Sustainability

Ecological implications of restoring sediment flows in regulated rivers. The ECOSEDRIV project understands and quantifies the interactions between suspended sediments, flow regime and biological communities in highly regulated rivers to design new reservoir management schemes to restore sediment flow towards the coast in a sustainable way. ECOSEDRIV takes the lower Ebro River as a model of highly regulated river systems with a strong sediment deficit and where large floods were suppressed, to test the hypotheses raised by the project. Deltas are among the most vulnerable coastal systems and require sediment inputs for their progradation and vertical [...]

Protection and restoration of  marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. The EFFECTIVE project develops a comprehensive scientific knowledge base and practical guidance, combining science, technological, nature-based solutions, digitalization, and social engagement, for the application of the ecosystem-based management to the protection and restoration of the EU’s Mediterranean Blue Natural Capital. The development of the project is divided into the three fundamental pillars of ecosystem-based management: First, the development of protection and restoration tools and the establishment of a policy framework, which aims to implement technological and nature-based solutions for the restoration and protection of marine biodiversity, [...]

Identification, classification and catalogue of nature-based solutions in Spain that allow planning and maximizing benefits in the fight against climate change. The Systematization of Nature-Based Solutions in Spain (E:SBN) project establishes a system for identifying, classifying and cataloguing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) created in different types of ecosystems in Spain, from parks, green corridors, coastal restoration and wetlands or climate refuges, so that their planning and implementation, both in urban and rural environments, is carried out with a global perspective and in a coherent, effective and adapted way to each territorial reality within the framework of climate [...]

Transformation in territories and the activities developed in them to make them less vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The Life eCOadapt50 project raises awareness of climate change adaptation (CCA) at the local level, through the involvement of regional governments, research centres and socioeconomic actors. In particular, Life eCOadapt50 increases the resilience of the economic sectors most vulnerable to climate change in four economic activities: tourism, fishing, forestry and agriculture/livestock. The project carries out at least 76 actions between 2023 and 2030 in 19 territories across Catalonia covering around 60% of the region's territory (around 19,400 [...]

Reliability and effectiveness of integrated alternative water resources management for regional climate change adaption. The RECREATE project improves the resilience of water supplies and protects the status of natural water resources by facilitating the assessment and inclusion of Alternative Water Resources (AWR) in water management planning for water-scarce regions. RECREATE will compile existing information and will use existing and newly developed models and tools to support the evidence-based, quantitative assessment of different water management strategies under different socio-economic scenarios and climate change projections. The project will improve the cost efficiency of selected AWR solutions by demonstrating [...]

Optimizing the charging process for electric vehicles, from power generation to end-user experience. The XL-Connect project creates an accessible and on-demand charging solution based on an optimized charging network, taking into account human behaviour, technical aspects and economic aspects. By 2030, the European Union is expected to have between 30 and 40 million battery electric vehicles on the road. This increase poses challenges and opportunities for the energy system by testing system capacity, but also presents the possibility of using V2G, V2H and V2X technologies, as parked electric vehicles can function as energy storage. The objectives [...]

Reuse of batteries through characterisation, smart logistics, automated pack and module dismantling and repackaging and a blockchain-enabled marketplace. The RECIRCULATE project addresses the needs of the European recycling sector by overcoming current challenges relating to automated dismantling and sorting; safe logistics; fast, cost-effective, and reliable characterisation of the states of charge, health, power, energy and safety (SoX). Combining these advances with a blockchain-based platform, that integrates the data collected during dismantling and recycling and the battery provenance, enables a unique battery passport and a virtual marketplace for e-mobility, consumer, and stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems. This [...]

