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Innovative societies Water-smart societies Climate-neutral societies 

Interreg makes
a difference!

Explore how people in the Baltic Sea region have been benefitting
from our projects.

#MadeWithInterreg solutions for

Cleaner waters

Cleaner waters thanks to viable monitoring system, new methods for removing micropollutants from wastewater and sharing knowledge

What are we doing?

Coordinated actions are the key to cleaning Baltic Sea waters efficiently. Interreg projects that bring people together across sectors and countries stand behind many of them. Not only do they introduce new systemic methods to clean wastewater, but also ensure the spread of knowledge of those methods in the region. Trust in project recommendations directly translates into new policies and investments. In a long run, cooperation in projects exceeds original partnerships and builds grounds for new initiatives and actions to respond to arising challenges.

Examples of #MadeWithInterreg solutions:
  • a platform collecting best practices in smart water operations
  • a risk assessment system to monitor concentrations of micropollutants
  • novel methods to clean wastewater from micropollutants, e.g. pharmaceuticals
  • new technologies to reduce phosphorus losses
  • enhanced water treatment to improve water quality in lakes

 

What we’ve achieved so far? 

The Baltic Sea is one of the most heavily eutrophicated seas in the world. Interreg projects helped improve wastewater treatment, which is one of the factors influencing eutrophication. At the beginning of the 2000s, more than 20 cities collected best practices in water management and shared them with other city administrations around the Baltic Sea region. In 2009-2013, projects showcased that it was possible to reduce discharges of nutrients from wastewater treatment facilities to the level set in the Baltic Sea Action Plan of HELCOM. The HELCOM Action Plan targets were stricter than the EU requirement.

In 2016-2021, projects in cities and villages focused on improving the treatment of wastewater from residents and industries. Partners in projects tested new technologies that increased nutrient removal and reduced energy consumption in cities such as Daugavpils, Gdańsk, Tartu, Jūrmala, Kaunas, and Grevesmühlen. Rural municipalities benefitted from solutions like septic tanks and soil infiltration in Kolgaküla, Gennarby, Ainaži, and Leitgiriai. In other projects, partners tested the pre-treatment of wastewater at poultry, meat, and dairy factories in Leszno, Doruchów, Põltsamaa, and Jelgava. Following this joint work, the partners synthesised more than a hundred examples of smart water operations. Using this knowledge, they helped develop the new Baltic Sea Regional Nutrient Recycling Strategy of HELCOM, and revise the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. These two strategic documents help achieve a healthy state of the Baltic Sea.

 

Ongoing projects

The ongoing projects explore new methods to clean wastewater more efficiently and better monitor concentrations of harmful substances and micropollutants in water environments. They address various stages of water management, starting from pollution prevention at its source, extending to robust monitoring and risk assessment practices, and culminating in the adoption of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. The projects aim to influence policy-making processes and implement practical measures for long-term improvements.

 

Supporting the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 

Our projects play a vital role in achieving the ambitious goals of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) to save the Baltic Sea. In collaboration with the coordinators of the EUSBSR policy areas Nutri, Bioeconomy, Hazards, and Tourism, our projects make water and wastewater management more efficient and less resource-intensive in cities, rural areas, and tourist destinations. Together, our projects and the EUSBSR coordinators drive changes in water-related policies in our region, ensuring that the outcomes of our projects are integrated into legislation and continue to contribute to clearer, cleaner waters in the region.

 

Explore project solutions in more detail:

EMPEREST

Eliminating Micro-Pollutants from Effluents for REuse STrategies
The project EMPEREST tests advanced treatment technology that helps water utilities and companies better remove organic micropollutants such as PFAS or pharmaceuticals from wastewater.
Read more about the project

APRIORA

Improved risk assessment for strategic water management to reduce micro-pollutant emissions in the Baltic Sea Region
In the project APRIORA, environmental protection agencies and wastewater treatment plants get equipped with a GIS-based risk assessment system to monitor and model concentrations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in order to improve water management and reduce emissions.
Read more about the project

BEACON

Application of biological effects methods in monitoring and assessment of contaminants in the Baltic Sea
In the project BEACON, public authorities and governmental organisations develop harmonised methods to assess contamination in the Baltic Sea waters, sediment and biota.
Read more about the project

