The lack of water resources in many regions of Spain, especially in the region of Murcia, is a structural problem that we need to address through a holistic approach to managing and optimizing our water use.
On the one hand, it is necessary to establish new governance models based on comprehensive and sustainable management, betting on afforestation and long-term planning that allows for the implementation of vegetation covers that increase water infiltration and reduce runoff, which requires more investment in infrastructure. Maximize available resources and facilitate their distribution in a more equitable manner.
On the other hand, it is necessary to improve non-traditional water sources, both renewable, the region is already an international benchmark and focus on desalination. We must not ignore the development of structures that allow us to collect water during heavy rains… And, finally, we must commit to the development and implementation of technological innovations that improve the management and efficient use of all resources. Available water.
In this context, at Cajamarin Innova (www.cajamarinnova.es) we encourage the development of real solutions. As an incubator for high-tech water companies, Cajamar Innova aims to develop innovative solutions that address these challenges from a necessary technical and business perspective.
Among the key tasks of the startups incubated at Kazamar Innova that provide solutions at different levels of the integrated water cycle for agricultural, industrial or urban use, I would like to highlight the following:
• Watersheds, Hydrology and Drought Prediction: Technologies have been developed capable of detecting groundwater, software for sustainable management, even predicting and anticipating droughts.
• Management of supply and irrigation networks: they allow to reduce losses and optimize water and energy consumption with the help of artificial intelligence.
• Intelligent irrigation management platforms, as well as promote precision agriculture: based on data from sensors, drones and satellite images, they are capable of making more reliable recommendations on when and how much to water crops. To use significantly.
• Water treatment: this sector has a huge variety of technologies that allow the removal of contaminants from water such as microplastics; Biological treatment systems at WWTP and EDARI; Technologies for disinfection of irrigation water based on hypochlorous acid and ozone or oxidation enhancers (’nanobubbles’); Even purification into hand bottles for human consumption.
• Microorganisms and Microorganisms: They allow water to be purified or protect plants from drought.
• Moisture retainers, substrates and fertilizers: they help to use water better, reducing its consumption significantly.
• Monitoring technologies: they can be satellite, for example, to monitor water pollution or detect ground movements to prevent dam failure; or tools to continuously monitor waterborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli or Legionella.
• Water footprint traceability and certification.
• Water production: Technologies for producing water from atmospheric air, desalination of water by evaporation or using heat from computing devices as energy to heat water.
Since its launch in 2021, Kazamar Innova has launched three calls for projects, receiving more than 300 applications, 12% of which correspond to international initiatives. During this period, we have supported more than 160 companies, of which 62 have followed our incubation and acceleration programs and achieved direct impact in the real economy. By the end of 2022, we have led to the creation of more than 130 jobs and more than 80 million euros worth of wealth. In addition, we have organized more than 75 exchange activities, in which more than 5,000 people have participated, affecting more than 1,000 companies.
Precisely, thanks to our work at Cajamar Innova, we were recently awarded the best Spanish project co-financed with European funds.