Three Mediterranean islands seek innovative solutions to combat Climate Change
Brač (Croatia), Crete (Greece), and Elba (Italy) launch sustainability challenges through the European project CO2 PACMAN, inviting companies and startups to submit proposals until May 15.
The islands of Brač, Crete, and Elba, with carbon footprints up to 40% higher than the continental average due to their dependence on tourism and limited resources, are already facing critical climate impacts: from the disappearance of beaches to extreme water shortages.
In light of this, the CO2Pacman project is launching 9 challenges to find innovative solutions to mitigate their environmental impact.
Funded by the Interreg Euro-MED program, CO2PacMan has identified various challenges in areas such as water management, sustainable mobility, renewable energy, and the circular economy.
Proposals can be submitted until May 15 on the Innovation Colab platform, where companies, startups, and research centers can not only submit their ideas but also collaborate with other participants to improve them.
The Challenges: From Water Scarcity to Sustainable Tourism
In Brač, a Croatian island that suffers losses of up to 40% of its drinking water due to outdated infrastructure, the main challenge is to find affordable technologies to reduce this waste. Additionally, firefighters in Supetar are looking for more effective methods to extinguish fires in electric vehicles, a growing problem with the expansion of clean mobility.
Crete, on the other hand, faces tourism pressure that generates more than 1.5 million tons of waste annually, according to regional data. For this reason, hoteliers and municipalities are demanding intelligent systems to manage organic waste and replace the use of peat (a non-renewable material) in agriculture.
Meanwhile, in Elba, known for its beaches and vineyards, the challenge is to decarbonize the tourism sector. The company Acqua dell’Elba, famous for its fragrances inspired by the island, is leading an initiative to organize carbon-neutral events, while winemakers are researching how forests can help vineyards adapt to climate change.
The most promising solutions will have the opportunity to be presented at the Business Forum in Valencia, where they can connect with other entrepreneurs and companies, potential investors, and island representatives. They will also be interviewed for the project’s website and podcast to increase visibility for their businesses.
How to participate:
Interested companies can consult all the challenges and requirements on the platform https://www.innovationcolab.eu/. The deadline to submit solutions is May 15, 2025, and selected solutions will be invited to Valencia on June 25, 26, and 27.
For more information:
https://co2pacman.interreg-euro-med.eu/