AdvIQwater

Improving quality of BSR waters by advanced treatment processes
The project AdvIQwater tests photocatalysis, fungal treatment and biofilms methods to efficiently clean wastewaters from pharmaceuticals.
Read more about the project

NonHazCity 3

Reducing hazardous substances in construction to safeguard the aquatic environment, protect human health and achieve more sustainable buildings
The project NonHazCity 3 helps municipalities, entrepreneurs and individuals construct and renovate buildings with tox-free materials in order to protect health and the environment.
Read more about the project

TRUST ALUM

Building trust in target groups for ALUM treatment - an effective, yet misunderstood method for water quality improvement
The project TRUST ALUM helps public authorities in the Baltic countries make better use of ALUM water treatment and improve water quality in lakes.
Read more about the project

MUNIMAP

Baltic Sea Munitions Remediation Roadmap
The project MUNIMAP develops a legal and administrative framework for public authorities to initiate joint remediation of dumped munitions from the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak, which pose threats to the marine ecosystem and hinder the maritime economy.
Read more about the project

BSR S3 Ecosystem

Baltic Sea Region Smart Specialisation Ecosystem
Multiple smart specialisation strategies synthesised from Interreg projects enabled public administrations and development agencies to strengthen innovation ecosystems and develop pathways for green transition.

Read more about the project

ResQU2

ResQU2
The Interreg platform ResQU2 improved the preparedness of rescue authorities, services, seaports and other authorities for large-scale incidents in the Baltic Sea.
Read more about the project

SUMPs for BSR

Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning for climate resilient BSR cities
The transition of cities from a focus on cars to "mobility for people" is at the core of sustainable urban mobility plans. Such plans are currently being implemented in Europe and world-wide to facilitate a paradigm shift from transport to mobility planning. It requires a harmonized approach to strategic urban planning: climate, energy, urban development and mobility plans need to be in line, striving towards the same vision. To make this concept accessible, especially for small and mid-sized cities in the Baltic Sea region and to support them on the way to implementation - this is the challenge the seed money project addresses.
Read more about the project

CliNeDest

Climate Neutral Destinations - Developing climate smart tourism business for sustainability and resilience
In the project CliNeDest, eight Baltic Sea region tourist destinations empower tourism companies to develop low-carbon offerings that meet the growing demand for sustainability, and anchor the region as a climate-neutral travel hub.
Read more about the project

EUL

Empowering Underground Laboratories Network Usage
EUL helped to enlarge the use of underground laboratories and provide access to open resource for business and innovation.
Read more about the project

SUMANU

Sustainable manure and nutrient management for reduction of nutrient loss in the Baltic Sea Region
The Interreg platform SuMaNu synthesised best practices and recommendations on nutrient management from four projects in order to guide authorities, policy makers, advisors and farmers on how to reduce the negative impact of farming on the Baltic Sea.
Read more about the project

RegenT

Integrating Regenerative Practices in Nature and Cultural Tourism​
RegenT project platform develops a regenerative tourism hub, offering training and policy recommendations for public authorities, destination management organisations (DMOs), NGOs, and business support organisations to make revitalisation and sustainable tourism a guiding strategy across the region. RegenT consolidates outcomes from 7 EU projects.
Read more about the project

BSR electric

BSR electric - Fostering e-mobility solutions in urban areas in the Baltic Sea Region
The Interreg project BSR electric fostered and integrated e-mobility solutions such as e-logistics, e-bikes, e-buses, e-scooters, and e-ferries, in urban transport systems in eight countries across the Baltic Sea region.
Read more about the project

Scandria®2Act

Sustainable and Multimodal Transport Actions in the Scandinavian-Adriatic Corridor
The project Scandria2Act successfully established a formal cooperation of regions at the Baltic Sea for modern transport along one of the nine European transport corridors, which will help those regions to contribute to shaping the corridor and to benefit from it economically in the long run.
Read more about the project

Baltic ForBio

Accelerating production of forest bioenergy in the Baltic Sea Region
The Interreg project Baltic ForBio increased production of renewable energy by using forest biomass in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and triggered new business models for small-scale forest bioenergy plants across the Baltic Sea region.
Read more about the project

SUMBA

Sustainable urban mobility and commuting in Baltic cities
By developing master plans on commuting for nine municipalities in five Baltic Sea region countries, the Interreg project SUMBA paved a way for sustainable and greener transport transformation in the region.
Read more about the project

Change(K)now!

