SCENARIOS project coordinator Francesco Dondero accepted the invitation for the “R&I for a Competitive Green Transition” that was as a satellite event of the European Research and Innovation (R&I) Days 2025. The conference showcased tangible solutions for Europe’s green transition that are enhancing citizens’ quality of life, boosting EU economic competitiveness, and implementing the EU Green Deal. The event was aimed at the scientific community, policy makers, industry, and very important also to civil society. Around 450 attendessa tt he Charlemagne building attended the event on the 23rd and 24th June.
On 24 June, the breakout session “Fresh Water and Clean Oceans: Success Stories and Lessons Learned” offered a show-and-tell of EU-funded solutions powering the blue strand of the Green Deal. Prof. Francesco Dondero showcased SCENARIOS advances:
- Pillar 1 – ultra-sensitive SERS and electro-chemical microsensors that detect PFAS at parts-per-trillion levels;
- Pillar 2 – a comparative toxicity matrix ranking 34 understudied PFAS congeners for regulators;
- Pillar 3 – an integrated remediation train that first concentrates PFAS via physical separation (adsorption and membrane filtration) and then achieves > 99 % destruction through low-energy cold-plasma oxidation.
This unique event brought together decision-makers, stakeholders, and thought leaders from across Europe and beyond to discuss how Research & Innovation is enabling the green transition and shaping a competitive, sustainable future for Europe.
