There is NO
Planet B

About Project

TwiNSol-CECs will generate the collaborative environment required for University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology Novi Sad (TFNS), Serbia, to increase and implement its research in the field of CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN (CECs). This will be accomplished by twinning under Horizon Europe programme with two EU research intensive institutions with strong expertise in the field:

  • Spanish National Research Council, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (CSIC), Spain, and
  • NOVA University Lisbon, NOVA School of Science and Technology (UNL), Portugal,

which eminent researchers will help TFNS to unlock the scientific potential through intensive networking, transfer of knowledge and technical expertise.

Surveillance of CECs and improvement of the removal technologies have important role in protection of humans and the environmental resources. Such efforts are in compliance with the European Green Deal (EGD) commitment for transition of EU to zero-pollution, toxic free environment. They are also in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Preserving the quality of water, air, and soil, protecting the drinking water sources, and promotion of the water protection, and pollution reduction from the source to tap, are among the priority actions of EU Strategy for the Danube Region. Water Law in Serbia follows the relevant EU directives, emphasizing the importance of the environmental protection on the very source and emission monitoring.
In order to achieve comprehensive, discernible results in the short- to medium-term resulting in long-term prevention and mitigation solutions for environmental and health concerns, it is necessary to fully mobilize available research, innovation and technological capacities across Europe, including those “excellence pockets” in lagging regions, as only harmonized research activities can bring solutions to systematic and ubiquitous problem of constant emission and accumulation of numerous CECs in the environment. TFNS recognized the need to reinforce the existing capacities in innovative CECs analysis and removal methodologies through collaborations and training with the EU top-class leading institutions in domain of environmental and sustainability research. Therefore, TwiNSol-CECs will enable TFNS to be more incorporated and recognized in the field of CECs.

CECs are chemicals that can enter the environment and cause adverse effects, but vast majority of them is still unregulated, and their fate, behavior, and potential impacts are still poorly understood. To ensure clean and healthy environmental resources (soil, food, surface and drinking water) throughout the world, knowledge on contamination distribution, pollution sources, and pathways should be constantly advanced through combining/sharing evidence and expertise from all regions as the only way to improve monitoring, prevention, control, and remediation methods. 

Due to the world population increase, the release rate of chemicals is gradually increasing; the society at large may assume that there is no need to care about CECs’ adverse effects since their concentrations are very low, but their toxicity is chronic and they are often translated across generations. The importance of the CECs monitoring in wastewaters is of high priority keeping in mind that worldwide wastewater discharges are increasing at tremendous rates due to population growth, higher living standards and an increase in water demand. Current pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 caused unexpected high peaks in the water use, while also the consumption of pharmaceutical products increased, influencing their higher levels in wastewater. Water stress levels will continue to increase as the effects of climate change intensify. With such trends, the global water resources are reducing day by day, while the challenges associated with CECs have received greater consideration due to their particularly adverse effects, even when exist in low concentration. This challenge is even more pronounced when utilization of wastewaters as unconventional water resources is considered to address water scarcity.

Objectives

The general objective of TwiNSol-CECs project is to raise the TFNS scientific and innovation excellence in various aspects of CECs research integrated in broader EU networks of excellence, contributing to national and regional scientific and economic growth and well-being and to the harmonization of advanced research and innovation efforts important for the overall faster and sustainable transition of whole Europe foreseen by European Green Deal (EGD) towards zero-pollution, toxic free environment.

There are five

specific objectives identified in the framework of
TwiNSol-CECs

1

To step up the excellence of the TFNS resources in field of the advanced environmental research, for better integration of Serbia and WBs in the EU networks of excellence

2

To intensify the strategic networking activities of TFNS with 2 top-class leading research institutions at EU level

3

To raise the scientific performance, visibility and attractiveness of TFNS and its staff within European Research Area (ERA)

4

To develop sustainable research management and administration capacities of TFNS for more competitive participation in different funding opportunities

5

To increase the proactive interaction of TFNS researchers with different stakeholders of interest in the environmental and sustainability research and to improve the TFNS creativity in new R&I approaches

Funded by the European Union

  • Title of the Project:

    TWINNING FOR ENHANCING THE SCIENTIFIC EXCELLENCE OF FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY NOVI SAD FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES FROM CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING CONCERN 

Acronym: TwiNSol-CECs
Start date: 1st August 2022
End date: 31st July 2025
Budget: € 1 432 937,50
Coordinator: TFNS
GA: 101059867

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EU executive agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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