EIT AllWaters – a new wave for Europe’s water future  

Europe faces a crucial decade for water and the blue economy, with EIT AllWaters leading the way. As the chosen consortium for EIT Water, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community, AllWaters aims to protect water resilience, promote breakthrough innovation, and view waters as drivers of sustainable growth. For K2 Solutions, partnering in this community means helping Europe tackle its key water challenges.

EIT Water – driving solutions for Europe’s water future  

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology launched EIT Water, a new community focused on water, marine, and maritime ecosystems. After a competitive call in January 2025 and expert evaluation, the EIT Governing Board selected the AllWaters consortium in November 2025 to address water scarcity, droughts, floods, and ecosystem degradation. EIT Water will provide entrepreneurial education, foster startups, and support innovation-driven research, connecting education, research, and business to boost the blue and circular economy. It aligns with EU partnerships and missions, adopting an integrated approach across inland waters, coasts, and oceans, highlighting the interconnection of our water systems.

A pan-European community with local roots  

EIT Water will unite 50 European partners, including universities, research groups, companies, ports, clusters, NGOs, and authorities, creating a vibrant community for ideas, talent, and investment. It will establish eight Co-Location Centres in Aarhus, Leeds, Berlin, Antwerp, Vienna, Šibenik, Málaga, and Varna, providing regional gateways into a Europe-wide network for innovators, students, and entrepreneurs. This structure allows startups working on nature-based flood protection or smart port solutions to access support across regions and the entire EIT ecosystem, sharing testbeds, markets, and expertise. For coastal and maritime areas like where K2 Solutions operates, this offers a platform to turn local knowledge into solutions with European reach.

Ambition backed by long-term investment

EIT Water’s scope is shown in its financial and impact goals. It will receive up to €5 million in startup funding through 2026 to establish governance, operations, and a business plan, with full operations launching in 2027 under EIT’s support. Funding will decrease as EIT Water attracts more investment and nears financial sustainability, a model already proven by other EIT Communities in climate, energy, health, and urban mobility. By 2033, EIT Water aims to see hundreds of innovations marketed, dozens of startups created, and over a thousand startups and scale-ups supported, while preventing economic losses from ecosystem degradation through smarter water solutions.

K2 Solutions – proud to be part of something big  

K2 Solutions values its partnership in AllWaters as both recognition of expertise and a chance to shape a European water and maritime response. Our focus on maritime economy, water transport, and environmental protection aligns with EIT Water’s goal to connect science, industry, and regions around a blue-economy vision. Through AllWaters, we co-create solutions for ports, coasts, and inland waterways, support startups and researchers, and promote innovation in Baltic and European maritime regions. We are proud to contribute our knowledge and energy to this initiative, helping ensure Europe’s water future is resilient, innovative, and sustainable.

From 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027, PortSHAZ addresses environmental hazards in dry bulk cargo operations across South Baltic ports, building on ongoing research.

Tackling regional environmental risks

Ports in the South Baltic handle over 45 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo annually. A 0.05% leak releases 22,500 tonnes of fertilizers and 2,250 tonnes of phosphorus each year, fueling eutrophication, algal blooms, hypoxia, and economic losses. The PortSHAZ project aims to cut leakages by up to 25%, reducing environmental and financial risks.

Typical problems include uncovered transfer points (hoppers, chutes, conveyors), insufficient drainage without filters, regulatory deficiencies under MARPOL Annex V (fertilizers not deemed harmful), and fragmented responsibilities among operators, authorities, and municipalities.

Joint framework across borders

Led by Elbląg Sea Port Authority Ltd. (Poland), the consortium includes Race For The Baltic (Sweden, initial designs and best practices), Coastal Research and Planning Institute (CORPI, Lithuania, hazard analysis), INWL Non-Profit Institute (Germany, logistics strategies), and Port of Vordingborg (Denmark, pilot testing and design improvement).

K2 Solutions drives technical innovation, spanning sites in Poland’s Pomorskie/Warminsko-Mazurskie, Sweden’s Sydsverige, Germany’s Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lithuania’s Klaipeda, and Denmark.

