The final conference will take place in Porto, Portugal, on November 21-22, 2024, at the NEYA Hotel. This event marks the culmination of four years of collaborative efforts funded by the Horizon 2020 program, during which innovative technologies were developed to tackle marine pollution and turn collected waste into valuable resources

MAELSTROM will hold its final event with a two-day conference in Porto, Portugal, on November 21-22, 2024, at the NEYA Hotel. This milestone marks the conclusion of four years of intensive work funded by the Horizon 2020 program, during which the consortium developed innovative technologies aimed at addressing marine pollution and transforming collected waste into new resources. The project has focused not only on technological innovation but also on assessing the environmental and social impacts of its activities. 

The first day will be entirely dedicated to showcasing the technologies implemented in the project. It will begin with an introductory session led by CNR-ISMAR, the project’s coordinator, followed by a presentation on the Bubble Barrier, featuring insights from the partners who contributed to its deployment. This innovative system, developed by TGBB, has been tested in the Ave River in Portugal and aims to intercept plastic waste in rivers before it reaches the ocean, without disrupting local ecosystems.   

A dedicated session will be organized to present the Robotic Seabed Cleaning Platform a cutting-edge technology developed by TECNALIA  and tested in the environmentally sensitive Venice Lagoon, Italy.  

The benefits of both these solutions compared to traditional cleanup methods will be discussed, thanks to the ecological impact assessments conducted by partners  CIIMAR and  CNR. The afternoon session will shift focus to the management of collected waste: TECNALIA will present an AI-driven sorting robot, followed by a session dedicated to recycling marine plastics, showcasing concrete examples of new products created through collaboration with industrial partners like GEES,  MAKEEN and ISDI. The day will conclude with an open discussion and a social dinner, providing participants with the opportunity to reflect on the project’s challenges and achievements. 

The second day will focus on the future outlook and legacy of the MAELSTROM project. It will start with a presentation by the European Commission on the Mission: Restore our Ocean and Waters, to which MAELSTROM has contributed, highlighting EU policy priorities for reducing marine litter. This will be followed by a session on the Global Plastic Treaty, an international agreement aimed at addressing the issue of marine plastics, presented by CNR-ISMAR.  CIMA Research Foundation and CIIMAR will then present MAELSTROM’s legacy document and policy briefs developed within the project aimed at supporting the adoption of innovative policies to address the marine litter issue. The morning will conclude with a roundtable discussionfeaturing experts and key stakeholders, including representatives from organizations such as AIRCENTRE , to discuss the future of the project and of the technologies developed. Finally, the conference will close with final remarks and a celebration lunch, where participants will have the opportunity to strengthen the relationships built during the project and explore future collaboration opportunities. 

These four years of work have demonstrated how scientific and technological innovation can make a concrete contribution to the fight against marine pollution. However, they have also highlighted that there is still a long way to go: plastic production has not slowed, and it continues to cause severe environmental damage, both through emissions and by polluting marine ecosystems. For this reason, our project cannot be considered a closed chapter: in addition to the ongoing commitment of all partners in this field, we aim to leave a legacy that goes beyond the technologies developed, encompassing a network of collaboration and shared knowledge that will be crucial in addressing future challenges. 

Here the Final Conference’s agenda