14 Mar MI-TRAP Kick-Off Meeting: A Collaborative Start for Cleaner Urban Air
In Athens, MI-TRAP, the recently launched Horizon initiative dedicated to Mitigating Traceability of Pollutants from Transport Emissions, embarked on its mission for a healthier urban environment. The two-day kick-off meeting, held as a hybrid event on February 6th and 7th, 2024, at the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, brought together over 50 participants representing 26 partner organizations from 10 European countries and South Korea.
MI-TRAP in a Nutshell
MI-TRAP, under the European Commission’s Horizon Innovation Action – Climate, Energy, and Mobility, addresses the challenges of urban air pollution, especially in areas heavily affected by transport emissions. With a budget of 5.5 million euros and coordination led by Kostas Eleftheriades of the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, the project emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise.
Day 1: Innovation
The kick-off day, filled with enthusiasm, focused on the project’s commitment to innovation. Coordinator Kostas Eleftheriadis set the tone, presenting detailed work packages that highlight MI-TRAP’s multi-dimensional approach. Each work package leader had the opportunity to outline the scope of their work, charting a roadmap for the upcoming stages. A lunchtime visit to an observation site provided a hands-on experience, offering valuable insights into ongoing research initiatives within the PANACEA network. The day concluded with an online introduction from EU Officer Alex Ghiurca, shedding light on CINEA, Horizon EU, and the broader project implementation.
Day 2: Collaborative Insights
The second day welcomed inspiring projects presenting their work to foster collaboration and shared expertise. Highlighted projects included RI-URBANS/ACTRIS-RI, ATMO-ACCESS, and the EASVOLEE Project. Each project contributes to the overarching goal of enhancing air quality and addressing the impact of pollutants on human health.
As the MI-TRAP initiative progresses, the collective efforts and solutions deliberated upon in the kick-off meeting establish a promising foundation for effectively addressing the complexities of transport-related air pollution.