Final Report Summary - SOWAEUMED (NETWORK IN SOLID WASTE AND WATER TREATMENT BETWEEN EUROPE AND MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES)
Executive Summary:
Population growth among Europe's North African neighbors, Morocco and Tunisia in particular, is putting increasing pressure on the demand for clean water. As supplies slowly dwindle, there is a growing need for efficient technologies to improve water quality and treatment in a bid to cut down on waste water. Supporting initiatives in Morocco and Tunisia, two Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs) suffering from scarce water resources, the EU FP7-funded project 'Network in solid waste and water treatment between Europe and Mediterranean countries' (SOWAEUMED) set out to help these two countries improve their water quality and treatment.
The water in Morocco and Tunisia is not only scarce but is also under threat from pollution. The SOWAEUMED project have been working with research groups in Moroccan and Tunisian laboratories to develop new systems based on conventional, advanced, and nanotechnologies. These will address both the demands on water as populations in these countries increase and the need for new treatment regimens which will make the valuable resources cleaner and safer.
By sharing expertise in clean water technologies – including cutting edge nanoscience - the SOWAEUMED project offers hope for a transformation in basic sanitation in a region beset by water scarcity and pollution. SOWAEUMED project aims to tackle the problems by bringing together researchers with various scientific profiles in a cooperation platform. SOWAEUMED foresees the synergic work of the partners by improvement of scientific relationships, exchange of know-how and experience between the participating centers, including training in MS of Ph.D. students and/or post-doctoral researchers, to upgrade S&T research capacities of centers in MED countries dealing with waste treatment technologies both conventional, advanced and nanoscience based. SOWAEUMED includes one SME (Environmental Engineering) in order to give the project a complementary and applied - business dimension. To be able to participate in the project on an equal-footing basis, the different technological developments of the groups is balanced by reinforcement of MED countries research infrastructure and improvement of their human potential. This is achieved by upgrading research equipment in the laboratories of less developed countries. Thus, the transfer and exchange of know-how is accelerated and the potential of the groups can be better exploited. This approach has prepared laboratories from MED countries to participate more efficiently in European projects. Moreover, it has enabled MED countries to increase their contribution in the ERA, making them interesting partners to scientists from MS.
SOWAEUMED includes partner institutes and universities (based in Spain, Sweden, Croatia, Morocco and Tunisia) to design and roll out new solid waste and waste water treatment technologies. It will also foster the exchange of know-how and experience, as well as upgrading the research capacities of the partner organizations from Morocco and Tunisia. So far, SOWAEUMED’s efforts have been supported by governments, business associations, chambers of commerce, which all accept the need to improve water and waste management.
This connection between the Moroccan and Tunisian laboratories and the wider research community has allowed research results, ideas and new technology to be shared. Furthermore, it has an impact on waste and waste water treatment technologies research and technology transfer on Safety, Environmental and Health aspects, as well as the methods for achieving effective bi-directional technology transfer between the EU and MED countries including also the social, political and cultural factors and the exploitation and use considering the social and political implications for creating new businesses (eg spin off) often associated with emerging technologies and models for Praxis Business Innovation in the Technical – Social – Economic - Political Innovation. It has also empowered the laboratories in the MPCs to enhance their contribution in the European Research Area, and increased interest in them from European scientists as potential research partners.
Project Context and Objectives:
PROJECT CONTEXT
North Africa may be just the other side of the Mediterranean Sea from Europe, but when it comes to basic sanitation, it sometimes feels like a world away. Many communities on the southern Mediterranean rim deal with waste - both human and industrial - in dangerously complacent ways, leaving unhealthy pollutants in the water stream. The region certainly needs clean water. Of the 500 million cubic meters of wastewater discharged annually by households in urban areas in Africa’s Mediterranean countries, more than one quarter is simply released into the water stream or spread on the ground. In Morocco, of the 10,800 tonnes of household waste produced each day in urban areas, only 2% is recycled or put into landfill, while the rest is discharged into the wild, adding to water pollution.
While the situation there has improved over the past 30 years, a deficient management of scarce water resources, threatened by pollution of increasing concern from various sources, contributes to aggravating the situation. The main four major problems affecting the water, its quality and treatment involve:
1. Proper research on the issues of climate change, water shortages and the development of new technologies for desalination, reuse of waste, water flows and transfers of water between areas
2. Gaps in regulations in the sectors of water and its treatment
3. Establish good practices in decentralization of the management of water and recycling, involving the private sector
4. Peoples' right to access to water in terms of quantity and quality
Regarding the considered pollution sources, those commonly involved are, uncontrolled dumping of domestic and industrial waste without any previous treatment affecting the aquatic environments quality, massive employment of pesticides and fertilizers affecting groundwater, high concentration of activities in confined spaces that generate pollution exceeding the power of self-purification of waters, accidental landfills often located on the banks of rivers, and rivers, already weakened by successive drying and water companies activities.
The heavy dyes and chemicals used by the Tunisian textile and the Moroccan tanning industries often seep untreated into local sewerage systems, and sometimes even back into the local water. These problems have, until recently, been compounded by weak environmental rules and a poor understanding of the link between sewage, water pollution and disease.
In short, MED countries current challenges focus on the protection of water resources through legislation and appropriate studies, the dangers associated with pollution caused by fly-tipping on the surface and its impact on groundwater, the implementation of effective technologies for treating wastewater, training and education on environmental pollution, the proper management of water resources and gain awareness of local people about the dangers of contaminated water on human and animal health.
But a new initiative bringing researchers, policy makers and businesses together from the entire Mediterranean region is aiming to turn the tide on water treatment. By sharing expertise in clean water technologies – including cutting edge nanoscience - the SOWAEUMED project offers hope for a transformation in basic sanitation in a region beset by water scarcity and pollution. SOWAEUMED project aims to tackle the problems by bringing together researchers with various scientific profiles in a cooperation platform. This includes partner institutes and universities (based in Spain, Sweden, Croatia, Morocco and Tunisia) to design and roll out new solid waste and waste water treatment technologies. It will also foster the exchange of know-how and experience, as well as upgrading the research capacities of the partner organisations from Morocco and Tunisia. So far, SOWAEUMED’s efforts have been supported by governments, business associations, chambers of commerce, which all accept the need to improve water and waste management.
SOWAEUMED foresees the synergic work of the partners by improvement of scientific relationships, exchange of know-how and experience between the participating centres, including training in MS of Ph.D. students and/or post-doctoral researchers, to upgrade S&T research capacities of centres in MED countries dealing with waste treatment technologies both conventional, advanced and nanoscience based. SOWAEUMED includes one SME (Environmental Engineering) in order to give the project a complementary and applied - business dimension. To be able to participate in the project on an equal-footing basis, the different technological developments of the groups is balanced by reinforcement of MED countries research infrastructure and improvement of their human potential. This is achieved by upgrading research equipment in the laboratories of less developed countries. Thus, the transfer and exchange of know-how is accelerated and the potential of the groups can be better exploited. This approach has prepared laboratories from MED countries to participate more efficiently in European projects. Moreover, it has enabled MED countries to increase their contribution in the ERA, making them interesting partners to scientists from MS.
SOWAEUMED partners are aware of the large number of existing funded projects (EU - MED) focused on specific research to solve some problems dealing with water and waste treatment technologies, (MEDA WATER PROGRAMME, LIFE-TCY projects, etc…). However, SOWAEUMED have been working to increase the actual capacities of Mediterranean partners by a significant number of specific measures to ensure the transfer of knowledge from the EU towards the south, so as to promote Building Capacities of MED partners, rather than solve specific problems through scientific research.
In this perspective, SOWAEUMED have strengthened the capacities of various institutions of the Mediterranean region in two key sectors such as water and waste control and treatment technologies, through five main vectors north (EU - MS) - south (MED countries) such as
• Vector 1: Strengthening the scientific and technological capacities of partner institutions promoting the synergic work of participants of various scientific profiles improving their relationships.
• Vector 2: Capacity building MED in education and training
• Vector 3: MED strengthening operational capacities in their environment based on implementation of new waste treatment technologies.
• Vector 4: Institutional strengthening of MED centres through mobility between partners and training in new technologies and methodologies in MS of Ph.D. students and/or post-doctoral researchers,
• Vector 5: Strengthening MED through demonstration and exchange of know-how and experience between the participating centres (Case Studies) and advanced legislation on environmental control and prevention.
PROJECT AIMS
The objective of SOWAEUMED have been to put together and generate a stable sustainable bi-regional and integrated scientific platform of international excellence to collaborate in the development and implementation of new solid waste and waste water treatment technologies research in specific topics of interest between Member States, Associated Countries and Mediterranean Region Countries which has contributed to a threefold objective:
• To create the optimal conditions in order to favour the establishment of a sustainable networking, permanent dialogue, specific cooperation activities and a communication flow, including dissemination activities of the priorities towards Mediterranean Partners R&D research entities and policy makers such as funding agencies, learned bodies and national science policy bodies to boost their scientific and technological research potential to allow a similar foot basis cooperation.
• To promote interregional and intraregional cooperation key actions concerning with the identification of eventual difficulties, needs and long term priorities to further strengthening the established relationships and looking for legal, administrative and financial solutions to these problems, based on a better knowledge of the scientific and technological systems on both sides, as well as a closer dialogue between EU and MED policy makers.
• To stimulate and support the participation of MED region research stakeholders in future joint proposals at national and international level such as FP7, with a first emphasis on the People Programme in order to enhance their human resources through training and teaching activities.