K2 Solutions’ central contributions

K2 Solutions leads WP3’s CargoShield, managing research, prototyping, pilots (Elbląg, Rostock, Vordingborg), analysis, and recommendations. They designed the prevention cover with HDO/composite plywood, pine lattice, SBR lining, steel frames, swivel wheels, and a TK800 container, optimized for small ports and tough conditions. K2 coordinates pilots, refines designs using KPIs such as leakage reduction, and contributes to WP2 publications, including “Clean Ports,” supporting dissemination through workshops, networks, and guidelines. Stakeholder engagement with authorities, industry, and environmental groups fosters collaboration and smooth port implementation. Their hands-on work—from Gdansk prototypes to field testing—ensures practical, scalable solutions integrated into daily operations.

Ambitious scope and long-term reach

PortSHAZ’s phases span from early reviews (2024-2025) to strategies (2026-2027), aiming for regional adoption beyond partners. It tackles system barriers like underreporting, inertia, and funding gaps through data tools, training, and policy efforts (HELCOM BSAP, EU Water Framework Directive). Advances like CargoShield help close port leakage issues. By project end, expect validated tech, SOPs, and monitoring, with solutions scaled regionally and nationally to reduce hazards. A post-project plan ensures sustainability through local partnerships, training, supervision, and funding efforts. A task force and consortium members will regularly review and improve practices. K2 Solutions’ involvement helps PortSHAZ deliver lasting, eco-efficient improvements in the South Baltic.

The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Budget of K2 Solutions: 223 250 EUR

Co-financing for K2 Solutions from ERDF: 178 600 EUR

The project is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the Internationally Co-Financed Projects Programme (PWM).

Project title: Enhanced Eco-Efficient Cargo Operations /Zwiększenie Ekologicznej Efektywności Operacji Przeładunkowych

Project number: STHB.02.02-IP.01-0005/23-00

Co-financing for K2 Solutions from PWM: 174 921 PLN

Date of signing the contract: 12.09.2025

PortSHAZ Seed Money: A catalyst for greener South Baltic Ports

Launched on May 1, 2023, and completed by August 31 under the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2014-2020, the PortSHAZ Seed Money project achieved milestones in addressing port cargo leakage—fertilizers, grains, sand, and coal. A concept paper and an international workshop helped meet objectives. With over 45 million tons passing through Baltic ports annually, even small spills threaten the South Baltic Sea’s ecosystem.

The driving partnership and key roles

PortSHAZ Seed Money was founded by four organizations from Poland, Sweden, and Lithuania, each bringing unique strengths. Led by the Port of Elbląg, the project leveraged experience from South Baltic initiatives like Transport Loops and INCONE60 to coordinate efforts and showcase growth after the Vistula Spit channel’s completion. The next phase will focus on port infrastructure and sustainability. Race for the Baltic contributed expertise on Baltic Sea health, especially eutrophication, and will continue leading water quality projects. CORPI provided marine policy insights and impact assessments and will develop policies for small ports. K2 Solutions handled research, partnerships, promotion, and dissemination, analyzing cargo handling and exploring zero-emission and circular economy opportunities. Future efforts will refine these practices and promote innovative solutions for small ports.

In-depth activities and execution

The project reviewed frameworks and tools from ECOSHAZ and INCONE60 to identify data and practice gaps for small ports. A key event was a June 19-20, 2023, cross-border workshop in Elbląg and Gdańsk with 18 experts from Poland, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Day one covered VEEC cooperation, green tech, imports, prospects, fertiliser pilots, and regional analysis, including discussions and a port tour. Day two on a Gdańsk bay cruise focused on tasks, budget, documents, studies, and partnerships. The team will finalize the concept paper and engage stakeholders for PortSHAZ implementation. Stakeholders can stay involved by attending meetings and exploring partnerships.

Tangible results and impacts

These efforts resulted in full task completion, a stakeholder network (including Vordingborg and Ramboll), and a concept paper on risks and mitigations with four work packages and outputs like publications, pilots, and strategies. It addressed SME needs for hazard mitigation, cost-effective tech, and knowledge, raising awareness and positioning small ports as green leaders.

Vision for the full-scale future

We plan a 36-month PortSHAZ project with seven partners, focusing on management, cargo analysis, technical solutions, and SME strategies. Aiming for less pollution, higher efficiency, and replication, approval is pending. Stakeholders are invited to give feedback and show interest to support collaboration and the project’s success.

