The Innovation Radar identifies promising technologies, products and services emerging from EU-funded projects and increases their visibility among potential investors, partners and users. LIFE projects' growing presence demonstrates how innovation tackling environmental and climate challenges is also developing solutions with potential for wider use.
Of the 295 LIFE-funded innovations currently on the platform, 113 are classified as market-ready. Another 81 are developing concrete plans for reaching the market, 70 are progressing through technology development and demonstration, and 31 are still exploring their potential applications.
From waste to new resources
Among the LIFE innovations featured on the platform are solutions helping Europe make better use of its resources. LIFE WEEELOOP is developing a circular system to recover and reuse materials and components from discarded kitchen hobs. By returning these components to production, the project aims to reduce the need for virgin raw materials by up to 90% while improving resource efficiency.
A similar circular approach is being applied to wood residues through LIFE WOOD4PLASTIC. The project is converting sugars and lignin from hardwood leftovers into bio-based plastics and demonstrating how these materials can be used to manufacture high-value, compostable products, including bags, food trays and dehumidifiers. Over its three-year lifetime, from 2024 to 2027, the project expects to avoid 59 tonnes of plastic waste through the biodegradability and compostability of these new materials.
‘Circularity needs to go beyond recycling: products should be designed, collected, processed and remanufactured in a way that retains their value within the industrial value chain for as long as possible’, says Mikel Telleria, LIFE WEEELOOP Coordinator.
Tackling pollution and water use
Other LIFE-funded solutions on the Innovation Radar focus on reducing pollution and improving water use. For starters, LIFE ABATE is developing a compact system to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from waste treatment plants, helping to cut air and odour pollution for those living nearby. The technology concentrates VOCs before treating them through thermal or biological processes, including an innovative two-phase biotrickling filter. By the end of the project in 2027, LIFE ABATE aims to achieve VOC removal rates of 90-95% while also cutting energy use and CO2 emissions.
LIFE WARRIOR has three innovations featured on the Innovation Radar. These include reusing ultrafiltration membranes using a low-energy, chemical-free ultraviolet disinfection process and creating a marketplace that connects suppliers of used membranes with potential new users. The project has also developed a cost-effective approach to treating and reusing reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation, supporting EU requirements for water reuse.
Bringing LIFE innovation to market
Recognition on the Innovation Radar can extend beyond a profile on the platform. Selected innovators can be showcased at dedicated events and compete for the annual Innovation Radar Prize, where finalists pitch their solutions to investors and entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for new partnerships and finance.
With around 50-60 new LIFE-funded innovations joining the platform each year, a growing number of LIFE projects can tap into these opportunities and build the connections needed to take successful results further.