The SOWAEUMED project specific objectives have been:
1. To establish a solid basis and cooperation platform for strategic partnerships among research centres and industries from the EU and MED countries to promote integration, to increase research excellence and to achieve scientific and technological critical mass. This has been the key to develop both the existing potentialities and future EU-MED joint actions, i.e the submission of high quality proposals for joint research under future Calls (NMP and ENV Work Programmes), and the INCO Programme.
2. Elaboration of an Action Plan to drive economic development through research, training-mobility and technological development activities in the selected topic or economic sector. This Action Plan comprises regionally specific activities.
3. To gain first-hand knowledge of the state-of-the-art in specific areas of solid waste and waste water treatment technologies research as a basis for joint research and establish a research agenda based on the pre-selected scientific topics of interest. Identify best practice amongst the partners in the selected research fields and define strategies to transfer this know-how to other interested laboratories in SOWAEUMED
4. To establish a permanent dialogue amongst the partners across different levels of responsibilities, to support the definition of the research priorities and the development of innovation policies of the EU and MED, in the field of the selected research topics.
5. To hire experienced researchers and young researchers to reinforce the human potential of the MED centres.
6. To foster relationships and exchange research results as the foundation for identifying robust state-of-the-art topics for future dialogues, involving Government – Academia and Enterprises (Triple Helix).
7. Acquisition and upgrading of specific research equipment of the partner laboratories in the MED centres in order to accomplish for the appropriate harmonization of the human resources, encouraging the common use of existing resources and access to the Large Infrastructures.
8. To foster the scientific and technological formation of specialist as well as to carry out recruiting actions of already formed scientists that will contribute to achieve the indicated critical mass.
9. To disseminate the research by means of the website, priority reports, road maps and collaborative models to key stakeholders, decision makers and influencing agencies impacting future S&T collaborative policies, work programmes and funding mechanisms in the EU and MED. Diffusion of FP7 calls, AECID calls, CDTI calls, etc.
10. To establish appropriate association and clustering with ongoing EU research projects on the related field with complementary objectives. This will provide both a synergism + best exploitation of the committed resources.
SOWAEUMED CONTRIBUTIONS
• To balance research institutions by reinforcement of MED countries research infrastructure and improvement of their human potential by upgrading research equipment in the laboratories of less developed countries and hiring new researchers for MED institutions.
• To transfer and exchange of know-how will be accelerated and the potential of the groups be better exploited, especially through the key contribution of the involved SME
• Identifying potential interested enterprise on the SOWAEUMED results and participation in RTD joint proposals or private agreements, introducting a business dimension within each of the proposed workshops and establishing contacts with Chambers of Commerce and Industry in both EU and MED countries.
• Reinforcing the research links with leading universities, institutes and industrial companies in MED countries, especially by the establishment of joint participation of EU and MED partners in NMP and ENV work programme Calls.
• Increasing the critical mass of academic and industrial researchers from MED region in order to compete with other geo-strategic areas (China, India, Korea, etc.), promoting an efficient transfer of the generated knowledge to the industry.
• Providing a fluent mutual coordination reinforcing RTD cooperation at bioregional and multilateral level, as recommended by the European Commission contacting and coordinating with The Community external policies, European Development Fund (EDF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) targeting the Mediterranean region, the Euro-Mediterranean Regional Programme for Local Water Management, MELIA CSA (Mediterranean Dialogue on Integrated Water Management), CDTI Spanish Industrial Technological and Development Centre, AECID-PCI International Cooperation Spanish Agency for Inter-universitary cooperation programme with MED countries, OFFICE NATIONAL D'ASSAINISSEMENT (ONAS, Tunisia), Tunis International Centre for Environmental Technology (CITET, Tunisia), Ministry of Land, Water and Environment of Morocco, The Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Instrument (DECI), the INCONTACT and INCONet projects, the Competitiveness and Innovation framework Programme (CIP) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and other bilateral CE and EU Member States and Associated States Programmes.
• To impact of waste and waste water treatment technologies research and technology transfer on Safety, Environmental and Health aspects, as well as the methods for achieving effective bi-directional technology transfer between the EU and MED countries including also the social, political and cultural factors and the exploitation and use considering the social and political implications for creating new businesses (eg spin off) often associated with emerging technologies and models for Praxis Business Innovation in the Technical – Social – Economic - Political Innovation.
Project Results:
The main results achieved include:
• The corresponding Strategic orientation rounds (SOR) were performed in the established dates around summer 2010 within the SOWAEUMED partners with the goal of enabling each of the regions to express their strategic orientation at European level in order to better grasp regional communalities and differences. This exercise has contributed to the final objective of fostering mutual learning and cooperation between EU-MPC in terms of waste-related research projects. Additionally, such exercise has let to support SOWAEUMED project in underpinning its activities by an explicit strategic vision on the development of the involved region in the field water and wastewater treatment, making efforts to support the partner’s willingness to submit further proposals under FP7 and/or other activities of the EU.
• While a clear attack situation was observed for the MED partners, with a slight clean the ship situation for the SOU partner, in the EU area, the SOR analysis indicate a balanced situation that suggest that despite good opportunities have been identified there is a need to plan a strategy and be caution not to perform blind attacks.
• The main strengths to enable to deal with the identified threats and benefit from opportunities were: UAB, patenting and publishing. KTH, Internationally recognized excellent R&D and experience in dissemination of R&D, training results by organizing conferences, seminars, workshops. RBI, Highly professional, skilled, motivated and internationally recognized scientists and well established team work within the laboratory. UCAM, reference university at Morocco and Maghreb being nationally and internationally recognized excellent R&D. NAD, Long experience in waste water treatment plants project design and implementation and high professional experience on Project management and work executions of industrial facilities. SOU, Large available surface land as well as young motivated and pre-specialized researchers and several collaboration experiences with European and African countries.
• The most dangerous identified weaknesses were the following. UAB, insufficient budget for upgrading, maintenance or renewal of highly specialized equipment as well the lack of entrepreneurial potential to do business within the water sector and poor IP management. KTH, Low recruitment and retention levels of staff due to unattractive terms and conditions of employment. RBI, Lack of accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) in Croatia (dating of milligram-sized samples) and Insufficient budget for upgrading and renewal equipment. UCAM, The reduced national budget for RTD and applied research and lack of equipment maintenance and upgrade. NAD, Lack of research and development department for new technologies and combination of technician personnel involved in current industrial works on the company with other projects. SOU, Difficulty of repair and maintenance of scientific equipment and no researchers working full time.
• The most promising opportunities identified were: UAB, improve expertise in water and wastewater treatment (Nanotechnology), SMEs assessment, development of R&D project oriented to emerging sectors within water R&D, improving expertise in water and wastewater treatment (Nanotechnology) as well as the collaboration through CDTI (Centro de Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial) in innovation based projects. KTH, multidisciplinary collaborations and synergisms with other EU research institutions and SMEs within water sector, flexible Research multidisciplinary research and SMEs assessment, development of R&D project oriented to emerging sectors within water R&D expertise. RBI, leadership in WBC (West Balkan Countries) in topics related to use of isotopes 14C and 3H. UCAM, multidisciplinary international collaborations as well the development of RDT projects in the field the priorities sectors like water and waste. NAD, new co-operation and synergies with foreign institutions and industrial companies in international projects. SOU, co-operation with foreign institutions using international projects
• The main threats to be aware include: UAB, international competitors (China, India, Brasil), economical and training cost due to the continuous technological renovation, maintenance and upgrades as well as the difficulties in implementation of project results at decision maker level. KTH, national competitors and partial stability of young research staff, leading to high fluctuation of personnel and economical and training cost due to the continuous technological renovation, maintenance and upgrades. RBI, unpredictable changes in conditions for publishing in CC journals. UCAM, limited laboratory capacities. NAD, economic cost of equipment needed to develop research and solution implementation and lack of first-hand information on troubles to treat. SOU, reduction units and research laboratories for reasons of budget cuts
• In brief the SORs exercise reveal the need for further financial resources and knowledge resources in the MED countries as the main challenges to overcome in order to avoid the detected threats to become more threatening. At this point, is suggested to involve Regional/National policy makers to contribute with their understanding of local dynamics and their own communication channels in order to bring closer funds such as SF, ERDF and ESF, or in the case of the MPCs, funding instruments such as the ENPI and/or the Horizon 2020 initiative, to the regional actors as well as to the scientists at stake.
• As an answer to the SOR exercise, several fostering activities have been continuously carried out and updated through the different consortium meetings and SOWAEUMED partners participation in additional events (interaction with ERA-WIDE, BILAT, REGIONS or REGPOT projects) have been considered. As a result of them, SOWAEUMED has been able to become a member of the Tunisian cluster of water. The outputs of such meetings let to define topics of interest and the submission of several EU proposals, positively funded, were different members of SOWAEUMED consortium participate. Those projects funded include SUDSOE, STRAVAL, EULANETCERMAT, WATERBIOTECH, TREASURE 2, NORIA. Under evaluation, FP4BATIW, SOCLENAM. Additional submitted proposals unsuccessfully granted MULTIWATER, REACSOIL.
• As a result of the activities carried out by all partners, UCAM has compiled all the information and prepared the corresponding report on impact of social, cultural and economic factors on business innovation and models and mechanisms for EU/MED collaboration. The derived impact of the realized activities is an enhancement on cooperation between public research organizations and industry and a promotion of entrepreneurship of young researchers, training, coordinated public-private action and multilateral flagships projects and reinforcement of the inter-institutional among the operational leading EC players in the area. Further information can be observed in D2.3 Report on social and cultural impact. Such document includes a section where the procedures that the involved partners have followed in order to keep a constant contact with different stakeholders and involve them in the different events organized by the project are summarized. Such activities let the MPC partners to start gaining regional awareness on their activities. The document compiles a series of main lessons learned after the organization of the different events. A final summary with the main conclusions in terms of social, cultural and economic factors was provided within the corresponding deliverable.