Imagine a busy Baltic city block with rooftops full of greenery, providing fresh produce for local tables. This highlights urban food production’s power. We complete our role in the URBAN-LOOP project (2021-2023), funded by the Swedish Institute, promoting circular economy via building-integrated agriculture (BIA) in the Baltic Sea Region. Led by UCV and Campus Roslagen AB, the project involved partners from Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and beyond, offering insights into sustainable urban food systems.

Project aims

URBAN-LOOP tackled key BSR issues like food import reliance, land loss from urban growth, water scarcity caused by climate change, and Baltic Sea eutrophication from agriculture. It promoted Building-Integrated Agriculture (BIA), integrating food systems into urban infrastructure. For example, aquaponics combines fish farming and plant cultivation for efficient, year-round urban food, water, and nutrient recycling, reducing environmental impact. These solutions embody a ‘safe and just space’, balancing human needs and ecological limits. Creating local loops with BIA boosts regional prosperity and sustainable urban development. These goals support the EU Green Deal, EUSBSR bio-economy, and UN SDGs 6, 9, 11-14, fostering urban resilience and growth.

Key goals

The project built stakeholder networks, co-created knowledge via workshops and visits, and identified pilot buildings for future BIA. Short-term outputs included country reports on circular farming, a regional synthesis, and groundwork for EU bids like Interreg or Horizon Europe. Next steps involve starting pilot implementations in mid-2024, ensuring insights lead to practical results. Coordination with stakeholders will focus on impact and sustainability.

K2 Solutions’ role

As the Polish partner, K2 Solutions built the stakeholder network, organized workshops (like September 2021 with Przywidz Commune and Green Gate on aquaponics), conducted research, shared information, and visited Sweden. With project management and environmental innovation expertise, K2 coordinated local efforts, including eco-municipalities and aquaponics facilities.

Project impact

Activities improved BSR resilience by sharing best practices, reducing nutrient runoff, and enhancing urban food security. K2 gained aquaponics skills in Poland’s limited facilities and formed future collaborations. Outcomes enabled pilots, funding, and Green Deal visibility, with the 2023 Riga event showcasing results and Transfarm discussions.
K2 Solutions thanks UCV and partners for their dedication, reinforcing commitment to sustainable maritime and green solutions.

The TRANSWATER project, funded by the Swedish Institute, successfully concluded in February 2021 after building transnational partnerships across Sweden, Poland, and Latvia to enhance water resilience in the Baltic Sea Region transitional coastal zones.

Project aims and importance

TRANSWATER tackled water issues in coastal zones near river mouths with partial salinity, crucial for ecosystems like wastewater treatment. These areas face risks from tourism, climate change, and poor wastewater management as summer cottages turn permanent. They experience water scarcity, eutrophication, salinity intrusion, and pollution, threatening the Baltic Sea, tourism, and human health amid rising temperatures and changing rainfall. Cross-border cooperation is vital for shared aquifers and the Baltic Sea, aligning with EUSBSR policies and UN SDGs on water and climate resilience.

Key goals and achievements

Goals included developing stakeholder networks, co-creating knowledge through workshops, and synthesizing regional water system recommendations. Achievements included country-specific workshops and detailed reports, such as K2’s analysis showing about 26,000 m³ of untreated wastewater discharge in Puck Bay annually. Cross-border exchanges identified causes like inadequate onsite systems and policy gaps. These findings, shared through reports and meetings, encourage stakeholders to adopt best practices to improve policies and infrastructure. Unplanned successes revealed stakeholders’ awareness of issues but lack of solutions, paving the way for adopting Swedish best practices.

K2 Solutions’ role

K2 Solutions, Poland’s partner, identified stakeholders like communes and water utilities, organized workshops, and researched seasonal tourism effects in Puck Bay and Hel Peninsula. They authored a report with recommendations on spatial planning, septic inspections, and awareness campaigns. These activities engaged mayors, environmental experts, and utilities, generating policy insights on illegal conversions and sewage issues, aiding the final synthesis.

Lasting impact and commitment

TRANSWATER’s reports and recommendations support resilience, influence local plans and EU funding bids. K2 Solutions focuses on Baltic water projects to promote sustainable tourism and environmental protection. Partners are encouraged to join follow-up meetings to discuss applying the recommendations, collaborate on new funding bids, or initiatives to ensure the project’s long-term success and sustainability.