Amarsul and Valorsul open second innovation contest with over €150,000 for waste-management projects

Waste-management operators Amarsul and Valorsul have opened applications for the second edition of their Open Innovation programme, with more than €150,000 available. It is aimed at universities, start-ups and sector companies, Portuguese or foreign. Three areas are covered: artificial intelligence for safer waste operations, modular pre-treatment systems for unsorted municipal waste, and Internet of Things tools to predict industrial maintenance needs. Applications close on 25 January 2027, with a pitch day planned for late April. Winners can build funded pilot solutions, test them at the companies' industrial sites and receive a €3,000 prize.