• Within the different activities undertaken by SOWAEUMED, those providing research priorities regarding wastewater treatment enclosed in WP2 & WP6, let to conclude some recommendations. As a result of the organized events, promoting clustering in MED region where the main MA&TN stakeholders participated, it has been possible the development of partnership opportunities based on S&T Infrastructure and Innovation Knowledge within this research area the results. Furthermore, several recommendations has let to consolidate defined future strategic collaborations and new joint activities and networking in the identified thematic area of NMP and ENV, sectors which are growing steady and fast in both Morocco and Tunisia. These recommendations are summarized below.
• S1. Setting realistic goals. Open and transparent communication about strategic goals, objectives and the scope of possible measures. This will be an important step to avoid unrealistic expectations and increase accountability of the cooperation. This can be achieved through organizing periodic activities in support of institutional strengthening and participatory wastewater management between MA&TN policy stakeholders and the DG Research (NMP&ENV) in order to determine the research areas/topics identified by the experts that correspond to most of the research priorities from both regions. Facilitate the engagement of Mediterranean Partner Countries in the EU Water Technology Platform (ex: Water Supply and sanitation Technology Platform). Linking Southern Mediterranean Countries’ water strategy with the EU Water Framework Directive to improve quality of mutual EU-MPC cooperation and competitiveness in the water sector.
• S2. Linking research, technology enterprising and water users to enhance competitive research in water use efficiency, drought and flood management, non-conventional water use, water conservation, mitigation of salt intrusion in coastal groundwater and impact of desalination brine discharges to coastal environments. Identify the most appropriate MA&TN Institutions/Companies to be visited in the frame of future fact finding mission in order to develop the most relevant research areas/topics identified by the experts into potential call texts to be submitted to the EC as SMEs topics or coordinated calls. Consider research at both small scale community/catchment and water basin level (including transnational basins) addressed to the development of water multi-uses towards zero water discharge; applied socio-economics aimed at assessing how to induce technological, managerial and organizational-social changes and water cultural heritage as a basis for innovation and adaptation to water risks. Allowing the industry access to the knowledge relevant to its activity sector, at national and international level, to be able to detect challenges affecting their activity, such as the regulations evolutions. The industry should also benefit from the scientific infrastructures for their own control or monitoring needs.
• S3. Create operational synergies with political and multi-stakeholder processes on water in the region, like the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative, assisting to reach out to policy makers, a range of regional and national players as well as other related initiatives, processes and programmes that provide support to policy making. Organize fact-finding missions in the region to identify partners for joint cooperation, presenting relevant MA&TN institutions in wastewater treatment sector and encourage the participation in FP7 or H2020 projects.
• S4. Reinforce the dissemination of the financing opportunities opened by the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development of the European Commission in the research areas/topics identified and start introducing those that will appear under the umbrella of future H2020. Organize during the first semester of 2013, open day events with the opportunities derived from H2020 concerning innovation and participation of SMEs, not only in Moroccan cities but also other important Tunisian cities. Important senior officials from CE should be invited to these events
• S5. Taking profit of the fact-finding missions, promote the presentation of the researchers and industries explaining, current advances, future perspectives, competitive advantages and common points of possible interactions with EU partners. Exploit any opportunity to appear during the participation in fact finding missions, workshops, seminars, etc… such as coffee breaks and lunches, for dedicated networking activities, and allow all participants to identify common research interests and if possible propose short time, medium-time and long-time project collaborations. Boost round table experiences after the networking activities in the organized fact finding missions, workshops and seminars, with the aim of allow all participants to provide some conclusions about the discussions held during lunchtimes and coffee-breaks. Regional networking should be fostered as an effective way of enhancing synergies and allow concentration of efforts, know-how exchange, co-ownership and dialogue.
• S6. Enhance cross-Mediterranean joint learning and training of students and faculty in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship; support university reforms and the revision of curricula. Establish new career paths through excellence in applied research. Establish career and start-up promoting policies for firms and researchers to interact at an early stage. Facilitating the mobility of business and research people to places, companies or research institutions, where good practices of technological transfer or knowledge are used. Encourage participation of MA&TN research institutions in human resources capacitation projects such as FP7-PEOPLE through IOF (Int. Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development) – IIF (Int. Incoming Fellowship)– IRG – IRSES (Int. Staff Exchange Scheme) and foster acquisition of new knowledge, establishment of networks and increase institutional mobility. Capacity building including a wide array of actions such as organizational reforms, institutional strengthening, science-policy interfacing, training and networking, participative approach implementation. Capacity building has to be rationalized to reach researchers as well as public, private, NGOs and water users. Developing regional demand-driven innovation and entrepreneurship programmes that would engage the growing population of youth in the MPCs.
• S7. Promote the convergence of multidisciplinary projects including partners from ICT, NMP&ENV and Energy due to the actual EU prioritization. Support the creation of cooperation and financial partnerships among researchers, SMEs, investors, institutions active on water saving, water use efficiency, drought and flood management, unconventional water use. Strengthening trilateral financial synergies / co-funding (EU-MA&TN) in identified challenges. More research cooperation based on equal participation / co-ownership of EU and MPC researchers. In particular, a permanent ERANET type of action based on variable geometry could be established to ensure continuity of actions and commitments by Morocco, Tunisia and EU to achieve common water challenges. Increased support for multilateral cooperation targeted at increasing quality and quantity of high–potential start-ups. A tighter cooperation among financing institutions and instruments will create a critical mass of excellence and will help to create a leverage effect. Regional approach must be also considered for water management, including build of knowledge share and efficient transfer of mechanism for the use of research results at regional level, common monitoring/observatory mechanisms, technology share, water strategies/policies alignment.
• S8. Concerted collection of relevant innovation and technology data at the firm-level and research institutions in order to enhance the new R&D&I policy design in terms of water research. Identify national scientific and technological strengths water saving, water use efficiency, drought and flood management, unconventional water use and those subtopics of main potential national and international collaboration and possibilities of clustering, not only based on the scientific and technological experience and production but also on the available infrastructure and linking to industry. Promote partnerships to create conditions for competitive research in water use efficiency, use of non-conventional waters, risk management. Integrating research in local and regional clusters of relevant actors, stakeholders and final users. The participation of stakeholders in all aspects of water management is crucial to the successful uptake of research results and implementation of water policies. These partnerships must be able to promote (i) interface interaction between specialties and sectors leading to new approaches, tools and innovation; (ii) the integrated and sustainability aspects; (ii) collaboration between experienced and new teams for coaching and capacity building in cooperation.
• S9. Promote special pre-competitive research efforts to develop technology that can be used for a wide range of costs, management systems, scales and technological advances in the region. Holistic but competitive research and innovation in water quantity management and use efficiency, and management of non-conventional waters. For instance, pilot demonstrations and real case studies to substantiate pre-competitive research in the water sector in the region, with particular regard to develop income generating water saving and multi-use solutions and alternative at user level. Developing tools enabling replication and the scale up (regionalization) of successful pilot / demonstration actions. Increasing the sustainability of water technology and their adaptation to different socio-economic contexts and treated water uses. The dissemination of research results and the benefits for the societies from research mainly depend on two aspects: the quality of the (public) research institutions and the one hand side, and the interaction and communication between research institutions and the industry and political on the other.
• S10. Identify EU, Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts to propose selected potential projects leaded by MA&TN institutions and detect possible interested in joining them together with MA&TN partners. Invite them to assist future and periodic MA&TN Fact Finding Missions. Promote contacts with chambers of commerce such as EU Chambers in order to identify future calls where MA&TN SMEs could participate. Promote competitive research to enhance innovation in relevant water sectors (water use efficiency-productivity, system performance, non-conventional water, water risks, access to water)
• S11. Continue to deepen the above proposals, initiate or continue exchanges with other MA&TN institutions concerned and submit joint proposals where appropriate to achieve the synergies and continue contacts with European counterparts (Spanish National Research Council, Fraunhofer, Max Planck, National Research Council of Italy, Politecnico de Milano, Sapienza Universita di Roma, etc…) in order to achieve all definitions are possible before the arrival of the mission and that this is all successful than expected.
• SOWAEUMED intends to provide a reliable strategy which includes sufficient level of details to allow strategic partners to make informed use of it for their decision, in order to increase the Moroccan and Tunisian competitiveness in the NMP and ENV sector (in both academic and external collaborative terms). In addition, it is important to specify the assumptions underlying the significant data in the strategy and the timeframes (1-2 years) for the achievement of targets throughout the different strategic priorities. The provided strategy, offer actions for the future, and aims to support the decision of public policies regarding cooperation in EU-MED area, as well as to respond to economic pressures, political and environmental issues, market trends and technological trajectories that the Waste water sector will face in the future. The proposed strategy it is based on the analysis of findings, analyses, results and recommendations generated by different events held under the SOWAEUMED and Waste Cluster Initiative auspices. These strategy is based on the following pillars
o Evidence-based identification of the common technological and socio-economic issues derived from wastewater treatment that the societies around the Mediterranean Basin are facing
o Join forces to be able to tackle shared problems in real time
o Enhance cooperation between EU members and enhanced collective capacity to achieve the cooperation objectives in terms of wastewater treatment
o Establish joint research priorities in a transparent, aligned structure and simplified procedures to access the financial support for wastewater treatment research.
o Active monitoring and detailed documentation of the performance and output of existing and promising solutions for wastewater treatment.
o Develop routine feedback mechanisms for learning from experience within the R&I in the wastewater treatment sector.
