About DesirMED

DesirMED - Demonstration and mainstrEaming of nature-based Solutions for climate Resilient transformation in the MEDiterranean - is a project funded under the Europe Horizon Programme.

DesirMED involves a multilevel set of actors in 5 Demonstrating regions and 3 Replicating Regions working hand-in-hand to increase ambition, ownership and capability of regional Mediterranean leaders and communities in their transformative adaptation journey. Nature-based solutions, innovative technologies and inclusive social practices are prioritized to enhance regional climate resilience.

In the context of the project, Adaptation Exhibitions are being organized, including the reward of students and young people for their innovative ideas.

The first Adaptation challenge organized by DesirMED is:
Innovative ideas challenge for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and urban water management for climate resilience.

DesirMED launches an open invitation for innovative ideas submission for students to respond in water management challenges in cities using NbS

Why Participate?

• Connect with experts, policymakers, and industry professionals at the Circle the Med Forum, on June 3-4, 2025, in Athens.
• Showcase your ideas on an international platform.
• Compete with talented students from across the Mediterranean region.
• The challenge winning team will be awarded. The prize is an invitation to attend the next DesirMED General Assembly (location to be announced) and present their idea. Travel expenses are covered

 

Who can participate?

Senior high-school  students and university students from Greece, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, France, Italy, Cyprus.

How to apply:

• Form a small team (2-3 persons) or apply individually
• Submit a brief concept proposal outlining your idea (more details below)
• Submission Deadline: 20 May 2025

Key Areas of Focus:

1. Urban Flood Mitigation & Stormwater Management

• Combining water bodies and green spaces to manage excess water.
• Smart Sponge Cities: Designing cities to absorb and store rainwater naturally.
• Permeable Surfaces & Rain Gardens: Innovative designs for roads, sidewalks, and public spaces.

2. Drought Resilience & Water Security

• Decentralized Rainwater Harvesting: Community-based water storage and reuse.
• Urban Wetlands for Water Retention: Enhancing urban ecosystems to retain and purify water.
• Green Roofs & Vertical Gardens: Capturing rainwater and reducing heat island effects.

3. Coastal & Riverfront Resilience

• Living Shorelines & Floating Ecosystems: Using plants and natural barriers for coastal defense.
• Restoring Urban River Corridors: Revitalizing rivers for water retention and biodiversity.
• Mangrove & Wetland Restoration: Strengthening natural barriers against storm surges.

4. Circular Water Economy & Sustainable Water Use

• Water Recycling in Buildings: Using NbS for greywater treatment and reuse.
• Nature-inspired Wastewater Treatment: Wetland-based filtration systems.

Structure of the proposal

A short summary of 150 words.

Proposed length of the detailed idea description: 800 - 1000 words.

Proposed sections

· Context and description of the selected city/region/territory

In this introductory section you must provide an overview of the selected city/region/territory, describing the existing socioeconomic conditions, its relation to the water management problems due to climate change and general challenges/needs to be addressed.

· Specific challenge to be addressed

In following, you should provide more details on the specific challenge that you selected to address/need to solve. You shall explain what the impacts of this problem are, what actors are involved/affected and provide information on actions already applied or planned in the area towards this direction (you can mention if they are fully successful or not, why, etc.).

· Description of an NbS (or combination of more solutions) to address the challenge

· Description of the implementation process

This section will be the core of your idea, where you have to analyze the steps followed for applying the solution in the selected area. Indicatively, you can refer to the following:

• Which actors will undertake the design, implementation and monitoring of the solution?
• Which actors will be the beneficiaries of the solutions, i.e., will benefit from its implementation?
• What are the steps needed to implement it?
• How will the implementation be funded?
• What are the long-term impacts foreseen from its implementation?

Evaluation criteria:

1. Concreteness of the need/challenge
2. Clarity and pertinence of the solution
3. Implementation steps realistically achievable and well explained

Each criterion will be evaluated via a 5-point evaluation scale (0-5 points).
A Committee composed by 4 members of the DesirMED Consortium will assess the submitted challenges in terms of the pre-defined criteria.

You will be contacted by DesirMED within May 2025 in case you are among the selected teams to pitch their idea during the Circle the MED Forum. For further questions, please contact desirmed@cmcc.it