Results of the Call Expressions of Interest: selected innovative solutions and novel techniques for environmental remediation in port areas

On September 16^th, 2024, the TREASURE project launched a call for expressions of interest, to select possible solutions for specific environmental challenges identified by the TREASURE consortium. The mentioned challenges concerned: water management (wastewater collection, wastewater treatment, reuse of wastewater within the port, data acquisition and processing for water environment), protection and restoration of biodiversity (management of ballast waters, monitoring of marine biodiversity, eco-conception of ports infrastructures, noise pollution), energy management (renewable energy production, storage and distribution onshore or offshore, redesign or optimisation of port energy studies, installation of charging station for ships), sediment management (nano-remediation and bioremediation of sedimentary contaminants), improvement of air quality (reduction of polluted emissions, emissions monitoring tools, both real time and predictive, dust pollution), and waste management (waste collection, and recycling, including toxic wastes, remediation means).

By the call deadline set to 13th December 2024, a total of 59 applications was received, submitted by 47 different organizations (companies, universities, research centers) from 13 countries, even beyond the Euro-MED area (Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Spain and the United Kingdom).

Hence a transnational committee comprising TREASURE project partners checked all applications received and selected 52 of them for a catalogue of technological solutions, based on a set of criteria: innovation/maturity, relevance (demonstration of adaptability across different port contexts) and impact (including potential impacts of implementing the solution in ports).

In the meantime, partners will organise workshops and study visits for some selected solutions, during which, applicants will have the opportunity to pitch their solution, gain further visibility at European level and reach potential new clients. Some of the selected solutions could be tested and implemented in TREASURE ports areas in the coming year.