• The recommended actions and measures presented previously want to serve both as inspirations and as practical implementation ideas for the development of partnership opportunities based on S&T Infrastructure and Innovation knowledge between European Commission, the European, Moroccan and Tunisian governments, and for the main national and international stakeholders involved in S&T research in Morocco and Tunisia. Some adoption strategies are proposed that would allow taking the recommendations and considerations put forward by SOWAEUMED into account for future EU, Morocco and Tunisia Cooperation S&T in those identified as priority research areas. Depending on the level of readiness of the different actors as far as the adoption of each recommendation, two complementary and non-exclusive take-up possibilities were provided.
• Regarding fostering relationships involving policy makers as well as representatives from the scientific community, the private sector and other state actors at MED sub-regional level, such actors have been identified, contacted and new links has been established, opening new possibilities for future projects. Examples of such interactions are the activities carried out under WP2. Two case studies successfully organized.
o The I Case Study concluded with up to 45 participants from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia. The main topics addressed involve 1) Research of water and sediment in the Plitvice Lakes, (2) Investigations of water and sediment from other karst areas, and (3) Methods of purification of polluted waters. RBI staff demonstrated their research related to water quality with emphasis to parameters responsible for the processes of carbonate precipitation from natural water in the form of tufa barriers and possible contaminants that may affect these processes. Sampling of lake sediments on the boat in order to monitor changes in the lakes and in the surrounding environment in past was also demonstrated. Demonstrations were accompanied by explanation of experts who performed research on protection of the Plitvice Lakes.
o The II Case Study, SOU assembled a team of researchers specializing in hydraulics and environment. Two masters were launched: A study on the hydraulics of the watershed of Oued Meliane was performed. Flows of water have a great influence on the movement of pollution. The case study was a great dissemination opportunity for the project SOWAEUMED as politicians; industrials, leaders in water and water treatment assisted the event. This was an exhibition that was visited by hundreds of people. The visit was carried out in company with officials of the National Agency of Environment Protection (ANPE) and the Regional Representative of the Ministry of Agriculture. Water samples were taken, and the participants visited the mobile laboratory of the ANPE and enjoy the quality of equipment for water analysis. This visit was followed by taking water samples from two other areas of the river Miliane still by of the ANPE staff. It was a great opportunity for students to see how the environmental authorities were doing their daily work to monitor pollution of the Oued. A visit to the laboratory in El Mourouj ANPE allowed being aware of important equipment available to this institution for water analysis and control of air. The day ended with a visit to the urban wastewater treatment station of Ben Arous rejecting the treated wastewater in the Miliane river. It is a biological station operated with activated sludge. The final day ended two events, workshops and case study by a special seminar on the subject of Wadi Miliane. In addition to students about thirty people were present representing various organizations such as: National Agency of Environment Protection (ANPE), Tunisian International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET), National Sanitation Utility (ONAS), National Waste Management Agency (ANGed) ; Ministry of Health, Institute of Science Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL and Technology of the sea interventions were many and varied: they concerned the analysis of the river, the environmental diagnosis, the degradation of the marine ecosystem. Further information concerning this event can be obtained at D2.1 Case studies & workshops and D6.1_Newsletter 3-4 issue.
• Three workshops which have been successfully organized.
o The ECO-INDUSTRIES HADRUMETUM workshop on solid waste and water treatment took place from November 10th to November 12th,2011 in Tej Marhaba Hotel; Sousse (Tunisia). This workshop was organized by FP7 projects SOWAEUMED coordinated in Tunisia by Sousse University. It was a meetings space, interventions and fruitful discussions, both for Tunisian researcher’s industrials and foreign participants. The objectives of this workshop were the innovative aspects of water treatment and waste management, introducing new technologies, describing the state of the art and case studies related, discuss key controversial issues, sharing of experiences among different countries. The opening session registered the participation of the principal Tunisian institutions involved in the environment activities like National Agency of Environment Protection (ANPE), Tunisian International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET), National Sanitation Utility (ONAS), National Waste Management Agency (ANGed), National Society of operation and water distribution (SONEDE), The Water Researches and Technologies Center of Borj-Cedria (CERTE), Faculty of Sciences of Monastir (FSM), Sfax Biotechnology Centre (CBS), Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL), National Research Center and Materials Science Ecopark Borj Cedria (CNRSM). Five Tunisian companies (ANPE, ANGed, APAL, ONAS, SONEDE), presented their experiences, expertise and knowledge and discussed various topics such as technical assistance, the engineering and construction of water treatment plants (drinking water, wastewater), technologies and services for the treatment of industrial waste and hazardous waste, control equipment and measurement, etc More than 80 participants (researchers, engineers; specialists…) from 6 countries (Tunisia, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Croatia, Sweden) attended in Hadrumetum Eco-Industries. The activities of this workshop were included in six themes as follow:
o Biological wastewater treatment.This session offered the opportunity to take cognizance of progress in research on valorization and treatment of pollutants discharges, through the use of microorganisms these techniques are inexpensive and can be easily developed in Tunisia. The works presented in this session focused on the treatment of waste pharmaceuticals, textiles; cosmetics and wastewater purification.
o Textile wastewater treatment. Different techniques of textile wastewater treatment have been presented during the workshop. Among these methods are cited: electrocoagulation, electrochemistry and UV irradiation.
o Innovative technology Several innovations technological were presented during the workshop. These technologies are: Nanomaterials have gained considerable attention for applications in environment due to their small size and large surface area. Nanomaterials exhibit different physical, chemical, and biological properties that may not be predictable from observations on larger-sized material. Electrochemical methods offer an attractive and powerful alternative to traditional methods for treating waste water in situ thanks the involving of highly reactive oxidants. The development of a new reversible stabilization process will allow that the hides can be shaved before chrome tanning. As a consequence, an important ecological advantage will be achieved: the substitution of chrome shavings generated in conventional processes by the new white shavings generated in this new process. These new shavings can be used as raw material for gelatin production being a high added value product. Low cost inorganic products are extremely interesting in the field of the supported membrane because of their mechanical resistance, chemical inertia, long working life and thermal stability. Research in this study is directed towards the exploitation of Tunisian clay minerals and synthesized zeolite.
o General session. This session was dedicated to water in North Africa (Tunisia and Egypt), where the situation is becoming increasingly difficult due to a rapid increase in population and dwindling rainfall.
o Adsorption and biosorption techniques. Adsorption is a physico-chemical phenomenon by which molecules present in a liquid or gas become fixed to the surface of a solid at active site. Ten interventions were devoted to the presentation of perspectives and evolution of field of adsorption on activated carbon and biosorption on the surface of low cost natural biomass like Agave Americana, green algae; and other cellulosic fibres.
o Monitoring and control session. In this session, three presentations were focused on control and monitoring techniques of wastewater treatment. The first presentation was focused to the development and use of a methodology using hollow fiber supported liquid membranes for microextraction (named here Hollow Fiber Liquid Phase Micro-extraction, HF-SLM) to selectively separate and concentrate two organic compounds (catechin and rutin) from aqueous donor solutions, prior to its analysis by HPLC. The second presentation has operated the analysis of metal trace in drinking water by ICP Optic and has determined of oil and grease in water with a MID INFRARED spectrophotometer. The last presentation presented National Society of Operations and Distribution of Water SONEDE which has implemented a number of appropriate technical processes, in order to product drinking water with excellent characteristics starting from untreated water. The event was noticed and highly commented in the local press, on the one hand because of the momentum it has communicated and also the quality of researchers and public companies present.
o The second SOWAEUMED workshop supported by the FP7 SOWAEUMED project focused on the reinforcement of research links with leading universities, institutes and industrial companies in the Mediterranean countries in waste and water treatment technologies and promoting an efficient transfer of the generated knowledge to the industry. Sharing and discussing views and experiences on innovative technologies for solid waste and water treatment provided the opportunity to directly address the challenges of sustainable development. More than 100 participants (Scientists, policymakers, water and waste managers, operators, stakeholders representatives and NGOs) from Algeria, Belgium, Croatia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, Spain, Senegal, Sweden, Tunisia and Yemen attended the ITS2WAT-2012. This international workshop organized by the National Centre for Studies and Research on Water and Energy (University Cadi Ayyad), was a forum for exchange of best practices and knowledge transfer between Europe and Mediterranean countries with regards to the following topics:
o Part 1: “Waste and water treatment technologies of social, economic and political interest”, was addressed issues such as: public policies of R&D, according to the economic and social development; impact on the environment and impact on the health of the industry in general, and in particular for the conventional, advanced and nano-based waste treatment industry;
o Part 2: “Starting-up and managing companies in the field of Nano-based waste treatment technologies” was focused on innovative forms of promoting the creation of start-up companies; evaluation of experiences in both regions, benchmarking of best practices,
o The third SOWAEUMED workshop, WCI “ WCI in Hadrumete “ was held from 22 to 24th November and organized jointly by a Higher School of Sciences and Technology of Hammam Sousse (Sousse University), the Laboratory of Energy and Materials. Such final meeting was expected to include the participation of other Waste Cluster Initiative members. Despite the different consortiums were invited, the members of WASTEKIT and STINNO were absents. All the partner from SOWAEULED, some partners of TEMP, the Water cluster of Tunisia; the SWEEPNET network; scientists from Med and EU countries and a variety of stakeholders from Tunisia: policymakers, regional economic development actors, waste and water management, sustainability, RTD, innovation entrepreneurship met together. The final meeting represented an excellent opportunity to meet, to present research activities and experiences and to discuss new concepts and technologies. The workshop focused on innovative aspects of Water Treatment and Waste Management, presenting new technologies, describing the state of the art and related case studies, discussing the main controversial subjects, sharing experiences among different countries, valuating social and economic balances and launching new projects, especially for the FP7-2013-INCO work programme within the R2ENPI call. The workshops included about 70 oral presentations in specialized sessions. In addition, several participants exhibit their technologies, products and equipment in the hall next to the conference room. This event was inaugurated jointly by the Director of the Higher School of Sciences and Technology of Hammam (Sousse university), the European commission and the partnerships: National Agency of Environment Protection (ANPE), Tunisian International Centre for Environmental Technologies (CITET), National Sanitation Utility (ONAS), National Waste Managment Agency (ANGed), National Society of operation and water distribution (SONEDE), The Water Researches and Technologies Center of Borj-Cedria (CERTE), Faculty of Sciences of Monastir (FSM), Sfax Biotechnology Centre (CBS), Coastal Protection and Planning Agency (APAL), National Research Center and Materials Science Ecopark Borj Cedria (CNRSM), Chamber of commerce of Sousse (CCIC), National School of Engineer of Tunis (ENIT), CHIMITEX – Sidi Abdelhamid. Three Tunisian companies (ANPE, ANGed and ONAS), presented their experiences, expertise and knowledge and discussed various topics such as technical assistance, the engineering and construction of water treatment plants (drinking water, wastewater), technologies and services for the treatment of industrial waste and hazardous waste, control equipment and measurement, etc.). A successfully brokerage event was organized (Bilateral Contact: Researchers – Industrials). The intention of such event was to invite key stakeholders from Tunisia especially industrials to attract attention to the cluster activities, meet the scientists enhance awareness on opportunities offered and network in view of further projects to be built (seeking synergies). More than 100 industrials and researchers participated to this event, several contacts was realized between the participants.Further information can be obtained at D2.1 Case studies & workshops and D6.1_Newsletter 4-6 issues.
