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Belgian SME offers its expertise in biodiversity and pollution for H2020 European Green Deal call and other applications

Country of Origin: Belgium
Reference Number: TOBE20200918001
Publication Date: 21 September 2020

Summary

A Belgian SME has developed expertise in biodiversity and pollution monitoring. Using bees as natural drones in a scientific approach, it proposes quantitative metrics and follow-up tailored made strategic advice. In Research cooperation agreements, their tools and expertise are offered for impact monitoring of EU projects in particular for H2020 European Green Deal Call projects. Commercial contracts with technical assistance are also offered to compagnies and cities in Europe and USA.

Description

Monitoring the environment via bees in a scientific approach, the Belgian SME proposes quantitative metrics of the biodiversity and of pollution. It then offers to companies and cities nature-based solutions and strategies to create value, increase biodiversity on-site, lower pollution (& pesticides) and impact positively local stakeholders. They have experience in different sectors such as water production, farming, quarries, recycling, industrial sites, construction and infrastructure, food, smart cities...



The SME has developed a successful business model and is already selling the tool to large well-known enterprises in different sectors. It is already monitoring 50 000 hectares in about 100 sites per year. They have clients already in 7 EU countries and in the USA. They have experience in applying to Horizon 2020 and LIFE. 



They are looking for consortia applying for the H2020 European Green Deal Call to work under a research cooperation agreement. 

The innovation can indeed contribute to at least 3 goals of the European Green Deal:  

1. Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity 

2. Realising a zero pollution ambition and a toxic-free environment 

3. Transition to a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system.

The SME would take up the role of partner in the project proposal, in particular to monitor progresses of projects to be submitted under the following topics : 

-	LC-GD-6-1-2020: Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy 

-	LC-GD-7-1-2020: Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services

-	LC-GD-8-1-2020: Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals 

-	LC-GD-10-3-2020: Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement, subtopic 2. 

Their advisory capacity and past experiences in biodiversity regeneration and sustainable agriculture could also be particularly relevant for topics 6.1 and 7.1. The monitoring tool has already been tested for chemicals in relevance for topic 8.1. For topic 10.3, as already planned in their development strategy, they could further develop one of their tool to support citizens ‘ observation.



Beyond the Green Deal Call, their expertise could also be used more broadly for internal evaluation of environmental European projects (biodiversity, pesticides, pollution... with quantitative indicators) in Horizon Europe, LIFE…. 



The tools are also offered to compagnies and cities in the framework of commercial agreement with technical assistance for development of remediation projects.

Advantages and Innovations

The SME added value is twofold :  

- The monitoring via bees allow to monitor the environment on large surfaces at a low price. They can detect heavy metals, pesticides, radioactive elements, kind of plants (including invasive plants), quality of these plants for the environment,...  

- The team composed of experts in biodiversity regeneration (plants, pollinators, etc) and sustainable agriculture provide advice to clients willing to integrate the biodiversity preservation in their activities with innovative tools (mapping tools, biodiversity model canvas, etc) and a strong scientific expertise and network.



Their monitoring and impact have been reviewed and received already 7 national and international award including from Solar Impulse.

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Stage Of Development Comment

Tool and services already on the market but for Green Deal topic 10.3 the tool could be further developed into an application for citizens.

Requested partner

The Belgian SME is looking for a coordinator with a consortium that is planning to submit a proposal for the European Green Deal Call (https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2018-2020/main/h2020-wp1820-cc-activities_en.pdf) particularly for the following topics:

-	LC-GD-6-1-2020: Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy  

-	LC-GD-7-1-2020: Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services

-	LC-GD-8-1-2020: Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals

-	LC-GD-10-3-2020: Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement, subtopic 2. 

The SME would like to contribute to the projects as partner in charge of the monitoring of the impacts of the projects . 

They need the other partners of the consortia to manage the project and develop the solutions required by the topic texts.. 

However, for topic 10.3, the own tool could be further developed in the framework of the project to foster citizens’ observations. For this topic, other partners would be needed to develop the other activities foreseen in the topic texts notably for citizens engagement. 

Beyond the Green Deal Call, they could assess progress of other environmental  projects with quantitative indicators in Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg…. 

Finally, commercial agreement with technical assistance can be offered to smart cities and compagnies in a broad range of sectors : water, agriculture, real estate, industries, food.  These compagnies and cities should made land available for the monitoring and be interested in the co-development of a strategy to reduce pollution and enhance biodiversity.