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Cetaqua will develop in Galicia two new European projects of more than 8 million euros on circular economy together with about 30 companies, universities and technology centers throughout Europe
The ambition of Cetaqua Galicia to continue growing at European level and become a technological center of reference in the field of environment and water does not cease.
Cetaqua Galicia has extensive experience coordinating European projects of the LIFE and INTERREG programs, started in 2015, which is complemented since 2020 with the achievement of highly competitive projects within the EU framework program Horizon 2020, such as the HOOP and WalNUT projects. This 2022, the desire to continue contributing to sustainable development to achieve the climate neutrality proposed in the European Green Deal continues to bear fruit with the achievement of two new projects framed in Horizon Europe, the new Framework Program for Research and Innovation of the European Union for 2021-2027.
The two new projects of Cetaqua Galicia, one of which it coordinates, will contribute to the development of new circular economy models that reduce the impact on the aquatic and terrestrial environment, through sustainable management and the valorization of wastewater and organic waste, including sewage sludge. Specifically, one of these projects aims to promote the use of sewage sludge and other biomass, such as fishing waste, by bio-industries as they are sustainable non-fossil-based raw materials. The second project aims to provide greater knowledge about the impact and potential of biofertilizers generated from bio-waste with high Nitrogen and Phosphorus content, such as sewage sludge. In this way, it will be possible to support Europe in its transformation towards a more circular economy and will contribute to maintaining nutrient flows within safe ecological limits, avoiding eutrophication problems, and to the restoration of ecosystems.
The achievement of these European projects gives continuity to the model of public-private collaboration promoted by the Xunta de Galicia: Mixed Units, specifically the CIGAT Mixed Unit, started in 2015, and its consolidation with the CIGAT-BIOFACRORÍA Mixed Unit recently completed by the Xunta de Galicia, Viaqua and Cetaqua Galicia. These Mixed Units have made it possible to place Galicia at the forefront of technological innovation in the circular economy in the water sector at an international level.
New framework programme of the European Union: Horizon Europe
The objective of Horizon Europe is to continue strengthening the scientific and technological potential of the European Union through R&D solutions, ranging from the conceptual phase to market introduction, in order to face an ecological and digital transition through areas such as health, safety, zero pollution and climate change.
These two new projects are framed in Cluster 6 of the Horizon Europe program that deals with “Food, bioeconomy natural resources, agriculture and environment”, within the work program “clean environment and zero waste” to carry out a sustainable and circular management of natural resources and fight against pollution.
Cetaqua Galicia will collaborate in these projects with about 30 companies, universities and technology centers throughout Europe, mobilizing more than 8 million euros financed by the European Union and positioning Galicia as a region at the forefront of sustainability and the promotion of bio-industry.