• Transfer and exchange of know-how between EU-MPC has been accelerated and the potential of the MPC groups will be better exploited, especially through the key contribution of the involved SME. As an example, a continuous enhancement of consortium human resources has been carried out through training and teaching activities, under WP3. Once defined the rules and schedule for such activities, several exchanges have been performed during the project. 11 exchanges of young researchers have been completed, acquiring knowledge concerning advanced methods for waste treatment technologies, remediation and monitorization. In addition, 5 exchanges of senior researchers have been completed. The visits of senior staff let to detect some future opportunities for collaboration including alternative mobility schemes such as PEOPLE-IRSES and ERA-WIDE. The seniors’ exchanges let to present 2 bilateral projects between UAB-UCAM and UAB-SOU to the AECID Spanish bilateral call for regional development. Finally, such exchanges let to further identify possibilities for exchange mobilities schemes, which have been identified and distributed between partners. The complete list of exchanges between institutions under the framework of SOWAEUMED is provided below.
o From RBI to KTH, 06/06/10 to 12/06/10, Senior researcher. Nada Horvatinčić and Bogomil Obelić. Acquaintance with the application of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials in removal of toxic materials and pesticides. Discussion about the possible visit of a young researcher from RBI
o From SOU to UAB, 02/07/10 to 30/09/10, Young res., Nadia Chaîeb. Training in the field of analytical chemistry analytical techniques such as: HFSLM (Hollow fiber supported liquid membranes), liquid-liquid-liquid micro-extraction, HPLC analysis, capillary electrophoresis, and molecular Spectrophotometer, including quality assurance protocols
o From RBI to UAB, 02/09/10 to 30/10/10, Young res., Jadranka Barešić. Training in the field of analytical chemistry, and application of measurement techniques, in tracing of environmental pollutants (trace elements) in soil and sediment samples, and data processing
o From UCAM to UAB, 01/10/10 to 31/12/10, Young res. Esshaimi Mohssine. The study of heavy metals contamination of soil by Using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and ICP-MS, the influence of soil particle size and humidity on XRF performance
o From SOU to KTH, 29/11/10 to 3/12/10, Senior res. Ezzeddine Srasra. Define a subject of collaboration and internship for a young researcher in the field of nano-materials Synthesis for water treatment
o From UAB to KTH,15/09/10 to 15/12/10, Young res. Diego Morillo. Training in the field of nanotechnology and its application in water treatment. The candidate has trained on the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials. SPION and SION functionalized with different functional groups were successfully synthesized in KTH laboratories. The candidate has training also on different characterization techniques such as HTEM, DLS, zeta potential and state-of-the-art- ICP.
o From UAB to KTH, 15/09/10 to 15/12/10, Young res. Pilar Ortiz. Training in the field of nanotechnology and its application in water treatment/medical applications. The candidate has trained on the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured materials. The candidate has training on different characterization techniques such as HTEM, DLS, zeta potential and state-of-the-art- ICP.
o From SOU to NAD, 27/06/11 to 5/07/11, Senior res. Seffen Mongi and. Abdelaziz Baçaoui. Preparation of the design of the pilot plant Barcelona (NADREC). Design was made after several experiments in the Lab of INTEXTER (Pr Cgespi) and many visits to companies close to Barcelona.
o From UCAM to UAB, 01/06/11 to 30/09/11, Young res., Faissal Aziz. Impact assessment of pollution sources on water quality and human health through the characterization of bacterial diversity by a molecular approach.
o From SOU to KTH, 01/05/12 to 31/07/12, Young res. Kaouther Abderrazek. Photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmine using zinc oxide on polymer nanofibers
o From SOU to UCAM, UCAM, 16/07/12 to 15/08/12, Young res., Aida Kesraoui Abdessalem. Studying the performance of a pilot plant activated sludge automated by measuring: COD, BOD5, NO3-, NO2-, TKN, PO43-and PT.
o From UCAM to KTH, 01/03/12 to 30/04/12, Young res. Majdouline Belaqziz. Application of nanotechnology for treatment of contaminated water by heavy metals
o From UCAM toKTH, 01/09/12 to 31/10/12, Young res. Faissal Aziz. Application of natural clay nanocomposite in removal of inorganic contaminants from surface water
o From RBI to KTH, 23/09/12 to 22/11/12, Young res. Maja Ivanić. Fabrication of the nanofiber/nanoparticle composites for water treatment
• Such information was included within the guide on exchange possibilities. Further information can be obtained at D3.1 Reports of young researchers and senior staff and D 3.2. Comprehensive Guide to funding for research exchanges EU/MED.
• An e-learning course for nanotechnology learning and application has been organized, supported in a UCAM virtual platform. Among the 60 participants registered on the platform, only 46 participants were selected from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan. These participants presented the requested profile and have skills to follow the e-course Nanotechnology from Research to Applications in water treatment.The SOWAEUMED E-learning course was successfully followed by the participants from different horizons (researcher, pHD students, professors, managers).
o Module 1: In a wastewater treatment plant, analyses are necessary for monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment processes. This module is dedicated to water contaminants and to different analytical methods to detect water pollution. This first module is supported by materials coming from University Autonome of Barcelona (UAB – Spain). The specific subjects of the Water pollution analysis module are: Lecture 1: Water pollutants. Lecture2: Water pollution analysis. Lecture3: Specific organic pollutants analysis (I). Lecture4: Specific organic pollutants analysis (II) – Gas and Liquid chromatography (GC- and LC). Lecture5: Specific organic pollutants analysis (II) – Gas and liquid Chromatography coupled to Mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC – MS). Lecture6: Analysis of Families of compounds
o Module 2: Define Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials, explain top-down and bottom-up approaches for Nanomaterial fabrication. The recent scientific and technology work in the nano world will be presented to demonstrate the potential of nanoscience and industrial applications of nanotechnology, identify and explore opportunities and uncertainties of nanosciences and nanotechnologies. The second and third modules are supported by materials coming from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH – Sweden). This module is focused on Instruments and methods of characterization and analysis of nanomaterials. The specific subjects of the Water pollution analysis module are: Lecture 1: Introduction to Nanotechnology. Lecture 2: Physical and chemical synthesis methods. Lecture 3: Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy Theory and applications (ICP-AES). Lecture4: Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy Theory and applications (AAS). Lecture5: Thermal Analysis Techniques (TGA – DSC – DTA). Lecture 6: Particle Size Measurements (DLS). Lecture 7: Particle Surface Charge: Zeta potential technique. Lecture 8: Basic of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Lecture9: Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB – SEM) Dual Beam System
o Module 3: The focus of this module is to give a concise overview and update of research results in the field of application of Nanotechnology in wastewater treatment and remediation. The specific subjects of the Water pollution analysis module are: Lecture 1: Environmental application of Nanotechnology. Lecture 2: Application of Nanotechnology in remediation of contaminated Grounwater: A short review. Lecture 3: Use of iron oxide nanomaterials in Wastewater treatment: A review. Lecture 4: Emerging Nanotechnology for site remediation and wastewater treatment. Lecture 5: Pollution prevention and treatment using nanotechnology. Lecture 6: Adsorbents in water treatment technologies
o Module 4: This fourth module is scheduled at the end of the three modules and is focused on Innovation and Transfer of know ledges and technologies processes.
• The required equipment for both pilot plants one for tannery waste water treatment (UCAM) and other for textile waste industry (SOU) have been identified as a response of the MED requests, becoming trained on the use of such pilot plants the human resources of MED countries during the design of such pilot plants. The required pilot plants have been designed, built and installed at UCAM and SOU.
