Laura varisco – PROTECT

Harnessing innovation for Water Management from space: Introducing the PCP WISE Project

Laura varisco — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:53:29 +0000

We are excited to announce that the PCP WISE project has been selected under the call HORIZON-CL6-2024-GOVERNANCE-01-5. This project will play a key role in advancing the European Green Deal’s objectives by enhancing the use of Environmental Observation (EO) data and products. Officially starting at the end of 2024, PCP WISE will run for 36 months, bringing together 26 partners, including 12 public buyers, from 10 EU countries. The allocated budget is 19 M €, including 12M€ for financing the R&D phases of the PCP.

PCP-WISE is coordinated by Barrabés.biz and the lead procurer is STOWA, from the Netherlands, bringing and sharing its case study and experience on earth observation applications for soil-water vegetation systems.

Building on PROTECT’s legacy

The PCP WISE project builds on the activities, documents, case studies, tools and achievements of PROTECT CSA. Notably, PROTECT established a community of 120 public buyers and e-catalogue featuring over 200 suppliers, which will be pivotal for PCP WISE.

Project overview

PCP WISE aims to develop and implement cutting-edge water management solutions using space and EO data. The project targets Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 solutions to tackle water-related crises such as floods and fires. Key objectives include creating common operational information products, developing interoperability mechanisms, and building an active user network to boost climate resilience across Europe.

Objectives and Key results

PCP WISE is driven by a set of clear objectives:

Encourage public buyers to work with the market to prototype, demonstrate, and evaluate new climate impact solutions.

* Expected results: Enhanced capacity-building, customised space-based Soil-Water systems, and improved crisis response inputs.

Develop solutions that enhance decision-making in water management.

* Expected results: Comprehensive business case documents, updated analyses of current technologies, and targeted market exploitation.

Facilitate public buyers in achieving shared strategic goals through coordinated procurement.

* Expected results: Reduced demand fragmentation, aligned procurement processes, and competitive service offerings.

Provide tools for better water management and climate adaptation.

* Expected results: Effective governance models, deployment of relevant digital data, and strengthened science-policy interfaces.

Promote and scale up the adoption of PCP WISE outcomes to tackle water distribution challenges.

* Expected results: Comprehensive dissemination and communication packages, extensive training activities, and standardisation recommendations.

Engaging stakeholders

A vital component of PCP WISE is its commitment to stakeholder engagement. Building on the network established by PROTECT, the project will involve new beneficiaries. A Stakeholder Observatory Group will be established to provide continuous feedback and ensure solutions meet market needs; therefore we invite all interested parties to join us!

For more information, please contact info-protect@group-gac.com

Pioneering solutions for Climate Resilience: Highlights from the PROTECT Final Event

Laura varisco — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:28:42 +0000

Presentations

Replay

The final event of the PROTECT project, held on June 11th, brought together a diverse array of experts, stakeholders, and public buyers to discuss the significant advancements and outcomes of the project. The focus was on innovation procurement and the role of pre-commercial procurement (PCP) in fostering new solutions, particularly in climate change adaptation and Earth observation (EO) technologies. Here are the highlights from this significant gathering. The event took place in the framework of the EXPANDEO Conference 2024, in Brussels, organised by EARSC.

Opening Remarks

The event started with welcoming remarks by PROTECT’s Project Officer, Erwin Goor from the European Commission/Research Executive Agency, and Project Coordinator Marc Pattinson from G.A.C. Group. This was an opportunity to showcase PROTECT’s achievements and bridging them to the forthcoming results of the PCP call and the subsequent follow-up project. Their introductions set the stage for a day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities.

Panel 1: How Pre-Commercial Procurement supports climate change adaptation

The first panel, moderated by Stefka Domuzova from EIT Climate-KIC, explored the intersection between climate change adaptation efforts and PCP. This session aimed to elucidate how public authorities can leverage PCP to develop tailored EO-based solutions for climate adaptation challenges.

Cristobal Reveco, a climate adaptation scientist from GERICS, discussed the importance of high-resolution data and funding for local authorities to create effective adaptation plans. Nora van Cauwenberg, an expert in water and sustainable development highlighted the role of existing initiatives, such as MIP4Adapt and NetZeroCitiesEU, and new regulations such as the EU taxonomy and climate risk disclosure in driving private sector involvement. Thanh-Tâm Lê from EIT Climate-KIC emphasised breaking organisational silos to build consistency and shared understanding between community actors, public, and private sectors. The panel concluded with a discussion on how public procurement can drive adaptation projects by lowering risks and attracting private investment through blended finance and public guarantees.

