Eurecat wins European hackathon with project to predict Covid-19 outbreaks through wastewater analysis

• The Minister for Business and Knowledge, Àngels Chacón, met this Monday with the board members of the technology center to analyze the projects promoted to face the health emergency.
• According to Chacón, "Eurecat is an example of how to join forces to overcome the pandemic through innovation and technology: only through a knowledge society we can guarantee a future of progress".
• Among the projects in which the technology center has participated to deal with the health emergency caused by Covid-19 are the development of masks, protective screens and respirators, as well as their participation in the Orfeu program.

Catalan technology center Eurecat, which has the support of Catalonia Trade & Investment, has won one of the categories of the European hackathon #EUvsVirus organized by the European Innovation Council with a project that enables the prediction of Covid-19 outbreaks through the analysis of wastewater using artificial intelligence (AI) and microbiology tools. This solution called Sewers4COVID -developed together with researchers from the KWR Water Research Institute, the University of Exeter, the University of Thessaly and the National Technical University of Athens- is aimed at predictive management to anticipate the outbreak and evolution of the pandemic.

The event has brought together researchers, organizations, investors and civil society virtually with the aim of developing new innovative solutions to coronavirus-related challenges. In total, more than 27,000 participants from over 50 countries have registered for the event.

Precisely, the Minister for Business and Knowledge, Àngels Chacón, met this Monday with the board members of Eurecat to analyze the projects carried out by the technology center in the framework of the health situation caused by Covid-19. The general director of Industry, Matilde Villarroya, and the CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, Joan Romero, also took part in the meeting.

During the work meeting, Chacón emphasized that "Eurecat is an example of how to join forces to overcome the pandemic through innovation and technology: only from a knowledge society we can guarantee a future of progress". The Minister stressed that "Eurecat contributes to increase the capacity of industrial research and technology in our country, as it responds to the technological demand of Catalan companies and helps them to enlarge their innovative capacity". According to the head of Business and Knowledge, "technology centers are a key player in technology transfer and knowledge transfer to our businesses". "Eurecat represents a country project that not only contributes to boost the competitiveness of our business fabric, but in exceptional situations such as the current one, it is key to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic", she said.

Among the initiatives in which Eurecat has participated there are their collaboration in the development of different types of reusable masks, protective screens and respirators, as well as the coordination of tests to validate these products. Moreover, the technology center also participates in the Catalan Government’s Orfeu program to promote the mass screening of the population with the aim of detecting Covid-19. The center has also collaborated in the development of telemedicine solutions to contribute to the improvement of health and social care. In addition, Eurecat has made donations of protective equipment to hospitals and nursing homes.

Eurecat, which brings together more than 650 professionals and serves over 1,600 companies, has the TECNIO certification issued by Catalonia Trade & Investment, an accreditation that identifies the most qualified technological agents with experience in business projects so that companies can identify them and promote technology transfer in Catalonia.