Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Date of latest update: 2025-10-06

Description

Description (EN):

SMEs are the core of economic growth in IPA ADRION regions. However, they lack in benefitting from science – business collaborations and in the framework of the quadruple helix innovation system. On the other hand, SMEs are considered pivotal in the development of innovative solutions and the uptake of those developed in university and research centres. The MISSION4WATER multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral strategic partnership aims to unlock the innovation potential of SMEs all across IPA ADRION countries fostering collaboration among diverse actors in the innovation ecosystem and cross-border and cross value chain collaborations. Doing so, MISSION4WATER contributes to supporting a smarter Adriatic and Ionian Region by strengthening the innovation capacity of the region. The thematic focus of the project is the development of green innovation and clean technologies, with particular attention to reducing pollutants dispersion in water. In fact, the IPA Adrion region is intrinsically linked to natural waters with its rivers and seas. Although the diverse efforts devoted to study the problem, there is still a huge gap in awareness and know-how related to how to deal with it. In addition, the solutions available on the market and the current actions are limited to solving specific issues of isolated value chains. Typically, these solutions are effective for a specific problem but have drawbacks if analysed from a wider perspective. Conversely, it is necessary to tackle the problem from different points of view, with a holistic and coordinated approach, where different actors from diverse value chains interact to create new interconnected solutions. A combination of supporting actions will foster the collaborative approach of the quadruple helix system, towards the joint development of innovative solutions tackling the issue of pollutants dispersion in water. MISSION4WATER aims at radically innovating 4 complementary value chains: polymers transformation, garments and textiles, household appliances, and water treatment and depuration. By fostering cooperation among SMEs and other organizations, it will be possible to identify new applications for available competencies, as well as the adoption of emerging technologies, thus possibly leading to the emergence of novel industries. Leveraging on the different planned activities, MISSION4WATER will be a large “co-innovation lab” where SMEs will receive support to generate and capitalize on all forms of knowledge and relevant emerging technologies. MISSION4WATER will accelerate the innovation led by SMEs through innovation services, multi-sectoral and cross-border collaborations, peer-learning activities and regional-tailored services to achieve a common goal, steered by a unique overall vision. This, in turn, will lead to the following changes to the current situation: 1) The adoption of the MISSION4WATER Co-Innovation model, a collaboration model, which will constitute the reference towards the establishment of long-lasting and effective goal- and innovation-driven collaboration ecosystem with organizations from the quadruple helix. 2) The MISSION4WATER Co-Innovation model is the product of the joined action against pollutants dispersion in water and the best practices learned during the execution of three iterative cycles of use cases involving knowledge sharing, matching expertise and collaborative open innovation. The actors involved will have a shared vision on the impact of water pollutants and on the potential synergies and contributions to tackle such environmental challenge through their businesses or institutional activities, while enhancing their competitiveness. 3) The establishment of an agreement signed by at least 5 organizations reached within the project, to ensure continuity of the collaboration model after the conclusion of the project. 4) The activities of the co-innovation labs will lead to the development of original solutions addressing one of the following areas: (i) Awareness and behavioural changes; (ii) Preventing Microplastics release; (iii) Preventing other pollutants release; (iv) Mitigating Microplastics release; (v) Mitigating other pollutants release. In total we expect to develop 20 innovative solutions; of these, at least 10 will be uptaken by project partners and/or other organizations. The key innovative aspects of the MISSION4WATER project lie in the following features: - Shared knowledge and joint vision with representatives of all parties of the quadruple helix on the priorities to tackle the pollutants dispersion challenge; - Cross-borders and cross-sectoral original solutions boosted by the connection of 4 value chains; - Joint cooperation among different quadruple-helix players in the perspective of setting up pilot innovation initiatives. MISSION4WATER will enable the reciprocal knowledge exchange among the 4 value chains and within all the actors developing new forms of cooperation led by a single main purpose.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Project implementation started in September 2024, immediately after the signature of Subsidy Contract. A pre-Kick-off Meeting was held on-line on 18/9/2024; while the first consortium meeting in person was co-organized by the lead partner POLIMI and project partner ROLD on 4-5/11/2024. Both occasions were extremely useful to recap the project objectives, expected outputs and results, and the planned activities. The Project Officer was invited to attend and kindly contributed with an introduction to the IPA ADRION programme. Start-up activities have been carried out, i.e., the appointment of the Steering Committee with representatives from all Consortium Partners, appointment of the Advisory/Scientific Committee with members representing all the countries involved, the definition of a communication team led by project partner ZeroWasteMontenegro and the signature of Partnership Agreement with Partners. Coordination of the project was guaranteed by POLIMI. To do so, an Activity Coordination Committee has been set up and it meets on-line at monthly basis. In the first semester it met four times: 26/11 and 18/12 2024, 15/1 and 12/2 2025. Further on-line calls were organized with WP Leaders and/or Partners. The “Quality Methodologies & Procedures” for a proper project management and coordination were drafted and shared within the partnership. All partners ensured the compliance with communication obligations foreseen by the Programme, namely the project description was published in the institutional websites of the partners, and the project posters were placed in a visible place at the partner premises. Further dissemination activities were carried out using the project webpage on the IPA-ADRION website and through social channels (mostly Linkedin and Instagram). Concerning project implementation, it started by properly addressing the specific needs of each SME and initiating interactions with SMEs by involving them in the M4W initiative. Surveys were conducted through 63 interviews with various stakeholders in the 7 project countries. An updated analysis of the Innovation Scoreboard 2024, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in the target countries was carried out and global best practices in cross-value chain initiatives as well as policies and initiatives supporting SME growth were reviewed to inspire new collaborative approaches for SMEs. The analysis also focused on water pollution in the Adriatic Region, identifying key hotspots and highlighting the need for SME-driven sustainable solutions. National policies addressing water pollution were reviewed across four areas: - wastewater treatment, - textile industries, - household appliances, and - civil society engagement. These were assessed in light of EU directives and regional initiatives. Then, the Consortium focused on defining training topics and formats, developing materials, and piloting training activities by structuring the project’s training strategy based on stakeholder needs identified in the framework of previous activities. Various formats were proposed, from lectures and webinars to co-innovation events and mentorships, consolidated into a Training Framework. Partners also develop initial training materials, forming the foundation of a Training Library to be expanded in future phases. Preparation and start the execution of training events was ensured. Partners collaborated on agendas, speaker proposals, and logistics, ensuring alignment with broader project goals. While most training sessions are planned for future phases, initial sessions have already started in some countries. In addition, the definition and planning of matchmaking events, allowing SMEs to interact with stakeholders from different sectors to discuss challenges and innovation opportunities, was done. In total, eleven matchmaking events have been planned, two of which took place in the first reporting period. In the framework of Co-Innovation Labs, POLIMI led their launch by defining guidelines for selecting innovative projects and developing an online application system. The first call for proposals was launched on 13/2/2025 ensuring a broad international dissemination. The assessment of the proposals and the start of the collaborative projects is planned for the second period. Furthermore, all partners engaged in networking activities with projects and consortia they were already in contact with. An initial mapping of EU-funded projects, networks, innovation platforms, and stakeholders relevant to water pollution mitigation has been launched to explore collaboration initiatives.