Panel 2: How Innovation Procurement can boost development

Moderated by Jozef Kubinec from the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic, the second panel delved into the role of innovation procurement in fostering the development of new solutions. This session provided a comprehensive overview of innovation procurement, PCP, and procurement of innovative solutions (PPI), crucial for stimulating research and development.

Lieve Bos, a Policy Officer from the European Commission, explained these concepts, followed by concrete examples from the health and security sectors. Samira Boussetta, Innovation Procurement Expert, shared practical examples of PCP and PPI in the health sector, highlighting their frequent application. Bernhard Jäger, from SYNYO, compared the stages of PROTECT and iProcureSecurity, offering insights into the future of PROTECT PCP. Finally, Vassilis Tsanidis, from the European Innovation Council, introduced the new Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme of the EIC, presenting exciting opportunities for European public buyers and EIC beneficiaries.

Panel 3: Earth Observation for innovative climate solutions and governance tools

The third panel, moderated by Remco Timmermans from SpaceSide, brought together key stakeholders to discuss how EO data can contribute to innovative climate adaptation solutions and governance tools. The session gathered representatives from space agencies, funding bodies, and academia to highlight the benefits and applications of EO data.

Franz Immler from the European Commission’s DG RTD, Emmanuel Pajot from EARSC, and Annalisa Donati from EURISY discussed how EO data could be pivotal in developing climate services that help adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change. The discussion emphasised the importance of EO data in creating informed decision-making tools for both public and private sectors.

Networking sessions

After the morning sessions, participants had the opportunity to network and interact with various stakeholder groups, including PROTECT project partners, PCP WISE buyers, EO providers, and representatives from other EU projects VALORADA, CLIMAAX and Climateurope2.

Presentation of PROTECT Key Exploitable Results

Post-lunch, the event featured a presentation on the PROTECT project and its Key Exploitable Results. Marc Pattinson from G.A.C. moderated this session, which showcased the four main outcomes developed by the PROTECT CSA project. These include the PROTECT Community of climate services procurers, the e-catalogue of EO-based climate service providers, the toolkit of awareness-raising and capacity-building resources, and the guidance and recommendations for future actions. Each of these results was explained in terms of their added value and potential for further reuse in the upcoming PCP project.

Panel 4: From PROTECT CSA to PCP WISE

The final panel, moderated by Matty van Sloten, from Corvers Procurement Services, gathered public buyers from the PROTECT community who are part of the PCP WISE Consortium. This discussion centred on the challenges proposed in the PCP application and the development of prototype solutions based on EO data.

Hans van Leeuwen from STOWA elaborated on the PCP WISE project’s aims to address water-related issues such as drought and water excess in both rural and urban settings. Hugo Goncalves from Forum Virium Helsinki and Valentina Schippers-Opejko from the City of Haarlem provided insights from an urban perspective, emphasising the need for integrated approaches to tackle climate-related challenges. Martin Tuchyna from the Slovak Environmental Agency discussed the regional impacts of floods and wildfires and the preventative measures they hope to implement using EO data.

Watch the replay of the session here.

The final event of PROTECT underscored the significant role of innovation procurement and EO technologies in addressing climate change and fostering innovative solutions. The discussions highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the need for continued investment in research and development to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

Two new deliverables published !

Laura varisco — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:06:22 +0000

We are excited to announce the publication of two new deliverables on the PROTECT Knowledge Hub!

D3.2 Orientation Paper
This document outlines the strategic implementation of Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) and Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) to tackle four major challenges with significant climate and procurement impacts. It details the preparatory phase activities, adhering to the European Assistance For Innovation Procurement initiative’s methodology, which includes needs identification, state-of-the-art analysis, open market consultation, business case development, and procurement strategy design. The key challenges identified for procurement focus on floods, fires, water management, and sustainable resilient infrastructure, with PCP recommended as the primary instrument due to the necessity for R&D to meet functional requirements.

D3.3 Report on Results of WP3
This report provides a comprehensive summary of the preparatory steps for innovation procurement. It covers identifying unmet needs, engaging with the market through open consultations, and developing business cases to justify pre-commercial procurement (PCP). The report emphasises four primary procurement challenges—floods, fires, water resilience, and sustainable infrastructure—highlighting innovative technological solutions and methodologies derived from extensive state-of-the-art analyses, market feedback, and strategic planning to bridge the gap between supply and demand in climate services.

