REMEDIES 5.0 launches a new phase of European waterfront restoration
A new European research and innovation project, REMEDIES 5.0 – Integrated and People-Centred Waterfront Restoration for a Resilient European Blue Economy, officially started on 1 September 2026. Building on the achievements of the original REMEDIES project, the new initiative expands its scope from plastic pollution to a broader set of challenges affecting Europe’s rivers, coasts, ports and waterfront cities.
The National Institute of Chemistry coordinates the REMEDIES 5.0 consortium, which brings together 52 partners from 15 European countries. The four-year project has a total budget of €16.75 million, including an EU contribution of €15.42 million under the Horizon Europe programme.
REMEDIES 5.0 directly contributes to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”. While the original REMEDIES project focused primarily on plastic litter, REMEDIES 5.0 addresses four interconnected challenges: pollution, degradation of marine and freshwater ecosystems, the linear model of the blue economy, and the growing disconnect between communities and their waters.
At the centre of the project is a people-centred approach that combines scientific and technological innovation with active participation by local communities. REMEDIES 5.0 will demonstrate an integrated portfolio of more than 20 innovative solutions across 13 demonstration sites in Europe. These will range from advanced pollution monitoring and treatment technologies to nature-based ecosystem restoration, circular solutions for waste streams, digital tools and citizen science.
The demonstration sites span different geographical and environmental contexts, from inland rivers and urban waterfronts to ports, islands and coastal ecosystems. In Slovenia, activities will include demonstration sites in Kranj and Velenje, focused on urban river and lake circularity, as well as Koper, where the project will address the sustainability of a multipurpose port.
A key principle of REMEDIES 5.0 is the Source-to-Sea approach, which considers pollution and ecosystem pressures along the entire path of water — from inland rivers to estuaries, coastal areas and the open sea. By linking individual demonstration sites into a wider European network, the project aims to develop solutions that can be tested, adapted and replicated in different regions.
The project will also establish Living Labs and involve citizens, public authorities, research organisations and companies in the co-design and validation of solutions. Through this collaborative model, REMEDIES 5.0 aims to support the transition of European waterfront cities and ports towards greater ecological health, climate resilience and a more circular blue economy.
The project will run for 48 months, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2030.
