Synergies

NANOREMOVAS PROJECT

Daily intake of arsenic polluted water by cattle in Argentina is becoming of increasing concern, especially due to the important size of the livestock export market where EU is a main customer. Because natural forage or alfalfa grown without irrigation is used to feed livestock, drinking water is considered the main source of arsenic for cattle (several studies reveal arsenic concentrations in phreatic water samples above 0.15 mg/L, the level that suggest causing chronic intoxication in cattle). Therefore, as it has been demonstrated, there is a risk of exposure for the human health due to the introduction in the food chain through milk or meat. In view of arsenic toxicity and the large number of people exposed to its effects worldwide, there is a clear need for the implementation in remote exploitations of affordable and sustainable treatment methodologies to provide potable water to cattle. To face this problem and provide a solution, NANOREMOVAS (Advanced Multifunctional Nanostructured Materials Applied to Remove Arsenic in Argentinian Groundwater) pursues to develop and implement a pilot plant for the remote treatment of arsenic polluted waters based on the application of state-of-art advanced multifunctional nanostructured materials, already tested at the laboratory level. In this sense, NANOREMOVAS includes the cooperation between the industry and academia of partners from Europe and Argentina. Besides the required research and innovation to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of the developed water recycling technique, the seconded researchers will carry out a series of tasks and outreach activities, promoting entrepreneurship culture and support of young innovative companies in order to set-up technological partnerships within the water and livestock sector. Furthermore, NANOREMOVAS represents a significant contribution to knowledge and technology transfer from the academia to the industrial sector, through the partners well established reputation as transfer hubs, that will led to quickly creating designs and industrial equipment/processes/model.

 From 2015-01-01 to 2018-12-31


ALICE PROJECT

The challenges facing society in urban wastewater management cannot be solved by any one sector alone. ALICE (AcceLerate Innovation in urban wastewater management for Climate changE) will accelerate innovation by bringing together and exchanging knowledge between the key players who can, together, address the future techno-economic, governance and societal challenges arising from climate change. It will boost international and interdisciplinary skills, as well as careers perspective of Experienced Researchers, Early Stage Researchers, and the workforce of industry, water utilities and public organizations. The results will 1) benefit water utilities, 2) support political and managerial decisions in wastewater, 3) benefit wastewater equipment manufacturers, identifying new market opportunities in the EU, 4) benefit EU citizens from the improved wastewater infrastructure, the environment and job creations.

Higher precipitation and more frequent storms will require change in sewer water management. Moreover, higher risks of water scarcity and droughts require increased wastewater reuse, currently at 20% of its potential in the EU. These changes will lead to increased energy demand in a sector that is already a major contributor of carbon emissions. ALICE will promote effective solutions based on innovative technologies, green infrastructures, climate vulnerability assessments, governance and economic models, embracing stakeholders’ and citizens’ views to overcome barriers to the acceptance and uptake of new technologies. The excellence of the project lies in the joined-up thinking of different perspectives and disciplines. Academic and non-academic partners along the wastewater value-chain will exchange knowledge, develop training, research and innovation activities. ALICE will build lasting knowledge and cooperation networks and will provide the non-academic sector with practical solutions to respond in innovative ways to the challenges posed by climate change.

From 2017-01-01 to 2020-12-31