• The event held in Tunis brought together stakeholders involved in effective and sustainable water management in the Mediterranean region. 

• The Foundation presented the European projects LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0, Horizon ONE-BLUE, Horizon RES4CITY and LIFE COSTAdapta. 

• The projects presented can be scalable to other regions and European programs.

07/02/2023, Brussels. Water management and protection have been the main topics of the participation of Finnova Foundation in the V Mediterranean Water Forum, held in Tunis on February 5, 6 and 7. Finnova’s CEO, Juanma Revuelta, and the director of European funds, Juan Viesca, have presented the European projects related to water and climate change in which Finnova is a partner. The forum in Tunisia has brought together international experts and projects related to water and climate change have been exposed, allowing the sharing of knowledge, experiences and ideas to solve challenges related to water.

On Tuesday, February 6th, Finnova Foundation presented the projects LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0, Horizon ONE-BLUE, Horizon RES4CITY and LIFE COSTAdapta, all of them related to water management and protection. Those attending the session “WEFE Nexus: Water/Energy/Food/Environment” learned first-hand about the central objectives of these projects and visited a stand where the Foundation interacts with more stakeholders.

During these three days, various solutions for efficient and sustainable water management in the Mediterranean region were presented in Tunis. The participants had the opportunity to establish valuable contacts with water management professionals and to present innovative projects, technologies and practices developed in the Mediterranean. The conclusions of this Forum will be presented at the World Water Forum which, under the theme “Water for shared prosperity”, will gather from 18 to 24 May 2024, Heads of State, heads of international organizations, senior officials, experts, academics, entrepreneurs and economists from all over the world to share their knowledge, experiences and practices on a wide range of water-related topics.

Finnova Foundation CEO Juanma Revuelta says it has been an honor to have had the opportunity to have our own space at the forum to share innovative solutions from projects funded in Spain by the European Union. “We have had a great opportunity sharing the projects we are involved in. The Foundation’s presence here demonstrates our good work in sustainability, water and waste management, renewable energies and sustainable agriculture,” said Revuelta.

On the other hand, the director of the foundation has highlighted that the projects presented by Finnova are scalable in Mediterranean cooperation projects through the INTERREG MED or Horizon Europe program to address upcoming challenges such as drought, fires, pollution in the sea and the  generation of biogas from waste and the creation of new jobs following the principles of the circular economy.

Finnova, with the protection of waters 

The projects presented by the Finnova Foundation at the Mediterranean Water Forum are aligned with Next Water Generation, the foundation’s initiative to disseminate information on water management and protection. These initiatives are directly aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Underwater Life).

Moreover, these initiatives are scalable to obtain funding from other European funds. Some of the calls to which these projects can be scaled may be the Interreg Next Med lines (whose deadline for submission is March 30), projects that promote triangular cooperation with Ibero-America or calls corresponding to the LIFE program.

In addition to this forum, Finnova plans to participate in events related to water preservation and management in the coming months, such as Wex Global, Green Cities or Island Innovation. Finnova’s presence at these events highlights the great importance that the foundation attaches to water management, the fight against climate change in marine environments and the defense of marine biodiversity. Finnova reinforces its more than ten-year commitment to these causes and to the protection of the environment in all its dimensions.

European projects 

LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0, with a budget of 970,000 euros financed by the LIFE program, focuses on generating biogas from the mixture of putrescible organic waste. This project, led by Global Omnium (Spain) in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal) transforms sewage sludge into green energy, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and taking advantage of the sludge generated in wastewater treatment processes, with a positive impact on the environment.

Horizon ONE-BLUE focuses on research into emerging pollutants and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and marine biota. Funded by the Horizon Europe program with a budget of more than €6,200,000, the project will carry out case studies in the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic and Mediterranean Sea. Samples in the latter will be collected on the Spanish coast, in the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas. In addition, the project has the capacity to be extended to other countries and through additional European programs, such as the Interreg Next Med call.

Another project highlight will be Horizon RES4CITY, which advocates placing education systems at the center of the ecological transition. Funded by the Horizon program with a budget of €2.5 million, RES4CITY focuses on supporting training for the development of sustainable renewable energy in urban environments. In addition, RES4CITY STARTUP EUROPE ACCELERATHON was presented, an open competition that seeks the participation of entrepreneurs, students, researchers, etc., who propose innovative solutions to challenges related to hydrogen, land management and energy conservation.

Finally, LIFE COSTAdapta is dedicated to adapting the coast of Gran Canaria to sea level rise by creating a progressive and innovative system of reefs and tidal pools (Tidal-pool reef). Inspired by the traditional tidal-pool construction technique common in the Canary Islands and Macaronesia, this LIFE-funded project has a budget of more than €3,400,000.

About FINNOVA 

FINNOVA is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain. Its focus is dedicated to promoting and developing innovation and entrepreneurship in the European Union. FINNOVA’s expertise encompasses the management of communication and dissemination activities for European projects, backed by a strong track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programs, such as accelerators, incubators and events. It also demonstrates a strong commitment to the training and employability of young people.