Co-creation of a citizen science toolkit for climate assemblies in living labs. The CLIMAS project aims to support a transition to climate resilience by co-designing an innovative problem-oriented climate adoption Toolbox, which relies on the application of a value-based approach, design thinking methods and citizen science mechanisms. CLIMAS will test the Toolbox in Climate Assemblies and Living Labs and formulate scientific-based guidelines for policymakers on how to shift Climate Assemblies from expert technically based deliberations to multi-stakeholder value-based dilemmas from a bottom-up and more societal perspective. The use of the Toolbox will anticipate possible tensions, points [...]

Design of stabilisation and recovery technologies for metallic soil pollutants by means of native microorganisms. The BiMeSOIL project has the objective to revalue contaminated soils through a tailor-made in situ treatment design by using specialized native microorganisms in order to improve the leaching or stabilisation processes of problematic metals, such as lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium or mercury. Soil characterization and directed biological research will lead to tailored in situ treatment processes through bioremediation (biomagnification and bioaugmentation) or mixed techniques (combined biological and physicochemical). These are some objectives of the project: Soil physical characterization. Contaminant identification. Biological [...]

Development of technologies to remove pollutants from soils, sediments, surface- and groundwater, that can be harmful to human health. The PROMISCES project develops, tests and demonstrates in the field, under real-life conditions, key technologies and innovations to monitor, prevent and remediate industrial persistent and mobile and potentially toxic pollutants in the soil-sediment-water system. At this sense, PROMISCES project identifies how industrial pollution prevents the deployment of the circular economy (CE) in the EU and which strategies help overcome key bottlenecks to deliver the ambitions of the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan. PROMISCES considers [...]

Development and standardization of the mycoremediation of hydrocarbon polluted soils. The Torres Quevedo project evaluates the performance of this technology in a systematically manner with soils of different texture, with different inoculum substrates addition and under different environmental conditions (temperature and humidity). One of the main outputs of the project is the release of a mycoremediation implementation guide to help companies and organisations during the application of this treatment. Mycoremediation is a technique which is currently under development. One of the principal obstacles to become a reference technology is the lack of consensus on the ideal [...]

The Specialization and Competitiveness Project (PECT) Ebre Bioterritori promotes and facilitates the systemic transition (technical-economic and social), towards a model of sustainable exploitation of natural capital, articulating a stable innovation environment in the whole of Terres de l'Ebre (Baix Ebre, Monstià, Terra Alta and Ribera d'Ebre counties). The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union, within the framework of the ERDF Operational Program of Catalonia 2014-2020, an objective of investment in growth and employment. The systemic change driven by the project implies that the innovation structures are set up [...]

Development of a network of labs in the territory (OpenLab) with the aim of converting them into a matrix which leads the transformation towards a sustainable research and innovation ecosystem. The Territorial Specialization and Competitiveness (PECT) project "HubB30, beyond circularity" is a pilot experience focused on Zero waste, which should allow design the methodology, the optimal structure and the Spaces to implement a new interaction model between the different actors of the Quadruple Helix (universities and research centers; administration; companies; citizenship) and the open innovation processes. The overall strategy of the project is based mainly on [...]

Raising awareness of legislation on water saving and reusing to promote the circular economy in the tourism sector. The WAT’SAVEREUSE project overall objective is to explain the benefits of water legislation and national initiatives to promote the circular economy in water consumption, particularly in the tourism industry, targeting both water savings and water reuse, with a special focus on the Mediterranean environment. In the framework of the project, which counts with the participation of Eurecat’s Sustainability Area, different awareness raising campaigns addressing four identified target groups will be carried out. The action to achieve the main [...]

Development of novel materials and manufacturing processes for a high-volume production of OLAE devices. The MADRAS project, coordinated by Eurecat, has the objective to develop new materials and  manufacturing processes for a scalable production in an industrial level of OLAE devices. The project addresses the use of conventional and established industrial manufacturing techniques and adapted processing tools to deliver this innovative technology closer to market. The use of organic and large area-electronics (OLAE) technologies and components have experienced a remarkable increase in recent years thanks to printed electronics technologies progress which offers solutions to develop OLAE thinner, [...]