• The pilot plant installed at SOU facilities, is intended primarily for waste water discharges from textile industries. It has a demonstrative, educational and scientific character. The unit operates in dynamic mode with an average flow of 1 to 5 L / h. The treated water must respect the Tunisian standard NT 106-002. The unit is based on the system of membrane bioreactor (MBR). The finishing process is done through two adsorption columns. The 13th November 2011 and in the presence of Euro-Mediterranean Students (three from Europe: Spain, Sweden, Croatia and twelve from Tunisia ) tests of cleaning textile water discharges were made on pilot plant based at Higher School of Science and Technology of Hammam Sousse ( ESSTHS). Tests conducted with wastewater originating from a dyeing industry of jeans located in the region of Sousse have shown high efficiency of membrane bioreactor. The unit is very flexible, as it could use the membrane bioreactor alone or coupled with activated carbon for finishing or photocatalysis with nanofibers.
• The pilot plant installed at UCAM facilities is based on a membrane bioreactor system (MBR) coupled with adsorption columns were nanostructured material to be implemented in order to treat wastewater from tannery industry. An immersed membrane bioreactor (IMB) was employed for the cultivation of organisms collected from waste sludge of urban wastewater treatment. The reactor had a total volume of 1000 L. The mixed liquor (10gL−1) was only agitated by aeration, from a compressed air source through a diffuser in the bioreactor’s base at a flow rate of 5 L min−1. The aeration rate was sufficient to maintain the dissolved oxygen concentration during cultivation, so growth was assumed not to be limited by oxygen. Membrane in a MF membrane (FP-T0008, 0,2µm, area 1m2, TMP max 0,15MPa), the permeate rate between 12-18l/h. Several backwashing at different frequency and duration were tested to maintain a constant permeate flux. In order to give more flexibility to the use of the pilot unit, NADREC Company has also designed adsorption columns to be filled with nanofunctionalised fiber for a potential upgrading treatment. The fibers are based on Amidoxime-modified polyacrylonitrile nanofiber grafted to iron oxide nanoparticles and its application for the removal of metal ions from industrial wastewaters. The MBR pilot plant was installed and operated at CNEREE during the Second SOWAEUMED Workshop on innovative technologies for solid waste and water treatment which held in Marrakech from May 23 to 26, 2012. Further information can be observed on D5.1_Equipment as well as on D6.1_Newsletter 5-6 issues.
• Derived from the SWOT analysis, the senior positions requested by MED partners have been described, defining and establishing the rules for selection. An initial identification of potential candidates started and despite the lack of funding for such positions, SOU started the recruitment of senior technicians for local companies involved in waste and water treatment business, becoming a contact point for future employment of trained specialists. In addition SOU have trained young technicians in waste water treatment, helping them finding employment and thereby strengthen the human capacity of companies in the field of waste water treatment. Further information can be obtained at D 4.2 Reports on the individual activity of contracted scientists.
• As a result of four on going EU-FP7 projects and due to one of the required tasks to be performed under the workpackage 6, the Waste Cluster Initiative was launched at the beginning of the project. Such initiative results as a consequence of addressing the major issues facing the EU and its partner countries and upholding economic growth, social responsibility and sustainable development in the field of waste management. Such initiative tried to involve different European Community funded research projects (WASTEKIT, StINNO, TEMP EU and SOWAEUMED) in an exchange of knowledge and experiences, learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses, defining regional strategies, investing in strengths through integral use of national and regional funding. The WCI as it stands was a 'genuine research-driven cluster' of cooperating regions with a strong emphasis on exchange of best practices and knowledge transfer. Due to the involvement of partners from the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs), the cluster's main target was knowledge transfer from North to South to directly enhance visibility of the MPCs in the cluster and prepare the grounds for their integration into the European Research Area (ERA).
o Initially, the WCI was composed of 4 projects with 43 partners funded under the Regions of Knowledge & Research Potential programmes. Participating countries are Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, Finland, Netherlands, Portugal, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, (Israel), Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In order to contribute to the objectives of the WASTE-cluster, interested participants/clusters/networks, key stakeholders, managing authorities, scientific teams etc. could join anytime.
o Within the WCI, key stakeholders were working together in pursuit of regional economic development and the strengthening of the European Research Area (ERA). Following the logic of identifying similarities and complementarities among the participating projects' activities, the ultimate aim was to explore possible synergies among the projects in terms of concrete actions as well as in terms of funding opportunities with other European and local funding instruments. The Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action (MIRA project) financed by the FP7 programme "international cooperation" offered possibilities to realize complementary activities with the WASTE-CLUSTER initiative at various levels.
o Opportunities for benchmarking and exchange of best practices regarding strategies, structures and resources associated with technology transfer were seized in order to increase the efficiency of the proposed measures by the WASTE Cluster initiative to further enhance its visibility and impact. Further synergies were explored under the "Capacity-building" component of the Horizon 2020 political initiative. Its purpose was to support the implementation of Horizon 2020 through capacity-building and awareness raising activities. It equally promoted the integration of environmental issues in the policies of other sectors such as transport and energy.
o As a result of the activities performed by the participants in the WCI along the framework of the different projects, there are some outcomes at a macro level need to be assessed in the context of the overall policy and strategic objectives of the Commission with respect to the MPCs scientific, technical and innovation priorities as defined in their cooperation agreement and approved by the Joint Committee for the next years.
o As the activities of the project partners develop subsequent to the initial assessment being undertaken on their SWOT/SOR positioning, the progress being achieved at project level have been monitored and recorded. The project outcomes were used as building blocks to portray the activities and effectiveness of the Cluster as a whole. Due to the already critical mass in number of projects (4) and participants (43), the impact of this clustering activity has been enhanced, contributing to a higher visibility of the individual partners/projects, leading to a better integration of the participants from the MPCs into the ERA and enabling them to prepare more and better proposals to enhance their participation under FP7.
o In fact, SOWAEUMED partners participated in 2 projects proposals in FP7‐NMP‐ 2011‐SMALL‐5 and NMP.2011.3.4‐1 Eco‐efficient management of industrial water together with other partners from WCI. In addition, UCAM contributed to the preparation of 2 EU future projects with partners from the WCI. Feedback on possible future collaborations between participating partners, potential R&D partners, industry and policy making bodies has been obtained and put into practice for future proposals.
o After the SWOT and SOR analysis focused on wastewater treatment sector and the EU&MPC cooperation that was realized during the Waste Cluster Initiative (WCI) events, it was possible to define the main SOWAEUMED axes of intervention. This SWOT exercise was realized considering the waste sector as a heterogeneous one, encompassing the various types of waste, the different treatment strategies such as disposal, recycling, valorization of waste streams, as well as the different parties involved, the different objective such as sustainability or performance or the environment goals. The focus was in line with those of regional economic development and strengthening the European research area, as well as the development of common actions responding to European funding opportunities.
o The identified SOWAEUMED axes of intervention were in line with some of the different elements for a medium/long-term agenda, which in fact, are relevant to some HORIZON2020 goals such as excellent science, industrial leadership and societal challenges. These axes are summarized below.
Increase societal awareness and capacity building to support the implementation of adaptation measures to address a particular water risk under climate change.
Developing sustainable innovative technologies and concepts in water saving, water use efficiency, water productivity, use of non-conventional waters, water harvesting and conservation as options to mitigate risk and impact by climate change.
Institutional strengthening and participatory water management
Improving water sanitation to reduce water related diseases
Water pricing, cost recovery mechanisms and efficient water charge policies
Management of agricultural waters under scarcity conditions: sustainable land-use changes, alternative agricultural practices, water use efficiency and system performance, water productivity (water-plant-soil), use of unconventional waters (including wastewater reuse and related nutrients valorisation)
Technologies in water saving, water use efficiency, water productivity, use of non-conventional waters (including gray waters and treated wastewater reuse and related health issues), water harvesting and conservation, distribution system.
• An efficient management at administrative, contractual, legal, scientific and technical levels have been established, directed towards delivering high-quality results within the project scope, schedule, and cost, whilst taking into account stakeholder satisfaction and potential project risks. Internal monitoring and self-evaluation mechanisms, based on a defined Quality Assurance Plan and risk management of all demonstration, exploitation, dissemination and training activities have been also established. This project management let to identify some different delays on the WPs, mostly due to the political issues in Magreb region (in particular, Tunisia), an accordingly proposed the corrective actions to the identified problems. The different organized meetings also let to monitor timely execution of WPs and oversee tasks, ensuring quality of work at WP level, to review deliverables at WP level prior submission to Coordinator, and to provide consolidated WP level periodic reports, risk management & operational contingency plans. Other activities included to keep up-to-date the work breakdown, the planning of budgets and track progress on a regular basis. To collect consolidated periodic reports from WP leaders. To supervise preparation of deliverables and documentation. To provide templates for documentation to ensure uniformity among partners. To ensure the overall financial management and financial operations of distribution and reporting of the project, according to the Grant Agreement.
• As a summary, the main learned lessons through the framework of SOWAEUMED project are given below.
• The real need of bringing R&I closer together and aligning existing programmes and initiatives at the level of the EU, the Euro-Mediterranean relations, and of Mediterranean countries, unleashing the innovative potential in the MED region and make direct use of R&I for socio-economic development in the region in the medium and long term.
