GAIA is a Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder research project dedicated to establishing a new paradigm for the Internet of Things (IoT) by developing sustainable, battery-less, and biodegradable microelectronic systems. The project brings together leading European universities, research institutes, and industrial partners to advance next-generation IoT technologies through a holistic co-design approach spanning materials, electronics, antennas, and wireless communication.
The project aims to develop fully transient IoT devices that integrate sensing, processing, energy harvesting, and wireless communication into compact, low-power systems capable of operating without conventional batteries. By exploiting ambient radio-frequency (RF) energy and existing cellular communication infrastructure, GAIA seeks to enable maintenance-free connected devices while significantly reducing electronic waste and the environmental impact of large-scale IoT deployment.
A key innovation of GAIA is the development of biodegradable electronic components and transient microelectronic systems that naturally degrade at the end of their operational lifetime. The project combines advances in biodegradable materials, antenna-based sensing, ambient backscatter communication, and ultra-low-power system design to create a circular and sustainable IoT ecosystem suitable for large-scale deployment in applications such as smart packaging, logistics, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.
The research contributes to the future of sustainable digital technologies by demonstrating how intelligence can be ubiquitously embedded into everyday objects without relying on disposable batteries or generating long-term electronic waste. The long-term vision is to establish environmentally responsible IoT systems that seamlessly integrate into existing communication networks while supporting the transition towards a circular economy.
Funding: European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder, Horizon Europe Programme.
Kontakt: Prof. Dr. J. Daniel Prades