Havana, May 30, 2025 – The European-funded VALZEO project (Valorisation of agro-industrial waste for the development of zeolite-based composite materials for environmental remediation and biofuel production), coordinated by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has brought together renowned national and international institutions, including the Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), Universidad Pablo de Olavide (UPO), AERIS Tecnologías Ambientales SL, Sustainable Innovation Technology Services (SITES), Grain Research Institute (IIGranos), Indio Hatuey Experimental Station for Pastures and Forage (EEPFIH), the University of Havana (UH), and the UH Foundation (FUH), among others.
The project’s primary objective is to develop, validate, and demonstrate multifunctional composite materials based on zeolites derived from rice husk ash (RHA)—an agro-industrial byproduct. These materials are being developed for two main applications: the removal of organic water pollutants and use as heterogeneous catalysts in biodiesel production.
On Friday, May 30, a series of workshop sessions commenced in Havana, featuring prominent national and international speakers. The activities will continue on Monday, June 2, at the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station, with a focus on innovation-driven sessions.
The opening session was led by Dr. Vilma Hidalgo, Director General of the UH Foundation, who emphasized the importance of VALZEO not only for its scientific potential but also for its capacity to generate knowledge and transfer it to society, fostering both economic and social impact. She also highlighted the need to engage communities and beneficiary institutions early in the validation process, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
Dr. Manuel Valiente (UAB), one of the project’s scientific leads, reaffirmed the value of the long-standing cooperation with the University of Havana, noting that VALZEO is built on a strong foundation of academic exchange. He emphasized the educational mission of the project, stating:
“The most sustainable action is education.”
Initiatives like VALZEO demonstrate the power of technology transfer projects to bridge the gap between research and local needs, contributing meaningfully to economic and social development through science, knowledge, and innovation.
For more information:
📧 Maghraby Elseify
VALZEO Communication Team
📩 communication@valzeo.eu