Change(K)now! – A mindset change from single-use to circular or multiple-use of food delivery systems in cities of the BSR
The Change(K)now! project helps municipalities reduce single-use food packaging in food delivery and catering systems, and build social acceptance among companies and people for circular reuse of food packaging.
Read more about the project

CAMS Platform

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Synergies in Energy Efficiency Projects
Local authorities and energy auditors learned how to provide higher quality, quicker, and more holistic energy audits harmonised across the Baltic Sea region based on the knowledge synthesised from a dozen of EU funded projects.
Read more about the project

ClimaResponse

ClimaResponse - Responsive Local Action for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction
The project ClimaResponse helps local authorities reduce climate and disaster risks, improve their response to extreme weather events, and build long-term regional climate resilience through targeted strategies, training and cooperation.
Read more about the project

BiC BRIDGE

Biomarker Commercialization – IVD applicable Biomarker Research and Innovation implementation Development GuidE
BiC BRIDGE helped smaller players of the biomarker development sector to streamline their biomarker development, and provided guidance, both on the regulatory framework and on the necessary steps linked to commercialisation.

Read more about the project

Green PE

Power Electronics for Green Energy Efficiency
The Interreg project Green PE demonstrated that advanced power electronics are technically feasible, reliable and cost efficient in test applications of electric car engines, wind energy production, as well as smart buildings and compiled a roadmap to accelerate their market uptake.
Read more about the project

BaMuR

Baltic Museum Resilience: Resilient museums and memory institutions for resilient societies in the Baltic Sea Region
The project BaMuR equips public authorities, NGOs and SMEs with a toolbox to help cultural and heritage institutions maintain their consolation role to people in times of crisis.
Read more about the project

MARELITT Baltic

MARELITT Baltic - Reducing the impact of marine litter in the form of Derelict Fishing Gear (DFG) on the Baltic Sea environment
The Interreg project MARELITT Baltic developed a sustainable strategy for national authorities around the Baltic Sea to manage derelict fishing gear, which is marine litter with extensive hazardous effects on the marine ecosystem.
Read more about the project

PPI4cities

Supporting BSR cities to implement public procurement of innovation while providing practical tools created using AI technologies and gamification methods
In the project PPI4cities, public authorities learn how to build a smart city by designing innovations already at the procurement level.
Read more about the project

Land-Sea-Act

Accommodating of land-sea interactions into maritime and coastal planning in the Baltic Sea Region through blue-green infrastructure and ecosystem services
Land-Sea-Interaction and Ecosystem-Based-Approach are concepts that consider the human impact on coastal areas and strive for integrating aspects of sustainability and resource efficiency when it comes to maritime spatial planning. The project aims at improving the understanding and embedding the principles of Land-Sea-Interaction and Ecosystem-Based-Approach within the maritime and land-based spatial planning in order to contribute to cohesive management of the coastal areas.
Read more about the project

cities.multimodal

Cities.multimodal – urban transport system in transition towards low carbon mobility
The Interreg project cities.multimodal presented environmentally friendly alternatives to driving, enhanced sustainable urban mobility planning for multimodal transport in ten cities and introduced six mobility points and smartphone-based travel planning.
Read more about the project

NHCRE

Network for Hydrogen in Combination with Renewable Energysources
In response to challenges related to shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy economy, the project sets up a multinational, multilevel and cross-sectoral partnership and a “knowledge hub” to jointly streamline cutting points between hydrogen and other sustainable and renewable energy sources, such as biomass, solar, wind and water. In this way, the project strives for a zero-emission energy and transport structure.
Read more about the project