• Support a bi-regional programme of research, innovation and higher education, with full co-design, co-evaluation, co-management, co-appropriation and co-funding. Construct medium- to long-term Research Agendas focused on a few challenges of common interest;
• Enhance cooperation between public research organizations and industry and promote entrepreneurship of young researchers, training, coordinated public-private action and multilateral flagships projects and reinforce the inter-institutional among the operational leading EC players in the area. A major constraint to innovation in the Mediterranean countries is the capability to foster the transfer of technological capacities and a miss-match between the content of (higher) education and the skills need by the industry. The medium and long-run return on investments in these areas, from an EU perspective as well as from the MED perspective, are substantially higher than in more traditional areas of Euro-Med cooperation
• Foster networking initiatives and clustering of different on-going actions in the MPC dealing with wastewater treatment and develop a strategic perspective, directly involving stakeholders, which is the key to future success. This in return requires informed decision-making based on detailed knowledge and understanding of the real needs at local and national level. Close interaction and exchange of knowledge and ideas across and around the Mediterranean needs to be increased significantly in quality. Time and resource consuming duplication of research and innovative effort can be reduced and redirected towards productive validation/falsification and modification of generated knowledge. Transparent and dynamic, open networks are difficult to manage, but the reward for and potential benefit of concerted action for the societies is very high. The aim is to actively join forces to overcome common problems, not cooperation for the sake of cooperation.
• Make use of the existing results of science, technology and products to address societal and economic challenges, create an innovation-driven culture and identify where industry’s interests lie. Transform such results into seeds for a sustainable continuation of the relationships by converting the involved MPC partners into reference actors in the region with capacities to attract the private sector investment. Promote leading researchers as drivers of Knowledge-based economic development in the region to increase job creation through innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Facilitate the uptake of knowledge by industry and shorten the gap between research and market. From SMEs point of view, EU projects are a very useful tool to arrive abroad and share knowledge not only on solutions but also on existing problems to solve in neighbour countries, allowing them to realize more than they expected how much SMEs can provide in terms of environment care, spread their borders to other countries giving them the possibility to invest and earn at same time of helping to develop environmental solutions to reduce pollution.
• Depending on the scope, size and complexity of (process, product and policy) innovations, research can either be necessary in research-intensive, high technology areas. Or, as is the case for most innovation at the firm level, it often needs much less radical measures to be taken – and is also less expensive and explicit. Incremental innovation and (technology) adaption at the broad basis, i.e. strengthen and upgrade the capacities of actors in the public, private, research and education sectors to use, apply and modify technologies, products and techniques that have been already been developed needs to be strengthened.
• Maintaining fluent communication during this kind of projects in order to reach as much as possible success on every task. Cohesion is basic, and communication lack means loses of both time and possibilities to take advantage of project's opportunities.
• An important issue is how problems and challenges of the wastewater industry, usually SMEs in the MPC, or even, the acquisition of emerging new knowledge by these companies can be addressed by the research system. This is a fundamental question because, typically, the intellectual interest of the Higher Education and the Research organizations should be directed toward identified global challenges to be studied by the scientific community. The point here is how common interest between the industrial sector and the scientific community can be created.
• Only a close cooperation and mutual awareness of complementary and substitutive actions at the national, regional and international level will increase the impact of the cooperation and the effective allocation of resources. Thereby a priority task is to identify best practice amongst the partners in the selected research fields defining the strategies to transfer this know-how to other interested laboratories. Later, it is key action to speed up the acquisition of first-hand knowledge of the state-of-the-art in specific areas of solid waste and wastewater treatment technologies research that will let to establish the basis for joint research and a research agenda based on the pre-selected scientific topics of interest.
Potential Impact:
DISSEMINATION
• A communication plan has been designed as well the corresponding plan for dissemination and use that collects all the information being generated by the project. Such PDU has been distributed to the partners. Such PDU involve the branding, the material for information support (website, newsletter, brochure, presentations, etc), describe the target audiences, indicates the messages to disseminate, events to assist, etc. More than 35 events, included conferences, workshops, public talks, appearance on several websites not only at EU but also MPC level, interviews with journalist and press releases have become a dissemination output of SOWAEUMED. Further information is provided on deliverable D6.1_PDU.
• The main actions carried out are summarized as follows:
o Participation in mass media and promotional activities, through periodic publication of press releases, organized press conferences, TV clips, radio messages and public lectures at both national and regional level. Such actions have been carried out encouraging the coverage of the organized events by public media involving the participation of local authorities, policy makers, SMEs, R&D institutions, users associations, chambers of commerce. The evaluation of such activities let to assess the impact of the project at both national and regional level.
o Dissemination to a non-specialised audience. It was considered a key component of the project dissemination activities, and this is why during every project meeting specific sessions were devoted to this issue. This activity was composed of the following tasks; i) “Translation” of the project outcomes from scientific and specialist language to common language,; ii) Dissemination of the project outcomes to general audience, meaning that the articles above will be disseminated among the major newspaper and web magazines in EU and MPC. This “general public promotion campaign” was carried out in collaboration with networks that were mobilised during the project (some of which are normally referring also to non-specialised audiences), in order to make sure that all the possible channels were used for this activity.
o Scientific achievements were disseminated to public and policy stakeholders by the HEIs. Through papers presented at conferences and published in technical magazines. Particular and fundamental science involved in the development of new water technologies was published in high quality, peer reviewed journals targeting scientific community.
o Invitation to potential users of developed wastewater technologies, to discuss specific issues and to test the user friendliness of the developed technologies. All SOWAEUMED partners were involved in regional, national, or international activities, being possible the use of their developed and extensive networks to disseminate SOWAEUMED results to potential end users (Governmental, NGOs, and scientists).
o Networking and cluster cooperation activities with existing actions and projects. The project worked to position itself among the many running mechanisms that aim to support scientific cooperation between Europe and MPC. For this reason, from the very beginning of the project a work on the database with the research projects and researchers currently funded at both EU and MPC level in the field of water treatment and management was done and contacts with identified projects was performed when appropriate. These actions, and others that the project performed during its lifecycle, represent natural multipliers of the SOWAEUMED results, messages and outcomes.
o Collaboration with NCPs networks. To reach the highest possible number of researchers through the European networks of NCPs through the INCONTACT Platform. This means that when an important result or communication by SOWAEUMED was produced, these networks were activated to not only disseminate the news in their own national environments, but to do so in their national language and targeting the right national stakeholders.
o Employ the project events to increase the partnerships as well as community building. To guarantee a continuous “presence” of the project awareness rising and dissemination activities in the region, the organized workshops, annual project meetings, round events and participation in brokerage events were carried out. During each event a specific knowledge dissemination session took place to make sure that all the participating stakeholders were aware of the project aims, status and results, as well as a promotional component (promotion of H2020, involvement of new partners) and a community building one (validation of the issues, presentation of the water clusters community enlargement). These events covered different topics focused on improving mutual awareness of technological demands and scientific capabilities of MPC region in terms of water treatment technologies and to initiate partnerships between SOWAEUMED partners and external entities of private and public sector. As a result of the organized events an increase of SOWAEUMED network has occurred, being focused on more efficient water treatment technologies and possible formation of research-driven cluster with similar projects in the MPC region.
EXPLOITATION
• Concerning the exploitation of results, in order to identify available financial sources interested on the final outputs of SOWAEUMED, the potential perspectives of transferences to the industrial sector and society and finally, clarify the strategy route of the results exploitation, advancing different aspects of the exploitation difficult to aboard once finalized the CSA, several actions have been carried out, such as:.
o Bilateral Collaboration: Research beyond the timescale of this project. Co-supervision of PhD students, exchanges by post docs and permanent researchers will underpin these developments
o Regional Collaboration: New local/regional collaborations between the partners including also industry have emerged as a result of the meetings and exchanges from this project.
o Continuous cluster cooperation contributing to adopt the Mediterranean Water Strategy and related Action Plan which will provide the financial and instrument framework for the future, partnerships to create conditions for competitive research in water use efficiency, use of non-conventional waters, risk management and regional join funding for trans-basin cooperation and regional water innovation programme.
o Promote the employment of water treatment technologies pilot plant demonstrations and real case studies with MPC participation to substantiate pre-competitive research in the water sector in the region, with particular regard to develop innovative business models (BMs) focused on generating water saving and multi-use solutions.
o Implementation of a platform of synergies around EU and MPC projects, integrating water component for a capitalization, a concentration of the efforts and a maximization of the impacts and the resources (overcoming fragmentation and duplication, facilitation of TT).
o Improved skills of researchers in EU and MPC that have stimulated more young people to embark on a research or entrepreneur career. Such career development opportunities for early stage researchers, including regular evaluation and more autonomy, are expected to improve their employability and chances of promotion. Additionally, identifying the existing potential of early stage researchers, have provided alternative future exchanges though PEOPLE calls for those involved partners.
o Accelerated progress in key areas of some established and already ongoing water treatment S&T cooperation agreements with MPC countries, including the improvement of the links between academia and water treatment industry (establishment of contacts with regional chambers of commerce i.e. EUROCHAMBERS (BE-BXL), PIMEC (ES)) that will lead to spread trans-national recruitment, portability of funding, employment, working conditions, training and skills of the researchers, as well as employability and ability to turn research into results. Such progress has reinforced and enlarged the EU and MPC competitiveness including the creation of strategic partnerships thus attracting the best third country scientists to work with EU and MPC.
o Promotion of the optimal use of intellectual property and innovation support services for a better business model generation, risk assessment and access to capital of the developed water treatment technologies created in public research organizations, focusing on an efficient management and increase of knowledge transfer to industry and regional stakeholders. This has contributed to transform MPC into a more attractive area for researchers and establish a balanced “brain circulation” within MPC countries rather than a “brain drain”.
o Improved Europe and MPC's research performance as well as providing more opportunities for researchers, which therefore have become beneficial both within Europe and with the rest of the world. An excellent example have been the possibility for SOWAEUMED researchers to get access to major research infrastructures such as synchrotron facilities, which allowed them to keep on leading edge of knowledge creation, related to the SOWAEUMED thematic areas.