Project outputs: MISSION4WATER STRATEGY
(EN)
MISSION4WATER Co-innovation lab model pilot action(EN)
MISSION4WATER Co-Innovation model(EN)
MISSION4WATER Ahead(EN)

Thematic information

Water management SME and entrepreneurship Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-B_IPA-A_1) Supporting a smarter Adriatic Ionian region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 012 Research and innovation activities in public research centres, higher education and centres of competence including networking (industrial research, experimental development, feasibility studies)

Partners (10)

Lead Partner: Politecnico di Milano

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999879881

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 04376620151

Department: Mechanical Engineering Department

Address: Via La Masa, 20156 Milano, Italy

Department address: Via La Masa, 20156 Milano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.polimi.it

Total budget: EUR 500 440.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 425 374.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 066.00

Fondacion Milieukontakt Shqiperi

Name: Fondacion Milieukontakt Shqiperi

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 928502334

Partner’s ID if not PIC: L01311454H

Address: Xhorxhi Martini, Pall Teuta Konstruksion, 1017 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.milieukontakt.org

Total budget: EUR 88 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 74 970.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 13 230.00

Istarska razvojna agencija – IDA d.o.o.

Name: Istarska razvojna agencija – IDA d.o.o.

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950584190

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR90084809413

Address: Mletačka ul., 52100 Pula, Croatia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.ida.hr

Total budget: EUR 148 381.26

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 126 124.07

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 257.19

Contractors:

Name: TRI M d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 86475294363

Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje

Name: Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje

Department: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 996827485

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR22910368449

Address: Ivzna Lučića, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.fsb.hr

Total budget: EUR 160 674.10

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 136 572.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 101.12

Crna Gora bez smeca

Name: Crna Gora bez smeca

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 884180318

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 11017410

Address: Vuka Karadžića, 81000 Podgorica , Montenegro

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://zerowastemontenegro.me/

Total budget: EUR 112 448.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 95 580.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 16 867.20

