructures, and seeking informed decision-making by applying advanced machine learning and Big Data technologies, as well as the development of environmentally friendly urban mobility solutions.

urban platforms based in open specifications including support decision-making systems.

Research and development of urban indicators systems.

Development of methodologies and tools for the design of urban transformation strategies in cities.

new governance methods.

MYSMARTLIFE

Project completed in 2023

The mySMARTlife project emerged with the aim of creating sustainable and green cities , increasing their energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions. During the project, around 150 smart solutions have been implemented in the three lighthouse cities - Nantes (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Helsinki (Finland). In addition, the project has worked with three other European partner cities, Bydgoszcz (Poland), Rijeka (Croatia) and Palencia (Spain) .

After final data collection, the project has refurbished or built 147,054 m to high performance standards in the three demonstrator cities. These interventions contributed 107.51 kWh/m/year savings per m comparing the final and initial situation of the buildings (refurbishment) and the final and reference/standard situation (in the case of new buildings). This represents an outstanding figure of 8,777,593.47 kWh/year of energy saved.

In mobility, around 4,350 electric vehicles have been deployed (higher than initially planned). This means a total of 68,307 kilometres travelled in the three cities with clean vehicles, so that the total CO emissions saved were 12,477.09 tCO/year.

Overall project budget: 21,200,000€

CARTIF budget: 18,700,000€

Number of partners: 27

Competitive call

H2020-SCC-1-2016-GA:731297

NEUTRALPATH

Projwct started in 2023

The NEUTRALPATH project was created to demonstrate the feasibility of deploying Positive Clean Energy Districts (PCEDs) in cities as a lever to achieve climate neutrality goals.

The project counts on Zaragoza (Spain) and Dresden (Germany) to carry out these developments and become pioneering cities in terms of climate neutrality and zero pollution by 2030 at European level. Istanbul (Turkey), Ghent (Belgium) and Vantaa (Finland) join the two previous cities with the idea of replicating methodologies and results in their own city plans.

CARTIF will be in charge of contributing to the design of the Climate Contracts of the European Cities Mission through the learning developed in the framework of the project, the contribution to the design of the evaluation mechanisms of the PCEDs , and the improvement of the functionalities of existing tools to support their design.

Horizon Europe · 101096753

Overall project budget: 23,932,617.34€

CARTIF budget: 1,025,000€

Number of partners: 31

Competitive call

The Energy and Climate Policy area works with public entities on the implementation of energy and climate policies in order to evaluate urban and territorial planning strategies, and develop tools to assist in the decision-making process. To make this a reality, the research team uses and exploits geo-referenced information in public databases, producing GIS maps and geolocated studies at various levels of detail, among others.

The development of integrated assessment models (IAM) allows us to advance in the definition of climate and energy policies for better territorial planning at national and European level.

Research lines

Research and development of integrated evaluation models for the support at the definition of policies in climate change and energy transition matter.

Development of advance climate services for the support at the definition and evaluation of mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Development of advanced climate services for multi-scale energy planning (building or region) taking into account climate change.

1.

2.

3.

RENERMAP

Project completed in 2023

The RENERMap project has developed solutions to improve decision-making on the use of renewable energy at the municipal level with the aim of reducing their CO2 emissions.

The municipality of Grijota (Palencia) has been selected to carry out these actions. Six renewable potential calculation algorithms have been implemented there - rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar, rooftop mini-wind, ground-mounted mini-wind, geothermal and biomass -, two algorithms for the characterisation of both thermal and electrical demand and a balancing algorithm that will allow a simple analysis of the integration capacity of renewable energy together with the required demands by selecting the building or the municipality under study.

According to the results obtained, the municipality has an estimated energy potential of rooftop photovoltaics of 38,111.51 MWh/year with crystalline silicon technology, of rooftop mini-wind of 1064.75 MWh/year for horizontal axis technology, of photovoltaics on plots of 1,858,244.45 MWh/year with crystalline silicon technology and an estimated electricity demand of 53,768.11 MWh/year.

ICE

Overall project budget: 245,000€

CARTIF budget: 60,000€

Number of partners: 2

Subcontracted by Tecopisa y Onyx solar

BUILDSPACE

Project started in 2023

The aim of the BUILDSPACE project is to link ground-based building data with aerial imagery from drones equipped with thermal cameras and location data from satellite services to provide innovative services for building and urban stakeholders and support decision-making on energy-efficient buildings and climate-resilient cities.