IMPACT
• SOWAEUMED impact is focused on the development and improvement of scientific partnerships and upgrade of S&T MED capabilities, key factors that have helped on the translation of policy objectives of international co-operation with MED countries. Actions engaged by SOWAEUMED CSA have established a solid base for future joint collaboration, allowing an increased awareness of the joint state of the art and needs between EU and MED countries in the selected research field. These actions have facilitated solving the detected opportunities rather than carry out the research projects individually. The established relationships have helped to identify key needs and opportunities, and start the corresponding actions to create suitable consortiums. SOWAEUMED have reflected a main impact on different areas such as:
A) Creating solid research relationships: Reinforcing common research priorities and interests providing mutual benefit situations avoiding the hindrance of possible implementing problems due to coordination research at significant distances, by means of:
• Fostering relationships between researchers at all levels (PhD, Post Doc, senior researchers, professors and senior managers) through the exchange and training activities that have helped on sharing research results and ideas and an efficient technology transfer between partners.
• Through the established collaborations and links to partners beyond the consortium by the contribution of advisory board gaining an increased worldwide awareness of the research activities.
• Promoting the SOWAEUMED website, and data enclosed within, as a tool to create new associations for future joint proposals, including partners beyond the consortium.
B) Improve the established relationships through attracting new key partners: Reinforce the number of experienced partners proceeding from MED countries, both public research institutions and private industrial companies, in order to propose future joint environmental projects in the EU‐MED area. The identification of further partners have been based on:
• Consultation of data bases generated by each projects partners and by their network of contacts;
• Potential incoming experienced researches to be recruited proceeding from MED countries and working at EU, and European scientists working in MED countries;
• Connecting to other programmes or coordination and support actions financed by the international cooperation actions of the Specific Program Capacities of the FP7 (ISSOWAMA, RESTCA‐TERCE‐ NIPMSS, AQUATERRE, MELIA, MEDAWATER, etc...) and thematic NCP's network or initiatives such as the Waste Cluster Initiative.
• Scientific and technological communities at EU and MED regions which were beneficiated from the impact derived of an increased awareness of MED S&T excellence, motivating the EU RTD stakeholders to generate new NOEs with their MED colleagues. The information generated by the project has served National Chambers of Industry, Business Associations or the Euro‐Chamber of Industry to establish strategies promoting economic cooperation between EU27 and MED.
C) An efficient dissemination and communication of SOWAEUMED priorities, activities and plans: to key actors including researchers, inventors, funding agencies, innovators, industry investors and policy makers, mainly concerning future calls for EU‐MED research projects, by means of.:
• Set up new and consolidate existing relationships between the EU‐MED partners concerning both scientific institutions and private industrial companies.
• Enlarge the number of potential high quality research institutions or private companies, beyond those of the consortium in MED region as candidates for future joint proposals.
• Promote the inclusion of the themes and research priorities concerning waste treatment technologies in the work programmes of the national and international funding agencies.
• Greater perception by the scientific community at both the scientific staff and diplomatic offices, trade bureaus, business associations, chambers of commerce of the possibilities for EU‐MED joint research, as well PhD and post‐doctoral positions in future.
D) Identifying Opportunities for Joint Research Projects with basic or applied/business orientation: Creation of a broad information database including research topics and related state of the art, human and infrastructure potential resources, alternative funding mechanisms at national and international level, efficient technology transfer ways,. The required information has feedback by the generated reports and presentations through the activities carried out at case studies, workshops, or during the exchanges and trainings.
• Identified opportunities and needs within EU and MED region and the research topic.
• Real potential and weaknesses of partners involved in future consortiums, considering the known human and infrastructure resources, and the opportunities of FP7, increasing MED participation in FP7, especially in the PEOPLE programme.
Furthermore, SOWAEUMED impact can be understood as a result of the developed Action Plan to drive economic development through research, training-mobility and technological development activities in the selected topic or economic sector. This Action Plan comprises regionally specific activities to be developed under each of the identified strategic priorities. For each of them, the involved stakeholders, the actions planned, the corresponding means of verification and the impacts at short/medium/long term, are provided below.
o Strategic priorities: Research quality S2, S7, S8. I) Actions planned: Identify top MA&TN research institutions. Priorization of research topics. Convergence of multidisciplinary projects. Knowledge transfer between EU-MA&TN institutions. II) Involved stakeholders: Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. III) Means of verification: Access to new technology and information, exposure to international quality standards, contribution to the development of international opinion leaders, encouraging commitment to R&D, generation of infrastructure, resources and employment, image of the country favors visionary and cutting edge technology, attracts foreign investment. Ensuring water management for all ecosystem functions and food security. Political willingness is needed to ensure a multi-sector and multi-scale approach. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Progress in research quality in NMP&ENV fields covered by FP7 and H2020 & bilateral options.
o Strategic priorities: Enhancement of human capital. S6, S7, S10, S11. I) Actions planned: Organize workshops in MA&TN. Organization a large number of visits (scientific and technical) to MA&TN institutions. Providing research training in NMP&ENV and projects formulation. Integration of researchers and PhD students in NMP&ENV research projects carry out in top EU laboratories. Use of FP7-PEOPLE opportunities. II) Involved stakeholders: Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. Policy makers responsible of EU and MA&TN. III) Means of verification: Promoting integration, increase research excellence and achieve critical mass, overcoming possible brain drain and lack of human potential, providing new points of view to solve problems and new ways for multi-professional projects. Statistics from the EU mobility schemes. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Strengthening the cooperation with leading EU&MA&TN institutions. Involving the EU and MA&TN NMP&ENV research institutions into common research. Increasing the participation in H2020 and bilateral calls related to NMP&ENV. Visits of NMP&ENV experienced researchers in both directions. Upgrading the skills of technicians from MA&TN in H2020 management.
o Strategic priorities: Support of innovation and fostering cooperation with industry. S2, S8, S9. I) Actions planned: Organization of specific seminars for research staff and meetings research-industry concerning NMP&ENV. Knowledge transfer from EU Offices for projects formulation and IPR, giving examples dealing with NMP&ENV. Building a regional co-ownership on water resources management, from challenges identification to financial and implementation synergies. II) Involved stakeholders: Major donors active in the region. Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. Policy makers responsible of EU and MA&TN. Trade Unions, end users associations, Chambers of Commerce or Industry. III) Means of verification: Number of consultations and effective participation of MA&TN stakeholders Information gathering among main MA&TN-EU research networks Synergy of the research offer with the requirements of innovation market and industry well developed cooperation Academia-Industry Developing capacities in wastewater management through adequate good governance, stakeholders / societal engagement. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Intensifying the dialog between academia& industry. Development the knowledge of research staff on the priorities of innovation policy. Development of an offer for the cooperation NMP&ENV industry in the frame of H2020 and bilateral actions.
o Strategic priorities: Support of the regional/national economic and social development. S3, S9. I) Actions planned: Organization in MA&TN of periodic seminars addressed to local and regional authorities concerning the importance of NMP&ENV. Initiating H2020 projects or Nets involving others national stakeholders supporting NMP&ENV research. II) Involved stakeholders: Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. Policy makers responsible of EU and MA&TN. Trade Unions, end users associations, Chambers of Commerce or Industry. III) Means of verification: Level of visibility of MA&TN research programs and actors outside the region. Launch of Regional Research Program and support mechanism in place. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Increased number of international projects related to NMP&ENV performed in MA&TN. Maintaining and development of the cooperation with local NMP&ENV industries. Straining the binomial Academia-Industry. Reinforce the agreements in S&T between EU and MA&TN in NMP&ENV sectors defined as priority. Regional join funding for trans-basin cooperation and regional water innovation program
o Strategic priorities: Dissemination and promotion activities. S4, S5. I) Actions planned: Promotional publications. Cooperation with mass media. WEB site and e-Platform. Organization of Open-days in EU partnering. Take profit of round tables, coffee breaks, lunches. II) Involved stakeholders: Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. Policy makers responsible of EU and MA&TN. Civil society. III) Means of verification: Activity reports by the actor that shall take the lead concerning the quantity and quality of identified examples, level of dissemination, attendance, practical results. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Promotion in the society of the achievements of the different EU projects involving MA&TN participation concerning NMP&ENV research. Popularization of NMP&ENV and related Technology Transfer among the different stakeholders. Strengthening societal and water users empowerment, improving dialogue as well as mutual trust among institutions, researchers and society
o Strategic priorities: Reinforce regional & international cooperation. S1, S3, S10, S11. I) Actions planned: Twining visits, fact finding missions and exchanges. Participation in some important conferences and congress in MED and EU (2013-2016) encouraging the preparation of NMP&ENV clusters. Developing common NMP&ENV research projects or NETs with EU and/or LA partners. Submission of future actions under H2020 in association with MED research centers concerning NMP&ENV. II) Involved stakeholders: Scientific communities at EU and MA&TN. Policy makers responsible of EU and MA&TN. III) Means of verification: Last FP7 and new H2020 calls specific for EU-MA&TN cooperation. Political attention towards MA&TN in comparison with other LA states. IV) Impacts at short/medium/long term. Strengthening the cooperation with other important MED countries (EG, JO). Involving high level research centers of MED into NMP&ENV research in association with some EU MA&TN. Development of future networks or NMP&ENV projects with more MED universities. Increasing the participation in future H2020 (according with the suggestions of Oslo RTD Council 2010). Adopting the Mediterranean Water Strategy and Action Plan which will provide the financial and instrument framework for the future.
List of Websites:
http://www.sowaeumed.eu
Contact details at http://www.sowaeumed.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=55&lang=en
