Transnational exchange in practice - APRIORA partner meeting in Sweden

It’s time to meet again with partners

From 27. until 29.April, the APRIORA partnership met in person. This time, we were invited to our Swedish organisation’s hometown: Kristianstad. Combining practical insights into the laboratory by a hands-on training and a study visit to the local wastewater treatment plant with time to talk: How do we practice the transfer of the APRIORA solution from results to legacy?

APRIORA team together in Kristianstad

Showcasing laboratory work and real hands-on training

Our partners from Kristianstad University, Ola Svahn and Christian Hanke, invited the partners and especially target group representatives to visit MoLab and Krinova, where participants were introduced to the analytical methods called “SPE-LC-MS/MS” and given a tour of the laboratory followed by hands-on training in the unique analytical technique – iFiST. This technique can be applied to simplify sample preparation and transport – both for wastewater and surface water samples. So far, the team has now already trained personnel from six EU countries in the method, which clearly demonstrates both the need and a growing European interest.

Time for transnational team talks – Together at Naturum Vattenriket

After nearly 2.5 years of project implementation, APRIORA is in the middle of transfer while finalising all parts of the Risk Assessment framework adapted to piloting feedbacks. Therefore, we dedicated our main conference day to transnational exchange on regional transfer activities.

The meeting location Naturum Vattenriket was a golden choice for vivid discussions on how the project results can live on after the project period, and how this can best be highlighted at the upcoming final conference.We exchanged our stories from Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Finland and Germany to identify common strategies, new pathways and established networks to successfully transfer not only the solution but also our practices: From results to legacy. For many project partners, this is the first time that one year of implementation is reserved for transfer activities to enable an uptake of our result into policy. Additionally, APRIORA has great timing providing a solution related to new regulatories installed at EU level, such as the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD). We would like to take advantage of these opportunities!

A particularly appreciated and welcome element during the intensive workday was the guided tour by Sussie Söderlundh from Naturum, who, with great knowledge and enthusiasm, described the biosphere area and the environmental work carried out there. Her tour was so inspiring that some participants got up at dawn the next morning and set out on the Linné trail, equipped with binoculars.

Study visit to modern wastewater treatment plant – technology in practice

Wednesday concluded with a study visit to the new central wastewater treatment plant (CRV) in Kristianstad, one of the most modern facilities in Europe, featuring advanced biological treatment assisted by membrane technology. The highly purified water from the membranes creates favorable conditions for future installation of pharmaceutical removal. Lasse Svensson from the treatment plant guided us in a very pedagogical and engaging way, answered participants’ questions in detail, and clearly demonstrated the pride associated with the facility.

“Perhaps it was precisely the unique whole of Kristianstad that made the strongest impact, how research, understanding, and action are truly interconnected, and the ambition and quality that characterize everyone’s work.” Ola Svahn, Kristianstad University and APRIORA Project Partner. 

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