- The UNWTO Startup Community Spain was launched on Wednesday 22 March at the Google for Startup Campus in Madrid
- Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, explained the new LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 Startup Europe Awards and the two challenges that comprise them, which will be awarded in the framework of Greencities and S-Moving in FYCMA on 20 and 21 September
28/03/2023, Madrid. Last Wednesday, March 22nd, Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, presented the European project Life Ecodigestion 2.0 and the new Life Ecodigestion 2.0 Startup Europe Awards at the UNWTO Startup Community launch event, held at the Google for Startup Campus in Madrid.
Thanks to the innovative technology of the Life Ecodigestion 2.0 project, funded by the Life programme, biogas can be generated in anaerobic digesters of water treatment plants by mixing putrescible organic waste (slurry, poultry, organic fractions, MSW, HORECA, etc.). This initiative, led by Global Omnium (Spain), in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal), transforms wastewater treatment plant sludge into green energy.
Life Ecodigestión 2.0 is therefore committed to turning the use of biogas into a reliable source of energy that can meet industrial energy demand. In this way, the target of achieving at least 27% of energy from renewable sources in the European Union’s Agenda 2030 will also be met.
Life Ecodigestion 2.0 Startup Europe Awards
Revuelta’s speech was also the stage for the presentation of the new Life Ecodigestion 2.0 Startup Europe Awards. These awards were presented for the first time on 17 February at Transfiere, the largest European forum for science, technology and innovation, held at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga (FYCMA).
This edition is looking for startups that provide innovative solutions to the challenges of ecological transition, energy efficiency and the fight against climate change. To this end, two challenges have been set: “Improvement of biogas generation in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) and energy improvement” to achieve a technology for wastewater treatment (biogas generation) and “Sustainable technology for the valuation of sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP)” which seeks a technological solution for the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge for subsequent recovery (co-production of biofuel).
The awards ceremony will take place in the framework of S-Moving and Greencities, on 20 and 21 September at the Trade Fair and Congress Centre of Malaga (FYCMA). The winning proposal may become a real demonstration project as a LIFE, granted by the EU with up to 5 million euros.
Below, you can register to participate in the LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0 call and find out more about the prizes and challenges.
About UNWTO Startup Community
UNWTO Startup Community is a community launched on 22 March 2023 at the Google Startup Campus in Madrid by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with Area101. The main objective of this initiative is to connect, energise and follow up startups finalists of the competitions of the UNWTO, the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
About Startup Europe Awards
The Startup Europe Awards (SEUA) is an initiative promoted by the European Commission, launched by the Finnova Foundation in collaboration with StartUp Europe. It is an open innovation tool that allows companies to identify talented startups capable of solving today’s challenges in multiple areas. Its mission is to help Startups and Scaleups become more efficient, smarter and more successful. These awards are a useful tool to promote knowledge sharing, add value to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and help startups to grow and position themselves in the market.
About LIFE ECODIGESTION 2.0
This is a pilot demonstration project, funded by the LIFE programme and with a budget of more than 970,000 euros, which generates biogas in sewage treatment plant digesters by mixing putrescible organic waste (slurry, poultry, organic fractions, MSW, horeca, etc.), thus transforming sewage sludge into green energy through technology. The initiative led by Global Omnium, (Spain), in collaboration with the Finnova Foundation (Belgium) and Águas do Centro Litoral (Portugal) aims to become the most versatile digestion control tool on the market, achieving environmental and economic benefits through the production of biogas by making optimal use of waste. Thanks to this technology, it favours the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of sewage sludge generated in wastewater treatment processes, thus achieving a positive impact on the environment. This programme is easily scalable with other funds such as FEDER, NextGenerationEU or Repower EU.
About Finnova Foundation
Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities for European projects is combined with a proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.
