NEW EU competition for innovations in the Baltic Sea The BONUS-funded project BONUS RETURN announces a competition for innovations addressing how to reuse nutrients and carbon emissions in the Baltic Sea © BONUS RETURN The Baltic Sea’s ecosystems are threatened due to marine and land pollution, thus endangering its current and future benefits to society. The Baltic Sea nutrients and carbon reuse challenge is open to countries within the European Union. Applicants are required to submit their applications on the project website, before 12 February 2018. Up to three innovations will be chosen to be part of the project’s pre-commercialization process with a chance to present their innovation to a group of investors, researchers and public-sector actors at the Baltic Sea Future Conference in Stockholm, 8-9 March 2018. “We hope to find creative solutions with the potential to reduce the release of nutrients from wastewater and agriculture into the Baltic sea. This will be an opportunity for innovators to develop and test their prototypes in testbeds, with support from the project,” says Erik Kärrman, Group Manager, RISE. BONUS RETURN aims to collaboratively support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that produce eco-technologies, by assessing their effectiveness in reducing nutrients and carbon, and deploying them using test-beds and commercialization at the project’s three case study sites in Sweden, Finland and Poland. The winners will have the opportunity to perform tests, match their product to local needs, obtain tailor-made procurement and business plans, connect with investors, and introduce their products to potential markets. “Phosphorous of high quality is a finite resource that must be considered globally, as it is essential to maintain food production. Greater recovery and the reuse of nutrients in wastewater is required in the future, as the potential for phosphorous recycling to agricultural land is very high. Therefore, innovations are needed to increase the proportions of nutrients that are reused in agriculture or other areas,” says Daniel Hellström, R & D Manager, Swedish Water & Wastewater Association. Apart from their ability to reuse nutrients and carbon, the eco-technologies will be assessed on their sustainability readiness based on the following criteria: health and hygiene, environmental issues, economy, socio-cultural dimensions and technical function. For detailed instructions how to apply, visit www.bonusreturn.com For further information you can also contact Karina Barquet, Project Manager, BONUS RETURN karina.barquet@sei-international.org +46 70 388 5690 Brenda Ochola, Communication Officer, BONUS RETURN brenda.ochola@sei-international.org +46 73 707 8613 Keywords Nutrients, Carbons, Reuse, Baltic Sea, Competition, Challenge, Innovation, Investors, Researchers, Public sector Countries Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden
