The coordinating beneficiary, Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” (SZN), based in Napoli (IT), is the leading marine environment and biodiversity research centre in Italy. SZN research involves the production and processing of marine biological resources, scientific diving, mesocosms and field research facilities, studies on extreme marine habitats, discovery of marine natural products for biotechnological applications, monitoring of marine environmental status and operation of research vessels for training and sampling.
SZN coordinated the ABBACO project, which characterised the contamination in the sediments of Bagnoli and represents the scientific baseline for the development of LIFE SEDREMED. In this project, SZN will be the principal coordinator and responsible for the sampling process, providing the laboratory, mesocosm and ship facilities for actions implementation.
Invitalia is the National Agency for Inward Investment and Economic Development. It is owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy. Invitalia aspires to boost Italy’s economic growth, focusing on strategic sectors for development and employment. It is committed to reviving crisis areas and operates mainly in the South of Italy. Invitalia manages all national incentives that promote the creation of new companies and innovative startups. It finances small to large projects, targeting entrepreneurs with concrete development plans, especially in innovative and high added-value sectors. Invitalia provides services to the Public Administration for timely disbursement of EU and national funds, as well as in promoting cultural heritage. Invitalia is the Purchasing Body and Contracting Authority for the strategic execution of actions at the local level.
Invitalia has been appointed as the governmental executive agency for the Environmental Rehabilitation and Urban Regeneration Program of Bagnoli-Coroglio. The goal of the plan is to valorise, through decontamination and regeneration actions, the geographic, landscape, environmental, social and cultural resources of the area, with the objective to restore quality of life and well-being for citizens.
Within LIFE SEDREMED, Invitalia is responsible for the permitting & procurement action (A2) and in general for developing synergies between project results and the main decontamination plan.
Idrabel is a Belgian biotechnology company that develops, produces and markets biotechnological products allowing in-situ biodegradation of all industrial and domestic organic pollution in wastewater, sludge and sediments. Idrabel’s technology is based on the unique bio-fixation method, which allows to immobilise different microorganisms on natural mineral supports.
LIFE SEDREMED will enable the implementation of the technology in an unconfined bay, thereby enlarging the application field of bio-fixed microorganisms. In this project, Idrabel will provide to the partnership its engineering team to develop a specific mix of microorganisms and mineral supports adapted to the contaminants present in Bagnoli and to the sediment physical and chemical characteristics.
EKOGRID OY, was established in 2009 and the Head Office is located in Helsinki, Finland. It is the sole owner of the IPR related to the EKOGRID™ Technology, which utilises electrochemical phenomena to generate chemical radicals and electro-osmosis to increase the availability of organic contaminants for bioremediation, chemical degradation or mechanical removal. During these years EKOGRID has developed applications, based on its own technology, to treat several different organic pollutants under various environmental conditions.
For LIFE SEDREMED, EKOGRID will create an electrokinetically enhanced bioremediation process that can work under severe environmental conditions at Bagnoli Bay. The system must work in harsh physicochemical conditions and tolerate severe marine weather. EKOGRID will be coordinating the on-field implementation of selected technologies in the contaminated areas (action B2).
The Polytechnic University of Marche (UNIVPM) includes 12 Departments spanning in the research areas of Life and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Economics and Medicine. The Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSVA) participating in this project owns high-qualified laboratories operating in the fields of marine biology and ecology, marine chemistry, ecotoxicology and conservation and restoration of marine environments. UNIVPM has extensive experience in analysing the ecology and biodiversity of benthic communities, assessing the impacts of contaminants at different levels of the marine food webs and in developing strategies and tools for impact assessment, and ecosystem remediation/restoration.
Within LIFE SEDREMED, DiSVA will provide background knowledge on the study area, will be involved in the design of the mesocosm and in-situ remediation experiments and in the monitoring of the efficiency of the remediation through integrated approaches (based on chemical, ecotoxicological and biological analysis).
ISODETECT GmbH is a spin-off company from two German research centres (HMGU Munich, UFZ Leipzig) and was founded in 2005. It investigates degradation processes and contaminant sources at polluted sites. With on-going technological developments in environmental remediation, ISODETECT supplies analytical and scientific know-how to provide evidence, characterise and quantify the natural and stimulated transformation of pollutants as an integral part of clean-up technologies.
In LIFE SEDREMED Isodetect will be leading action C1 (Monitoring and measuring of the LIFE project key performance indicators and remediation results) and will implement techniques of Compound-specific Stable Isotope Analysis (CSIA), Stable Isotope Probing (SIP), metabolite detection and in situ microcosms (BACTRAPS) to elucidate biological and geochemical processes in subsurface compartments.
Nisida Environment Srl is a start-up working on the transfer and implementation of innovative environmental technologies, environmental compliance and environmental strategic communication. Nisida Environment was created to enhance the transfer and replication of environmental innovation in southern Italy and in the Mediterranean area. The company focuses on environmental remediation projects and wastewater treatment. To foster the transfer and replication of technologies the company also specialises in the fields of communication, event organisation, stakeholder engagement, citizens engagement and environmental divulgation.
In LIFE SEDREMED Nisida will lead actions of replication and technology transfer (B4) and Dissemination (D1). Nisida will also be responsible for structuring and launching the MEDREHUB (the Mediterranean Remediation & Innovation Hub) together with SZN and Invitalia. Finally, Nisida will ensure that local residents are informed and actively involved in the decontamination & regeneration plan of Bagnoli.
Life4MarPiccolo (Italy, 2014) piloted an innovative membrane-based purification system to restore a 2,100 m² area of the Mar Piccolo coastal basin, heavily polluted by steel and petrochemical industries. The project offers key insights for SEDREMED, given the similar contamination profiles between Mar Piccolo and Bagnoli. By testing low-impact, marine sediment remediation techniques and developing a replicable intervention protocol, Life4MarPiccolo advanced sustainable coastal zone management in industrialized areas. Collaboration could support mutual learning on technology implementation and adaptive environmental strategies.
The SEKRET Life (2012) project demonstrated the treatment of contaminated dredged sediment using electrokinetic remediation (EKR) at the Port of Livorno, targeting heavy metals and hydrocarbons. A pilot plant treated 150 m³ of sediment, achieving removal rates of up to 95% for contaminants like Ni, Zn, and PAHs. Volume was reduced by 50% using electro-osmosis, lowering disposal needs and costs. Treated sediment was considered for reuse in habitat restoration, construction, or recreational areas. The project highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of EKR over landfilling, offering insights and potential innovations relevant to in-situ remediation approaches in similar port environments.
The LIFE SURE project (Sweden, 2015) demonstrated a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable method for retrieving and recycling sediments in shallow eutrophic waters, using a slow-flow, automated dredging system with minimal environmental impact. Operated remotely or on-site, the system prevents sediment resuspension and can be used by non-professionals. The project showed potential for sediment reuse in construction and agriculture, though limitations remain for edible crops. The LIFE SURE system could enable safer and more economical dredging in contaminated sites. Its replicable model and mobile setup offer valuable insights for future interventions in similar environments.
The LIFE GREENSITE project (2010) successfully demonstrated innovative, compact technologies for the decontamination of marine and river sediments excavated from the industrial canals of Porto Marghera, Venice. Using supercritical fluids—specifically water and carbon dioxide—the project achieved over 90% pollutant removal efficiency without generating harmful waste. The process eliminated more than 99% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and over 95% of extracted contaminants. A pilot plant was developed, showing promising environmental and economic performance. These technologies offer a solvent-free, mobile, and sustainable solution for sediment remediation, contributing to the implementation of key EU directives on water, waste, and industrial emissions.
The GREENLIFE4SEAS project stems from the urgent need to find sustainable solutions for two major environmental concerns: the management of 200 million m³ of sediments, often contaminated, dredged annually in the EU, and the disposal of 490,000 tons/year of shells, one of the most impactful wastes in EU aquaculture. The project aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility, safety, and commercial viability of innovative solutions for the in-situ recovery and reuse of dredged sediments and shells, transforming them into secondary raw materials through an optimized mixing technology, creating new sustainable products for the construction sector.
The SURRICATES project, launched in 2023, aims to enhance sediment reuse for erosion and flood protection in North-Western Europe (NWE). The project will provide authorities, port and waterway managers, and erosion experts with large-scale solutions for reusing sediments in NWE ports, waterways, and coastlines. With climate change, erosion, and flood risks increasing, there is a growing need for effective mitigation strategies. Currently, 99% of dredged sediments in the EU are discarded, but in this project, 220,000 tons of sediment will be repurposed for flood and erosion protection. The project will support the development of sediment reuse strategies and evaluate their long-term impact in regions like the UK and the Netherlands.
LIFE TREASURE, funded under the EU INTERREG programme, shares clear synergies with LIFE SEDREMED in its aim to improve environmental quality in Mediterranean ports by addressing sediment and water pollution. Focusing on the fragile environmental state of port areas, TREASURE promotes an integrated approach that combines environmental assessment, stakeholder involvement, and the testing of innovative remediation techniques. Its transnational dimension and emphasis on practical pilot actions align closely with SEDREMED’s work in Bagnoli. The exchange of methodologies and findings between the two projects can support mutual learning, strengthen regional cooperation, and contribute to replicable strategies for sustainable port remediation across the Mediterranean.
MISTRAL, funded under the EU’s INTERREG 2022 MED program, focuses on developing a Mediterranean Innovation Strategy for transnational collaboration among clusters and networks in the Blue Growth sector. The project aims to enhance sustainable development in marine environments by fostering innovation and improving the management of coastal resources. By strengthening partnerships across the Mediterranean region, MISTRAL supports blue growth initiatives while addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges. Key objectives include boosting marine research and innovation, promoting eco-efficient technologies, and facilitating cross-border cooperation to create sustainable solutions for coastal and marine economies. It actively involves stakeholders from various sectors, including research and industry.
All the deliverables and results of the project are available to the public in our library section. The documents can be downloaded and include the technical description of the technologies, the strategic communication plan, the project management activities, the scientific publications produced and the remediation results obtained.
The LIFE SEDREMED project is co-funded by the LIFE Programme of the European Union under contract number LIFE20 ENV/IT/000572.
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since 1992, it has co-financed more than 5.500 projects including 120 projects for the protection, remediation and restoration of the marine environment. The LIFE programme represents a key instrument for the implementation of the EU Green Deal.
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