BSR CLIMATE BUDGET

Cities and regions for a BSR climate resilient development by means of climate budgeting
Municipalities have made the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to reach the climate change mitigation goals. Carbon budgeting efforts pin down emissions targets, but do not include financial or management measures. In contrast, climate budgets elevate the climate mitigation contribution of a project or measure as a primary consideration in financial budgeting and negotiation processes. The project explores this concept to support its introduction in planning and decision making practices.
Read more about the project

SUMBA+

Sustainable urban mobility and commuting in practice
SUMBA+ helped city planners and authorities boost sustainable mobility in urban areas.
Read more about the project

BEST ACE

Biogas - Established Sustainable Technology in A Circular Economy
The project BEST ACE helps develop natural gas grid infrastructure and use biomethane efficiently in long-haul transport and maritime industry.
Read more about the project

Go LNG

LNG Value Chain for Clean Shipping, Green Ports and Blue Growth in Baltic Sea Region
The Interreg project GO LNG explored new business opportunities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a green fuel for shipping in the Baltic Sea region and other international markets by bringing together scientists and business.
Read more about the project

KidsLikeUs

Empowering NGOs & public institutions in helping children overcome migration traumas using creativity and favors of nature
In the project KidsLikeUs, educators, public authorities and NGOs explore how contact with nature and appeal to all senses can improve mental well-being of children with traumatic experiences.
Read more about the project

CCC

Creative Circular Cities - Promoting circular transition at local level by involving the Culture & Creative Sectors and Industries
In the project Creative Circular Cities, local authorities, business support organisations and NGOs showcase in six demo cities how cultural and creative sectors and industries can trigger circular business growth and promote circular consumption among people.
Read more about the project

BOWE2X

BOWE2X
The Baltic Sea has great potential to contribute to the EU’s renewable energy targets through offshore wind power production, however, this is hampered by intermittency and great distance to consumers. BOWE2X helps resolve these problems by researching options to apply power-to-X solutions to transform excess offshore wind electricity into energy carriers like hydrogen. These can subsequently be stored or moved to consumers before being used as fuel or converted back into electricity.
Read more about the project

EMMA

Enhancing freight Mobility and logistics in the BSR by strengthening inland waterway and river sea transport and proMoting new internAtional shipping services
In the Interreg project EMMA, waterway administrations, business support organisations and ports together with shipping companies, logistics businesses, and research organisations jointly raised inland waterway transportation higher on the political agendas in five countries around the Baltic Sea.
Read more about the project

Land-Sea-Act

Land-sea interactions advancing Blue Growth in Baltic Sea coastal areas
With the help of Land-Sea-Act, national and regional authorities, coastal municipalities, NGOs and businesses learned to plan together the use of land and sea space at the coasts of the Baltic Sea for the benefit of local communities.
Read more about the project

WaterMan

Promoting water reuse in the Baltic Sea Region through capacity building at local level
In the project WaterMan, public authorities and water companies model strategies to reuse water and recirculate retained water, e.g. for industry and agriculture.
Read more about the project

PlanHeat

Local Heat Planning - Achieving the Heat Transition in BSR Municipalities
The project PlanHeat brings together municipalities and expert organisations from seven countries to help cities develop local heat plans and meet tightening standards for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more about the project

Solutions stay with the people: listen to our #InterregVoices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© UBC SCC/Mariia Andreeva

Thanks to Interreg (...), we created momentum for essential aspects of sustainable water management connected to climate change, for example improving the wastewater and storm water management, reducing water pollution, and increasing the application of circular economy principles. [IWAMA; BSR Water]

 

 

 

Agnieszka Ilola 

Head of Secretariat, Union of the Baltic Cities, Sustainable Cities Commission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky

I can name a large number of examples of project outputs directly integrated into the regional policy framework. The first one is the recommendation on sludge handling. It was largely based on the PURE project. What’s more, the technologies tested in the project PURE to treat wastewater are in regular use now.

 

 

 

Dmitry Frank-Kamenetsky

 Special Advisor to HELCOM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© City of Turku

Thanks to Interreg projects, we have improved our public services for our citizens. Our water treatment facility has been involved in benchmarking water management processes and our water management processes have continuously been improving. Now, we have even better water quality and managed to keep the price of our water services at a moderate level.

Minna Arve

Mayor of Turku, Finland

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