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The commitment to results transfer is one of Cetaqua’s main strategies. This translates into transferring generated knowledge and boosting the application of the results. According to Carlos Montero, the General Manager of Cetaqua, the formula for the success of this process is to align strategy with customers’ needs.
“At Cetaqua we involve the end user right from the ideation phase and ensure they are given follow-up and are involved throughout the project. This streamlines transfer and allows us all to learn along the way.”
If we also consider the multiplier effect of applying for external funding for an idea, then the micro-ecosystem that unites efforts with a common goal can be successfully generated.
Cetaqua closes 2022 promoting innovation projects to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the water cycle and demonstrating its leadership in public funding programmes, mainly from Europe. Once again it has done so by basing growth on excellence, as reflected in the approval of 21 new publicly funded projects, 5 of which it is leading while 16 are funded by the European Commission.
“In this past year, several factors have come together in our favour. The first is that we have a consolidated team focused on understanding the needs of our stakeholders and a Europe that seeks to become more competitive in the fight against climate change. This means we can focus on adding value. The second is our rapid connection with end users through our own innovation ecosystem. In addition, our results from previous projects mean we are confident we will achieve a significant impact.”
Part of Cetaqua’s success is to work with a broad innovation ecosystem so we can both connect and establish synergies with key institutions, as well as provide the necessary knowledge and develop unique solutions in a complex environment, marked by numerous climate and environmental challenges.
In this sense, the new projects focus on offering solutions to key issues in the current climate scenario, such as decarbonisation and generating clean, impact-free energies. Specifically, within the Horizon Europe programme, a total of 13 projects have been awarded, including SEMPRE-BIO, which will demonstrate new cost-effective ways of producing biomethane and actively contribute to the REPOWER EU European strategic energy programme.
Another key pillar is to continue promoting the countless opportunities provided by the circular economy. In this area, one major project is BIORECER, which will promote a change in the perception of waste and develop and transfer new knowledge to ensure adequate environmental performance. With regard to the LIFE call for proposals, of particular note are the LIFE Warrior and LIFE Cyclops projects, initiatives aimed at water reuse in line with the new European regulatory framework for agricultural irrigation and reusing waste from the vegetable oil and wine industries.
Cetaqua already has extensive experience in executing and coordinating European projects. This number has not stopped rising since 2009, when the first two LIFE projects were awarded. So much so that it has now carried out over 95 European publicly funded projects. This lengthy experience has facilitated partnerships with the best European universities, technology centres, leading companies in key sectors and leading institutions in Europe. One such example is ARC (Aqua Research Collaboration), which promotes collaborative RDI on the complete water cycle by strengthening knowledge about processes, conducting excellent research, promoting the application of scientific knowledge and fostering more efficient and sustainable management of this resource.
Part of the success in obtaining public funding lies in being able to identify environmental challenges with users, clients and public authorities, and ensuring they contribute value to the projects, always with a view to ensuring results are transferred towards real solutions that clearly benefit society and the environment.
