Overview
On July 26, 2023 we had the REMEDIES project. They are on a Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters. REMEDIES believes that our ocean and waters are the lifeblood of our planet, and we have a responsibility to protect and preserve them for future generations. The health of our ocean and waters is crucial not only for the survival of countless marine species, but also for the well-being of human communities around the world. And they are facing significant challenges from plastic and micro-plastic pollution to overfishing to climate change. These challenges are complex and interconnected, and they require a collaborative and innovative approach to overcome. That’s where REMEDIES comes in.
REMEDIES is an Horizon Europe innovation Action creating innovative solutions and technologies to monitor, collect, prevent and valorise (micro)plastic from our oceans. Our approach is rooted in science, circularity, and community engagement aiming to protect water ecosystems, reduce pollution and develop a climate-neutral blue economy.
In the next 4 years, 23 Partners from 12 countries will showcase 12 breakthrough innovations from validation and demonstration, to system prototyping in operational environments. The innovative solutions will be tested in 9 demonstration sites in 8 Mediterranean countries. 33 new sites will follow in order to scale them across the whole Mediterranean.
Through collaborative, participatory methodologies and citizen science activities REMEDIES will create a more plastic-conscious society. It will provide opportunities for stakeholders to act, learn and contribute to a plastic litter free and zero-waste future.
Moreover, REMEDIES will support, with mentoring, coaching and financial resources, regions to boost the deployment of plastic litter collection and valorisation schemes as well as to push towards the development of zero-waste supply chains through two open calls. We are inviting stakeholders from across the globe to join us in this mission. By working together, we can create a healthier, more sustainable future for our oceans. Join REMEDIES movement!
Programme
14:00
Welcome, Jose Luiz Moutinho, BlueMissionAA / AIR Centre
14:05
Introduction, Uroš Novak, Kemijski inštitut – National Institute of Chemistry
14:10
What is the REMEDIES project?, Dimitris Kokkinakis, Impact Hub Athens
14:15
What is new in fighting plastic pollution?, Uroš Novak
14:25
The Impact of the REMEDIES project, Annamaria Vujanović, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the University of Maribor
14:35
We are on a Mission, Violetta Tsitsiliani, Impact Hub Athens
15:00
Q&A moderated by Jose Luiz Moutinho, BlueMissionAA / AIR Centre
Speakers
SPEAKER
Uroš Novak
Experienced Researcher with an obtained Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Skilled in Research and Development (R&D), Startup Development, Chemical Engineering, and Science with more than 12 years of experience. Author of 40+ scientific articles (2000+ citations), and speaker at more than 150 events. Leader of the research group for Bioplastics, biocomposites and zero-waste technologies at the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering at the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia. Coordinator of the BioApp platform, establishing a sustainable flow of information among stakeholders included in the production of products made out of innovative natural biopolymer material with high added value and the corresponding development of services focused on the needs of the food, cosmetics and health-related industries. Passionate for transforming science into practical solutions. Finalist of the EU social innovation challenge in 2019, further leading to the creation of 123zero start-up. Co-founder and CTO in two start-ups with the ambition to cocreate and support one new start-up per year. Recipient of multiple national and international awards for scientific excellence as well as for his innovations and inventions. Coordinator of the Horizon Europe Mission Lighthouse project REMEDIES and principal investigator in 4 Horizon Europe projects.
SPEAKER
Dimitris Kokkinakis
Co- founder of the Impact Hub in Athens- the community of social entrepreneurs & innovators that develop sustainable enterprising solutions for contemporary social challenges. His experience in the network of the Impact Hubs since 2010 gives him a deep understanding on how we mobilise resources, capitalise on possibilities & opportunities for value creation & productive interactions. He has been working as a facilitator and trainer for Entrepreneurial Support Programs and Community building for Impact Hub in Vienna, and he moved to Athens in 2013 to co-initiate Impact Hub in the city. His experience lies in business development, partnership building and communications strategies, always contributing to a more fair and sustainable future for people and the planet. He has also co-founded with Impact Hub Athens Team two spin-off organisations Mpostani, a platform for farm to fork solutions and the Agora Project the first Consious Mall in Greece, reviving a historical Market of Athens. Through the last years he also served as a Executive Communication Manager for Innovation Action project HYDROUSA – HORIZON2020 bringing research closer to market and to the community and to the citizens. He works and designs programs around environmental actions, sustainability and social equity.
SPEAKER
Annamaria Vujanović
Dr. Annamaria Vujanović is a scientific researcher at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Maribor, with work experience in various industrial sectors and national and European research projects. She is the head of a research group with a focus on environmental sustainability, circular economy, waste management strategies, industrial efficiency, and support for companies in their green transition. She is currently involved in several EU projects with a key role, notably as a co-leader and sustainability work package leader in the INSPIRE and REMEDIES projects, both of which are part of the EU Mission: Restore our Oceans and Waters, where she leads activities related to the sustainability assessment of the innovative technologies to combat plastic waste.
Dr. Vujanović is passionate about environmental issues as well as a strong advocate for social equality. In 2022, she organized a special section entitled “Women in Science” at the internationally recognized PRES conference, highlighting authors’ works related to process integration and pollution reduction. She is also founder of the first spin-out company at her University, where she deals with sustainability reporting and consulting in the area of green transition. Her work brings extraordinary contributions both in the field of science and in enabling equal opportunities
SPEAKER
Violetta Tsitsiliani
Violetta is an experienced Communications Officer, an EU programmes project manager and a community weaver, having collaborated with impactful organizations such as Bodossaki Foundation, Among, Bosch Alumni Network, Translators Without Borders, ChangemakerXchange, Goethe-Institut, RBS, Ashoka etc. She is co-founder of The Language Project NGO offering innovative educational programmes on intercultural communication and specialized translation services for the humanitarian field. She has studied translation and cultural management and she is a Fulbright – Salzburg Global Seminar alumna. She lives in Athens, she is a mother of two.
Resources
REMEDIES: creating innovative solutions and technologies to monitor, collect, prevent and valorise (micro)plastic from our oceans.
July 26, 2023, Atlantic & Arctic Lighthouse Weekly Hour S01E02 with REMEDIES
Relevant links
REMEDIES is part of the of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” – Co-creating strong uptake of REMEDIES for the future of our oceans through deploying plastic litter valorisation and prevention pathways.