The partners of the European project CisWEFE-NEX held their second consortium meeting on November 20 and 21 in the Portuguese town of Faro to take stock of the progress of the various work packages and visit the area where the 𝗖𝗶𝘀𝗪𝗘𝗙𝗘-𝗡𝗘𝗫 (Circular systemic water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus) demonstrator will be installed. This project will analyse the interdependence between water, energy, and food security and ecosystems while providing highly valuable scientific information for the development of green policies, applying the principles of the circular economy in regions with severe water stress within the scope of the European Union’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI).

The program of the meeting, which included the participation of the twenty beneficiary entities, was divided into two blocks. During the first day, the partners had the opportunity to get to know firsthand the site where the demonstrator will be installed, a six-hectare area located in Mexilhoeira Grande, belonging to the city of Portimão. Following the signing of the transfer agreement, the consortium showcased the initiative to local authorities at a press conference.

The second day’s agenda included topics such as the project’s technical challenges, the communication and dissemination strategy, and administrative procedures and justifications.

CTA’s role

In this project, CTA has a transversal role, participating in the strategy for replicating the demonstrator in the scalability, dissemination, and transfer phase of the case study results. In parallel, the foundation, as a “CCRI Fellow,” will contribute to positioning and projecting the initiative in relevant working groups. From the foundation, Julia Vélez (right), R&D+i project technician, and Paula Rosa (left), Innovation consultant, attended.