CALL FOR PROJECTS
4th Edition - 2025/2026
The H2O & Sustainability Innovation Hub Call for Projects
The H2O & Sustainability Innovation Hub promotes the implementation of technological and scientific solutions with a direct impact on water management, sustainability, mobility, energy, waste and tourism, with a strong focus on practical application and scalability.
REGULATION
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
STUDENTS CATEGORY
Undergraduate, Postgraduate or Master students from national and international Universities and Institutes that can include one more more professors as advisors (optional).
Groups can be composed of 1 to a maximum of 5 students of Graduation, Post-graduation or Master at universities or Institutes. The members of the group can be composed by students from different universities, levels of graduation and different areas.
Groups can optionally invite one or more coordinating professors (up to three).
Candidates who have completed their bachelor, postgraduate or master’s degree in the academic years 2023/24 or 2024/25 can participate in the 3rd edition of the H2O & Sustainability Innovation HUB Call for Projects.
PhD RESEARCHERS CATEGORY
Doctorates, doctorate students or researchers
To participate in Doctorates and Researchers category you need to:
-
Have a PhD/Doctorate degree; or
-
Attend in the present academic year (2025/2026) a PhD/Doctorate program; or
-
Be a researcher in a University, Institute or Research Center;
Applications can be individual or in group (up to five members).
STARTUPS CATEGORY
STARTUPS that are developing innovative products / solutions with high potential of growth / internationalization
Candidates must have a STARTUP already formed:
-
STARTUPS at different levels of development / TRL can apply to H2O & Sustainability Innovation HUB Call for Projects if they focus on the areas covered by the Water Sector, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Sustainable Mobility and Sustainable Tourism;
-
Early stages startups can apply but they need to have a clear market orientation and the vision to have a commercial product/service in a maximum time frame of 2 or 3 years.
NOTE: Participants are not allowed to compete simultaneously in Students Category, PhD and Researchers Category and STARTUPS Category with the same project.
AWARD
Access to the H2O & Sustainability Innovation Ecosystem
STUDENTS CATEGORY
1st Prize
The winning team project
will be awarded a prize of
5,500 EUR
(gross amount)
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
2,000 EUR
1,250 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
3,000 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
If the winning team develops their project under the supervision of one or more professor/
researcher they will be
awarded
500 EUR
(gross amount)
2nd Prize
The 2nd place team project
will be awarded a prize of
3,250 EUR
(gross amount)
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
1,250 EUR
750 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
1,750 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
If the team develops their project under the supervision of one or more professor/
researcher they will be
awarded
250 EUR
(gross amount)
3rd Prize
The 3rd place team project
will be awarded a prize of
1,850 EUR
(gross amount)
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
600 EUR
400 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
1,000 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
If the team develops their project under the supervision of one or more professor/
researcher they will be
awarded
250 EUR
(gross amount)
PhD AND RESEARCHERS CATEGORY
1st Prize
The winning project will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
4,750 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
1,750 EUR
1,250 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
3,000 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
2nd Prize
The 2nd place project will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
2,850 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
1,100 EUR
750 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
1,750 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
3rd Prize
The 3rd place project will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
1,600 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
600 EUR
400 EUR of which will be paid after the creation of a STARTUP in Algarve within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
1,000 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
STARTUPS CATEGORY
1st Prize
The winning startup will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
6,750 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
2,250 EUR
1,250 EUR of which will be paid after the change of the company’s headquarters to the Algarve, within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
4,500 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
2nd Prize
The 2nd place startup will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
4,500 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
1,500 EUR
1,000 EUR of which will be paid after the change of the company’s headquarters to the Algarve, within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
3,000 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
3rd Prize
The 3rd place startup will be awarded a prize of an amount equivalent to
2,450 EUR
Comprised of:
a monetary amount of
950 EUR
750 EUR of which will be paid after the change of the company’s headquarters to the Algarve, within 6 months after the date of the Pitch Ceremony
and
1,500 EUR
in dedicated mentoring hours from experienced professionals with expertise in business modelling, finance and business development.
THEMES OF THE PROJECTS
H2O & Sustainability Innovation HUB – Call for Projects – 3rd edition aims to promote the development of innovative projects with local, national and international impact, leveraging the capacity for innovation with focus on the Water sector, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Sustainable Mobility and Sustainable Tourism.
The projects may focus on the following strategic areas:
-
Public health in the environment (mosquitoes, algae) and impacts on water quality
-
Energy efficiency combined with water efficiency
-
Artificial Intelligence and the management of water issues
-
Value vs. price of water: how to decide on the allocation of this increasingly scarce resource
-
Artificial Intelligence – Risks and opportunities for water management in cities
-
The relationship between the future desalination plant and civil society
-
Digital Transformation, IoT and Artificial Intelligence applied to Water and Wastewater areas;
-
Marketing/ Communication Plan for promoting water savings among population and organizations;
-
Algorithms/models for Water Consumption and Waste production forecasting;
-
Smart Cities: efficient use of Water, Energy and Waste Management;
-
Plastic pollution and Microplastics on oceans;
-
Impact of climate changes on the water cycle and adaptation to water problems (water stress, droughts, floods) and waste production;
-
New services or business models based on the concept of Circular Economy;
-
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies;
-
Circular Economy and Zero Waste;
-
Sustainable Tourism;
-
Sustainable Finance;
-
ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance innovative projects;
-
Public health in the environment (mosquitoes, algae) and impacts on water quality;
-
Synergy between energy efficiency and water efficiency;
-
Bridging the future desalination with civil society.
-
Water and Sustainability Museum
The projects may focus on the following strategic areas related with Sustainable Tourism, Hotels and Resorts:
23. Hotel of the Future;
24. How can AI help manage networks better to address the shortcomings of Human Resources.
25. Lighting system inside buildings;
26. Lighting system outside buildings, especially in common areas and circulation areas between buildings;
27. Considering Photovoltaic system for generating electricity;
28. Air conditioning system for central buildings;
29. Air conditioning system for the villas;
30. Solar support for sanitary hot water;
31. Water conservation (toilettes, irrigation systems…);
32. Sustainable Waste management, recycling and circular economy;
33. Intelligent platform for system management and monitoring
DEADLINES
Students Category
Registrations Opening: January 6th, 2026
Registration deadline: March 14th, 2026
Submission deadline of follow-up questionnaire: April 26th, 2026
Project Submission deadline: May 30th, 2026
PhD and Researchers Category
Registrations Opening: January 6th, 2026
Registration deadline: March 14th, 2026
Submission deadline of follow-up questionnaire: April 26th, 2026
Project Submission deadline: May 30th, 2026
STARTUPS Category | 2nd Phase
Registrations reopening: January 6th, 2026
Pitch Deck Submission deadline: April 30th, 2026
MAIN PHASES
PHASE A
PHASE B