A pioneering chair is created at the University of Valencia that connects water and bioenergy to address environmental challenges.

The Green Horizon Chair: Water-Bioenergy Nexus is now a reality. Promoted by the University of Valencia, and with the support of two leading companies in these sectors, Facsa y SitraThe chair was created as a strategic response to current challenges in the sustainable management of water and biowaste and represents a space where “Science, technology, and talent come together to generate knowledge and solutions linked to a greener future and resilient for water, energy, and the planet.”

This is how the Rector of the University of Valencia, María Vicenta Mestre, defined the chair during the formal signing ceremony, which was also attended by Elena Llopis, advisor of Facsa; Jose Claramonte, general director of Facsa; Ricardo Sáez, general director of Sitra; Rosa María Donat, vice-rector of Innovation and Transfer of the UV; Josep Ribes, director of the newly launched chair and Guillermo Berlanga, director of Innovation of Nealis, the company to which Facsa and Sitra belong.

This is an alliance between the university and the company designed to bring research closer to the realities of the water and bioenergy sector, promote knowledge transfer, and support talent development. “We firmly believe in collaboration with the university as a way to transform knowledge into real solutions for society. This chair, the third established by Facsa and the first by Sitra, will allow us to continue innovating and contribute to the training of professionals prepared to face the challenges of the future of water and bioenergy,” said Elena Llopis.

Regarding its lines of research, the chair will focus on developing solutions related to the treatment of wastewater and organic waste, prioritizing processes that allow for better use of these resources. In this area, advanced technologies will be investigated to optimize sludge management and boost biogas and biomethane production. “Our goal is for the chair to be a platform for promoting innovative solutions that improve these processes and contribute to accelerating the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy,” added Josep Ribes during the event.

This signing marks the official creation of the Green Horizon Chair: Water-Bioenergy Nexus, for which its team has been working for months on the development and projects that will emerge from this initiative. In this context, the Chair has already held its first technical conference, an event that allowed students from the University of Valencia to learn firsthand about the main challenges and opportunities in sectors that also demand viable solutions from a technological and energy perspective. This initial contact can be further strengthened with new activities linked to the Chair, curricular and extracurricular internships, and access to an industrial doctorate that will integrate academic research with projects applied to the business environment.

The event also served as a platform for the sponsoring organizations to share their experience in the field of the circular economy, focusing on the development of biomethane as a key driver of the energy transition. The meeting included the participation of Calagua, the research group affiliated with the chair, as well as other relevant stakeholders in the Valencian innovation and bioeconomy ecosystem, such as AINIA and Bioval. These organizations highlighted key points such as the promising future of talent linked to the bioeconomy, the specific opportunities and challenges it presents in the Valencian region, and the region's alternatives for technological entrepreneurship.