The project consortium will develop a platform that will enable the integration of this heterogeneous data and provide services at building and city scale, enabling the prediction of energy demand, heat analysis and urban flooding . In addition, it will also allow the identification of environmental hotspots that increase pressure on local ecosystems in cities, as well as the possibility of natural disasters, issuing alerts and recommendations for action to local and regional governments.

BUILDSPACE services will be validated in four European cities with different climate profiles, at building level (construction of a new building in Poland) and at city level (Piraeus, Riga and Ljubljana) .

Horizon Europe · 101082575

Overall project budget: 2,968,525€

CARTIF budget: 291,250€

Number of partners: 13

Competitive call

Cartif's smart grids area works on the research, development and transfer of optimal planning systems for the operation of electricity grids equipped with renewable generation, storage and controllable loads, such as electric vehicle charging.

Also works on the characterisation, prediction and management of demand flexibility in residential and industrial areas in order to provide ancillary services to the distribution network and to participate in demand-side markets.

Research lines

1.

Research in advance control algorithms for the optimal planification of hybrid energy grids (sector couplling), distributed and with storage.

2.

Research in control algoriths for the flexibility demand , demand response and its participation in markets.

3.

Research in algorithms for the observability and reconfiguration of the electric grid (resilience).

Research in tools for the management of energy communities.

5.

4. Research in advance and intelligent strategies for the management, operation and maintenance of buildings based in AI/ML/DL for the generation of support decision making systems.

TALENT

Project completed in 2023

The TALENT project arose from the need to promote the integration of electric batteries into the grid , increasing the flexibility of the electricity system at an affordable cost.

During the project, the iBatt has been developed, a modular solution that allows the manufacture of batteries of different powers for the applications envisaged in the project (residential, district and industrial). At the same time, converters have been developed to integrate these batteries into the electricity grid.

All these infrastructures are managed thanks to DHEMS (Decentralised Hybrid Energy Management System) which allows the efficient management of generation and storage resources, facilitating the provision of flexibility to a grid operator through the Software as a Service model.

The designs chosen for the power electronics architecture have enabled significant manufacturing savings: 20% in the residential case (10 kW - 100 kW), 15% in the district case (1 MW - 3 MW) and 20% in the industrial case (over 3 MW). All this without sacrificing efficiency, which improves by 5% in the residential case, 0.5% in the district case and 5% in the industrial case.

H2020 · GA 864459

Overall project budget: 3,974,906.25€

CARTIF budget: 363,750€

Number of partnes: 12

Competitive call

GEDERA

Project started in 2023

The GEDERA project was created to study and develop a multi-agent architecture, which allows the development of applications for the smart grid, focused on the management of flexibility in buildings.

To carry it out, the CARTIF team involved in the proposal will be in charge of the research of new M2M communication protocols and standards, the prediction of energy generation and demand in residential environments, the development of algorithms for market negotiation for future aggregators, as well as ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of communications between storage plant operators and with the market.

The aim of these actions is the selection of an M2M communication protocol suitable for the architecture and needs of the project, algorithms for the prediction of energy generation and demand in residential environments, and even the registration of activities with blockchain.

CDTI Science and Innovation Missions · EXP-00154891 / MIG-20221022

Overall project budget: 5,265,623€

CARTIF budget: 706,000€

Number of partners: 8

Laboratories and equipments

A ccredited laboratories on analysis and testing

Biomass Laboratories

CARTIF's Solid Biofuels Analysis and Testing Laboratory was set up in 2005 to support the centre's R&D activities aimed at the energy use of biomass.

A few years later, in 2015, it became the first Spanish laboratory to achieve ENAC accreditation (file no. 335/LE1276) for the testing of solid biofuels in 2015.

It is currently the only laboratory in Spain under the full scope of ENplus® certification for wood pellets for non-industrial uses (UNE-EN ISO 17225-2), recognised by the European Pellet Council (EPC) as an accredited testing entity in certification processes.

Analysis and testing

• Immediate analysis

• Elemental analysis

• Energy analysis

• Minority elements

• Analysis on pellets

• Analysis of biomass ashes

• Other analysus

• Otther services and trials about biofuels

Materials Testing and Analysis Laboratory

CARTIF's Metals Analysis and Testing Laboratory has extensive experience in the analysis and characterisation of a wide range of non-metallic composite materials, adhesives, glass fibre, carbon fibre, peelable materials, paints, sealants, varnishes, resins, polymers and plastics, in sectors as diverse and strategic as aeronautics, automotive, construction and textiles, among others.

It offers its clients services, guaranteeing quality, in accordance with the criteria and requirements of ENAC (file number 335/LE1276), AIRBUS and NADCAP accreditations . It also has the MERIT qualification from the aeronautical manufacturer AIRBUS and NADCAP.