Privredno društvo Institut za hidrotehniku d.d. Sarajevo

Name: Privredno društvo Institut za hidrotehniku d.d. Sarajevo

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 881629218

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 200608910003

Address: Stjepana Tomića , 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.heis.ba

Total budget: EUR 130 460.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 110 891.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 569.00

ТРГОВСКО ТЕКСТИЛНО ЗДРУЖЕНИЕ – ТЕКТСТИЛЕН КЛАСТЕР

Name: ТРГОВСКО ТЕКСТИЛНО ЗДРУЖЕНИЕ – ТЕКТСТИЛЕН КЛАСТЕР

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 928641723

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4029003127004

Address: Goce Delcev , 1000 Shtip, North Macedonia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://tta.org.mk/en/

Total budget: EUR 84 620.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 71 927.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 12 693.00

Planet Care, rešitve za okolje d.o.o.

Name: Planet Care, rešitve za okolje d.o.o.

Department: N/A

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 905723242

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI47707470

Address: Stegne, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Department address: Stegne, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.planetcare.org

Total budget: EUR 153 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 130 220.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 22 980.00

Elettrotecnica ROLD S.r.l.

Name: Elettrotecnica ROLD S.r.l.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 901339909

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT 04924270152

Address: via della Merlata, 20014 Nerviano, Italy

Department address: Viale Decumano, 20157 Milano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.rold.com

Total budget: EUR 197 788.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 119.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 29 668.20

Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje Sveučilišta u Zagrebu

Name: Fakultet strojarstva i brodogradnje Sveučilišta u Zagrebu

Department: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 996827485

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR22910368449

Address: Ivzna Lučića, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.fsb.hr

Total budget: EUR 160 674.10

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 136 572.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 101.12

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Foundation Milieukontakt Albania

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

Istrian development agency – IDA ltd.

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

Zero Waste Montenegro

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

Business Company Hydro-Engineering Institute shareholding company Sarajevo

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

TEXTILE TRADE ASSOCIATION – TEXTILE CLUSTER

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

PlanetCare Ltd.

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

ROLD

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

Politecnico Milano

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Partners and Projects info

University of Zagreb - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture

Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Project acronym: MISSION4WATER

Project ID: IPA-ADRION00219

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

CRESCENTO (2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Adriatic – Ionian)
https://crescento.adrioninterreg.eu/
(EN) | CRESCENTO addresses the challenges related to a shift of paradigm towards Circular Economy by setting up an ADRION transnational cooperation network on Circular Economy, defining an education and training program and developing a joint master's program on Circular Economy and involving the quadruple helix.
MISSION4WATER LP has already established a synergy with Prof. Luca Ferrarini, CRESCENTO's project coordinator, who will be also involved as a member of MISSION4WATER Scientific Committee. For instance, MISSION4WATER team members delivered a lesson and a workshop in the Summer School on June 29-30, 2023).
The synergy will be extended by creating training materials to be shared between the two projects and in the mutual interactions between the partners of the two projects.
(EN), PMI Network (Interreg V-A Italy-Switzerland 2014-2020 Cooperation Program)
https://www.pmi-network.eu/
(EN) | The main targets of the project are SMEs at the cross-border region, between Italy and Switzerland employed in the secondary and tertiary sectors. SMEs targeted are in the value chains of metalworking, textile, mechatronics, and fashion. The objective is to foster permanent infrastructure that facilitates R&D in SMEs and leads them to be competitive in a global market.
The project coordinator of MISSION4WATER project has collaborated in the PMI-Network project and will create synergies with MISSION4WATER in order to leverage the institutional members (such as Chambers of commerce, industrial associations, etc) to spread the knowledge about MISSION4WATER and reach as many SMEs as possible to be involved in MISSION4WATER initiatives.
(EN), OIS-AIR (Interreg ADRION – ADRIATIC-IONIAN)
https://oisair.adrioninterreg.eu/
https://www.oisair.net/
(EN) | The project established the Open Innovation System of the Adriatic Ionian Region and a Hub&Spoke network to develop centres for innovation providing entities with services for innovation activities.
MISSION4WATER will strive for creating a synergy with the project to share possible innovative services, to leverage their competencies and involve the OIS-AIR project partners in WP4 activities (co-innovation labs) whenever possible and in line with MISSION4WATER objectives.
In addition, MISSION4WATER will explore the possibility to ask OIS-AIR innovation centres to include among their services also those provided by MISSION4WATER.
(EN), VANGUARD INITIATIVE
https://www.s3vanguardinitiative.eu/
(EN) | The Vanguard Initiative is a unique alliance that gathers 38 of the most advanced industrial regions in Europe, focused on stimulating industrial innovation and building European value-chains based on complementarities in regional smart specialisation strategies. AP1 AFIL is member of this initiative and will create the synergy with MISSION4WATER project so as to spread the knowledge about the MISSION4WATER objectives and results towards the institutional members of the initiative. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 576 211.36