Visit the PROTECT Knowledge Hub to access these insightful documents and stay informed about our latest efforts and findings.

Save the date! Final Online Workshop for EO-Based Climate Services Providers

Laura varisco — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:23:12 +0000

Breaking News: PROTECT Unveils Final Online Workshop for EO-Based Climate Services Providers

The PROTECT team is thrilled to announce its much-anticipated final online workshop, set to convene the thriving community of EO-based climate services providers who actively participated in the PROTECT project activities!

Key Highlights of the Event:

Outcomes Presentation: Dive into the unveiling of project outcomes directly relevant to providers.
Next Steps Preview: Gain exclusive insights into the next steps for providers, preparing them for the Horizon Europe Pre-Commercial Procurement project scheduled to commence in Q1 2025. (HORIZON-CL6-2024-GOVERNANCE-01-5: Customisation/pre-operationalisation of prototypes for end-user services in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation).

Strategic Collaboration Opportunities: Selected providers for the PCP project will receive funding for their R&D services, fostering collaborative efforts to develop prototypes for end-user services in the crucial area of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.

Networking and Collaboration:

B2B Matchmaking: The event is a strategic platform for providers to establish connections, engage with peers, and explore synergies and complementarities.

Event Details:

Date: 13 February 2023
Location: Online
Registration Deadline: 09 February 18:00 CET

Who Should Attend?

EO Providers
Climate Service Providers
Climate Scientists
Researchers
Policy-Makers
Climate Enthusiasts

This workshop is an unparalleled opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts alike to contribute, learn, and network in the realm of climate services procured through innovative procurement approaches.

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3vKqNZN

Don’t miss out on this exciting event! The PROTECT team eagerly awaits your presence. #ClimateServices #InnovationProcurement #PROTECTWorkshop #ClimateAction #HorizonEurope

PROTECT D2.3 – 10 Online Trainings and Accompanying Material is Now Available

Laura varisco — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:00:32 +0000

We are thrilled to announce the release of the PROTECT Deliverable D2.3, which features a comprehensive series of 10 Online Trainings and Accompanying Material.

Developed by the EIT Climate-KIC (CKIC), this public deliverable is a pivotal component of our ongoing commitment to enhancing climate resilience and innovation procurement.

Key Highlights of the Deliverable:

Innovative Training Curriculum: Designed to empower public and private organisations in understanding and managing climate change, Earth Observation (EO), and innovative procurement.
Comprehensive Coverage: Topics range from the basics of pre-commercial procurement (PCP) to advanced aspects like integrating climate services into broader societal needs.
Broad Dissemination: Shared across PROTECT’s social channels, newsletters, and partner networks for maximal reach and impact.
Recordings Availability: All webinars are accessible on the PROTECT website for continued learning and reference.

Gain Knowledge:

We invite you to explore this invaluable resource. Public buyers can gain inspiration and knowledge to spearhead climate action through innovative procurement. We extend our gratitude to our consortium partners for their significant contributions to this achievement.

Stay Updated:

For the latest developments and to access the training materials, visit our Training Curriculum repository.

PROTECT cross-cutting analysis of drivers and barriers is published

Laura varisco — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:00:25 +0000

PROTECT Deliverable 1.2 Cross-cutting analysis of drivers of the demand for climate services and barriers looks into the climate services market, in particular at the drivers and barriers of the demand, and how these interact and influence each other in various dimensions, such as climate and procurement policies, perception of climate risks, existing market solutions and other elements.

To create the possibility for innovative climate change mitigation and adaption solutions the intersections of the following aspects were considered:

1 – EU policies in the five PROTECT domains

2 – Climate challenges in European regions

3 – EO-based Climate service in the five selected domains

As a result, the cross-cutting analysis was used as a base to develop a methodology and provide some examples of cases where there is need of Pre-Commercial Public Procurement. These include:

Challenges presented by water scarcity
Supporting the transition towards green energy
Waste management and related storage issues
Flooding in coastal areas
Illegal waste dumping
Detecting climate vulnerability in agriculture and planning resilience.

The Deliverable is public and is now available on our Knowledge Hub.

Public buyers can take inspiration from the methodology presented to further explore possible scopes of application as well as learn about the companies offering innovative solutions.

Thank you to the consortium partners who contributed to this remarkable achievement.