Project: Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Project’s description:

The MISSION4WATER project is focused on environmental protection, specifically reducing pollution through the development of innovative solutions by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Adriatic-Ionian region, aimed at reducing the dispersion of pollutants in natural waters. One of the most significant activities of the project is to create “Innovation Co-Labs” through synergy between companies, research institutions, and public bodies, with the goal of implementing pilot activities to develop new forms of initiatives for raising citizen awareness and developing new solutions for water filtration and purification in order to address environmental protection and sustainable development challenges.

Specific objectives of the project

• Strengthening innovation capacities in the Adriatic – Ionian region to unlock the innovation potential of SMEs across Adriatic-Ionian region towards innovative solutions that could reduce pollutants dispersion in natural waters. Particular attention will be devoted to the issue of micro plastic and other pollutants originating from textiles and detergents from their production to home care trough household appliances but also from the industry;
• Promote and encourage the development of transnationally designed innovations (technical and non-technical innovation, including services) through pilot and joint actions contributing to face societal and environmental challenges like energy efficiency or climate change;
• Promote actions and measures supporting SMEs development and modernization including intellectual property, technical and financial issues; testing solutions closer to the market, as well as the introduction of quality and sustainable requirements.

Main expected results

• MISSION4WATER STRATEGY that will define the integrated framework endorsed by all the project partners to:
• foster innovation through collaboration;
• address the challenges of dispersion of pollutants in freshwater through the “Co-innovation lab” model.

The Strategy will build on the effective needs collected at the regional level with diverse stakeholders and create the blueprint to foster open innovation among actors of the quadruple helix (SMEs and clusters or representatives of SMEs, possibly large companies; universities and other research institutes; governmental authorities; civil society) in the IPA ADRION region.

• MISSION4WATER CO-INNOVATION MODEL that will be developed through the implementation of innovation use cases addressing one of the following areas related to the challenge of pollutants dispersion in water:
• Awareness and behavioural changes;
• Preventing Microplastics release;
• Preventing other pollutants release;
• Mitigating Microplastics release;
• Mitigating other pollutants release.

The outcomes of the use cases will demonstrate the validity of the proposed model. In total, at least 18 use cases will be developed thanks to the collaboration of at least 40-50 organizations.

• MISSION4WATER AHEAD that will define the business model for ensuring the sustainability of MISSION4WATER after the project completion and cooperation agreement between the partners. The result will consist in a lasting commitment for boosting the capacities and potentials of the innovation players.

PARTNERS

1. Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano), Italy (IT) – Lead Partner
2. ROLD – Italy (IT)
3. TEXTILE TRADE ASSOCIATION –TEXTILE CLUSTER – North Macedonia (MK)
4. Planet Care Ltd. Slovenija (SI)
5. HEIS – Business Company Hydro-Engineering Institute shareholding company Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)
6. ZERO WASTE MONTENEGRO – Montenegro(ME)
7. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture- Croatia
   (HR)
8. Istrian development agency – IDA Ltd- Croatia (HR)
9. Foundation Milieukontakt Albania-Albania (AL)

Associated partners

1. Lombardy Intelligent Factory Association – Italy (IT)
2. Association for sustainable development and environmental protection Go Green Skopje – North Macedonia (MK)

PROJECT: “PreVEnting and ReDucing the tEXtiles waste mountain in the MED area” VERDEinMED

FINANCED BY: the EU Interreg Euro-MED programme

PROJECT DURATION: 01/01/2024 – 30/09/2026 (33 months)

PARTNERS: Centre for Research and Technology-Hellas • Bulgarian Fashion Association • CITEVE • Confindustria Umbria • Consorci de la Ribera • Diadyma S.A. • e-Zavod •  Legambiente • Technological Corporation of Andalusia • Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster

The VERDEinMED project, “PreVEnting and ReDucing the tEXtiles waste mountain in the MED area”, is an initiative co-funded by the EU Interreg Euro-MED programme to promote a more sustainable future for the textile sector. The project, which brings together 10 partners and 15 associated entities, is based on the promotion of the circular economy in the textile sector along its entire value chain. Framed within the Innovative Sustainable Economy Mission of Interreg Euro-MED, the project will seek to reduce textile waste by applying innovative tools and raising awareness among different audiences in the Mediterranean. 

The focus is on implementing innovative strategies to minimise textile waste, promote recycling and encourage sustainable production and consumption practices. By harnessing the combined efforts of consumers, industries and local communities, the aim is to transform the way textile products are produced, used and disposed of. The efforts of the project will be study the current textile value chain in order to detect critical points in industrial production techniques, consumption habits, and reuse and recycling options.

Following the study, it will be create a tools and will be organise an events in order to promote sustainable practices and encourage community commitment to our purpose. At the end of its phase, VERDEinMED hopes to provide policy recommendations, practical tools and communication campaigns that will facilitate the transition towards a more environmentally and socially responsible global textile model.