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 339 779.65

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Stakeholder needs and requirements – Cycle one
Mapping of existing systems, initiatives and policies – Cycle one
MISSION4WATER Priorities for Cycle one
Stakeholder needs and requirements – Cycle two
Mapping of existing systems, initiatives and policies for Cycle two
MISSION4WATER priorities for Cycle two
Stakeholder needs and requirements – Cycle three
Mapping of existing systems and finding gaps for Cycle three
MISSION4WATER PRIORITIES for Cycle three
Training modalities and tools for Cycle one
Workshops and webinars for Cycle one
Training modalities and tools for Cycle two
Workshops and webinars for Cycle two
Media of Workshops and webinars for Cycle two
Training modalities and tools for Cycle three
Workshops and webinars for Cycle three
Media of Workshops and webinars for Cycle three
Planning and organization of matchmaking events for Cycle one
Matchmaking events for Cycle one
Planning and organization of matchmaking events for Cycle two
Matchmaking events for Cycle two
Planning and organization of matchmaking events for Cycle three
Matchmaking events for Cycle three
Calls for innovative projects for Cycle one
Selection results and project proposal overview for Cycle one
Co-innovation labs Portfolio of Cycle one
Calls for innovative projects for Cycle two
Selection results and project proposal overview for Cycle two
Co-innovation labs Portfolio of Cycle two
Calls for innovative projects for Cycle three
Selection results and project proposal overview for Cycle three
Final Co-innovation labs Portfolio
Networking and joint events organization – v1
Networking and joint events organization – v2
Best practices for a stronger collaboration among the quadruple helix
MISSION4WATER Business models
MISSION4WATER Agreement for long-lasting collaboration

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion MISSION4WATER contributes to one of the EUSAIRS’s objectives: To support regional cooperation, to boost economic development, improve connectivity, and enhance security. Indeed, MISSION4WATER is intrinsically conceived as an initiative aiming at supporting cross-border and cross value chain collaboration of entities from the quadruple helix in order to unlock SMEs innovation potential and increase the resilience of economic actors in the region by addressing sustainability oriented objectives. MISSION4WATER will support capacity building across entities from diverse regions through knowledge sharing initiatives (WP2), matchmaking events (WP3) and co-innovation labs (WP4). Within WP5, the MISSION4WATER Co-innovation model will describe the jointly developed solution and the actions needed for it to be upscaled to enable replicability of MISSION4WATER model.
Moreover, MISSION4WATER contributes to Flagship Action ISO, Specific objective ISO 1-6.63: Support networks, platforms and clusters also created by projects funded by ADRION to facilitate the exploitation and spread of knowledge, experiences as well as to encourage cooperation with mainstream programmes, Interreg or programmes directly funded by the European Commission. This will be made possible thanks to the Scientific Committee that will be established and will involve experts from different areas and value chains, including the representatives of funded projects with similar approaches and especially through Activity 5.1 that aims at creating networking with other EU projects and initiatives so as to amplify the impact of all the initiatives in the regions.
EuropeanGreenDeal MISSION4WATER will contribute to the European Green Deal by supporting a strong and full mobilisation of industry in contributing to the development of green innovation and clean technologies. This will in turn mean opening up new possibilities for new green and sustainable economy and businesses. The European Green Deal has also a focus on value chains as those related to plastics and textiles in order to analyse and then reduce microplastic release from textiles. Therefore, MISSION4WATER will fully contribute to this ambition. Eventually, MISSION4WATER will also play a significant role in mobilising research and fostering innovation. This will be achieved through goal-driven co-innovation labs.
Other SMEs are now asked to speed up their transformation towards sustainability in terms of environmental and social impact from diverse stakeholders, especially the largest company who have to account for their sustainability performance and are asked to include in their analysis the full value chain. Nonetheless, SMEs are still not equipped with adequate methods and tools to deal with and manage the actual societal, economic and environmental complexity nor they are adequately involved in sustainability transformation processes. On the contrary, according to “An SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe; COM (2020)”, SMEs should lead these processes, as the contribution of medium-sized enterprises could have an impact to speed up the process towards a resilient and sustainable European society. MISSION4WATER, especially through the training activities organized in WP2, will support the knowledge sharing and improvement of know-how of SMEs so as to enable them to deal with all the sustainability issues.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B IPA Adriatic-Ionian

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-06

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

646 / 646 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Multidisciplinary strategic partnership providing innovative SolutIons to reduce pOllutants dispersion in WATER

Description

Thematic information

Partners (10)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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