The MEDWISE project held its kick-off meeting in Catania (Italy), bringing together partners to accelerate the transition to a circular, resource-efficient economy by piloting 3 innovative solutions across the Mediterranean regions
A new EU-funded initiative, MEDWISE – Mediterranean Waste Innovations for Sustainable Environments, has officially started under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, uniting partners from Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Palestine, to accelerate the transition to a circular and resource-efficient economy in the waste management sector across the Mediterranean region.
A two-day Kick-off Meeting was hosted by the University of Catania (Catania, Italy) with participation of representatives from all seven project partners.
MEDWISE brings together research centres and private actors to tackle the region’s mounting waste crisis, where most municipal refuse still ends up in landfills, by testing and scaling innovative, circular-economy solutions that save resources, cut emissions, and create green jobs.
The project will develop and implement three approaches:
Pilot actions will take place involving municipalities, associate organisations, and citizens across the partner countries, with common technology tests implemented throughout the six nations.
By facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange and building capacities among local authorities and businesses, MEDWISE will accelerate the transition to a resource-efficient, circular Mediterranean economy. The project also focuses on the human and social dimensions, engaging students, researchers, start-ups and local operators in different cultural contexts through training and awareness-raising initiatives to transform waste into opportunity.
“Our goal is simple but powerful: prove that waste can become a driver of innovation, competitiveness and sustainability,” said Prof. Giuseppe Mancini, project coordinator from the University of Catania – Lead Beneficiary of the project. “By sharing solutions that already work, combined with innovative approaches, we can move faster towards a greener, fairer Mediterranean.”
MEDWISE – Mediterranean Waste Innovations for Sustainable Environments is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme.
Last Update
11/12/2025
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