Project description
Water smart industrial symbiosis
Wastewater can act as a reusable resource as well as a vector for energy and materials to be extracted, treated, stored and reused. The EU-funded ULTIMATE project will operate as a catalyst for Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis (WSIS), in which water/wastewater plays a key role within a dynamic socio-economic and business oriented industrial ecosystem. ULTIMATE will demonstrate the multiple uses of municipal and industrial wastewater through nine high-level demonstrations in Europe and the south-eastern Mediterranean from the agro-food processing, beverage, heavy chemical/petrochemical and biotech industries. It will recover, treat and reuse industrial and municipal wastewater, derive and exploit energy, and extract valuable materials contained in industrial wastewater. It will also advance innovative collaborations between businesses, water service providers, regulators and policymakers for a more circular and socially responsible industry.
Objective
ULTIMATE will act as a catalyst for “Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis” (WSIS) in which water/wastewater plays a key role both as a reusable resource but also as a vector for energy and materials to be extracted, treated, stored and reused within a dynamic socio-economic and business oriented industrial ecosystem. We adopt an evidence-based approach anchored on 9 large-scale demonstrations across Europe and SE Mediterranean relevant to the agro-food processing, beverages, heavy chemical/petrochemical and biotech industries. We recover, refine and reuse wastewater (industrial and municipal) but also extract and exploit energy (combined water-energy management, treatment processes as energy producers, water-enabled heat transfer, storage and recovery) and materials (nutrient mining and reuse, extraction and reuse of high-added-value exploitable compounds) contained in industrial wastewater. We support the cases and ensure their replicability through smart tools to optimize and control, assess costs and benefits, minimize risks and help stakeholders identify, assess and explore alternative symbiotic pathways linked to emerging business opportunities, supported by tailored contracts and investment schemes. ULTIMATE nurtures partnerships between business (incl. industrial and technological ecosystems), water service providers, regulators and policy makers and actively supports them through immersive Mixed Reality storytelling using technology and art to co-produce shared visions for a more circular, profitable, socially responsible and environmentally friendly industry, with water at its centre. The project mobilises a strong partnership of industrial complexes and symbiosis clusters, leading water companies and water service providers, specialised SMEs, research institutes and water-industry collaboration networks, and builds on an impressive portfolio of past and ongoing research and innovation, leveraging multiple European and global networks to ensure real impact.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwater treatment processeswastewater treatment processes
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.5.4. - Enabling the transition towards a green economy and society through eco-innovation
- H2020-EU.3.5.2.2. - Developing integrated approaches to address water-related challenges and the transition to sustainable management and use of water resources and services
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
3433 PE NIEUWEGEIN
Netherlands
See on map
Participants (29)
08290 Cerdanyola Del Valles (Barcelona)
See on map
10825 BERLIN
See on map
60121 Ancona
See on map
1030 Bruxelles / Brussel
See on map
EX4 4QJ Exeter
See on map
157 80 ATHINA
See on map
MK43 0AL Cranfield - Bedfordshire
See on map
28016 Madrid
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
709 00 Ostrava
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
41007 Sevilla
See on map
78230 Le Pecq
See on map
91190 Gif Sur Yvette
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
26123 Oldenburg
See on map
20200 Shefa-Amr
See on map
61201 Tel Aviv
See on map
14564 Kifissia
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
WR2 6LS Worcester
See on map
43100 Tarragona
See on map
57122 Livorno
See on map
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
Participation ended
57023 Cecina
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
20200 Shefa Amr
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
50126 Firenze
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
21055 Nafplio
See on map
69800 Saint Priest
See on map
7491 Trondheim
See on map
4400 Kalundborg
See on map
2880 Bagsvaerd
See on map
7547 TC Enschede
See on map
57023 Cecina
See on map
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.