Analysis and testing

• Physico-chemical tests on plastic materials and composites.

• Physico-mechanical tests on plastic materials and composites.

• Tests on coatings (resins, paints and sealants).

Other laboratories

Biotechnology Laboratory

Photocatalytic Laboratory

Agro-forestry Laboratory

Environment Laboratory

Water and Effluents

Treatment Laboratory

Special: Nature based Solutions in CARTIF

According to the European Commission, Nature-Based Solutions are "solutions inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, deliver simultaneous environmental, social and economic benefits, and help build resilience. These solutions bring increasingly diverse nature, features and processes to cities, landscapes and seascapes, through systemic, resource-efficient and locally adapted interventions".

In a context where the territory of cities is increasingly invaded by buildings, where nature is no longer present, and where housing estates are getting older and older, Nature-based solutions are coming to make a place for themselves in the streets and return the benefits.

In March 2022, the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly adopted 14 resolutions to strengthen action for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. At the COP27 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), solutions emerged based on the nature for its potential to address climate change,and were included in the

Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan. The incorporation of these natural solutions into intergovernmental agreements is key to boosting their research and application.

In its commitment to the environment, CARTIF's research team has been involved for more than 10 years in proposals for the implementation of Nature Based Solutions . has been involved for more than 10 years in proposals for the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions. Likewise, at the end of 2019, CARTIF launched its Nature-Based Solutions Laboratory (NBS-Lab) , becoming the first Spanish technology centre with a space dedicated to implementing this type of action. This laboratory has several pilot scenarios in which the team carries out small-scale tests that are then materialised in international projects: green wall pilot, pollinator module, experimental greenhouse, air biofilter, water biofilter, hydroponics module, or green shade infrastructure pilot.

Over the years, CARTIF has participated and led several international projects in the field of natural solutions:

URBAN GreenUP project

Developed and implemented urban renaturation plans in cities such as Valladolid, Liverpool and Izmir with the aim of preserving the environment in these cities.

LIFE myBUILDINGisGREEN project

Applied Nature Based Solutions in education and social buildings to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. The project resulted in a considerable reduction of the temperature inside these buildings, especially in those areas with green roofs.

NATMed project

Proposes to implement a set of BMS in existing water infrastructures to improve water cycle management in the Mediterranean region.

CIRAWA project

Is committed to improving agro-ecology in West Africa through the production of high quality seeds, the valorisation of waste and production of bio-fertilisers, and the adoption of sustainable soil and water management practices.

CARTIF´s

Participation

Training, Technology Transfer

and Business R&D&I Support

Programme (Centr@tec3)

The Institute for Business Competitiveness (ICE) of the Junta de Castilla y León, in collaboration with the Technology Centres of Castilla y León, has launched the third edition of the Training, Technology Transfer and Business R&D&I Support Programme, called Centr@tec3.

This project aims to publicise actions in the field of internalisation of R&D&I, process innovation and product/service design, industrial digitisation and digital technologies, support for technology-based entrepreneurs, innovative project banks and digital transformation.

To make this a reality, each of the technology centres of Castilla y León carries out different conferences and demonstration workshops with the aim of encouraging companies to go a step further in the implementation of innovations and new technologies that improve their competitiveness. .

CARTIF highlights in 2023

Pablo Viñas, new vicepresident of HispaRob

Pablo Viñas, current director of the Wellbeing and Health Area of CARTIF, was appointed vice president of the Spanish Robotics Technology Platform, HispaRob, in mid-June 2023. Following the presentation of the joint candidacy by ALISYS DIGITAL and CARTIF, Jorgina Díaz Torres and Pablo Viñas have been named president and vice president, respectively, and will form the new Board of Directors of HispaRob.

Its main objectives are to enhance the association's activity. HispaRob is an enclave where different agents involved in the development, promotion and integration of

CARTIF joins the board of directors of the Castilla and Leon hydrogen association H2CYL

The Castilian and Leonese Hydrogen Association (H2CYL) held its first general assembly in León last September, in which the incorporation of four new entities to its board of directors was approved: 1A Ingenieros, Tresca, Grupo Iberoeólica and CARTIF. Sergio Sanz, deputy director of CARTIF, will be the person in charge of occupying this position on behalf of the center.

In addition, CARTIF joined as leader of the R&D&I Scientific Technological Working Group. The association, made up of 53 associates of various kinds , works to promote the hydrogen economy in Castilla y León, as an economic vector, and looks for projects that generate it, companies that consume it, and others that develop technologies linked to its entire value chain, all of them betting on decarbonization.