SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION was founded as non-profit organization with the decision 348
of the Sofia Municipal Council to work for the sustainable development of the capital.
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SI PLUS’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK HELD ITS SECOND MEETING
On 15th February 2023 a second meeting of the “Social Innovation Plus – Competence Centres (SI Plus)” “Sustainable Development“ network was held online.
The meeting began with an inspiring presentation by Blazhka Trepetanova – founder of Blazhka’s Kitchen – the first zero-waste restaurant in Bulgaria. She told participants about her zero-waste business and the ZeroWaste cause that aims to make resources from waste.
The seminar continued with an energy efficiency training conducted by Zsuzsanna Pál, designed for social enterprises and non-governmental organizations. Sonja Zumpfe from Baukarussell – a consortium supported and managed jointly by industrial enterprises and the city of Vienna, told participants more about the platform. It is mainly focused on compliance with new regulations in urban construction and more specifically planned demolitions.
The meeting has a few main objectives, amongst which to bring together stakeholders from different fields and start a discussion on how the National Competence Centres for Social Innovation can integrate sustainable development into their Agenda, enhance mutual learning and exchange of experience, discuss the opportunities that the green transition entails and establish a discourse on sustainable development in the social innovation scene.
The seminar continued with an energy efficiency training conducted by Zsuzsanna Pál, designed for social enterprises and non-governmental organizations. Sonja Zumpfe from Baukarussell – a consortium supported and managed jointly by industrial enterprises and the city of Vienna, told participants more about the platform. It is mainly focused on compliance with new regulations in urban construction and more specifically planned demolitions.
The event was facilitated by Barbara Willsberger from Jörg Mirtl L&R Social Research. The Sofia Development Association was represented by Denitza Lozanova – coordinator of the project.
The SI PLUS project is funded by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, European Social Fund and European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.
ANOTHER INFO DAY ABOUT THE NEW PUBLIC ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE IN SOFIA WAS HELD THIS WEEKEND
During the weekend, another information meeting was held with the citizens of the "Manastirski livadi - West" district, which aimed to further explain to the residents of the area the pros and details surrounding the launch of the public on demand transportation service - a pilot project for the city of Sofia. The innovative concept, which is currently being implemented in the capital, is part of the Innoair project.
The information meeting started with a tour of the neighborhood with one of the electric minibuses, that are part of the service, in which the citizens who came were also able to get on and see exactly how the system will work. They learned about the taxation methods, how they can signal to the driver that they want to get off the vehicle at a location of their choice, and where all the drop-off and pick-up points will be.
After the tour, the residents of the neighborhood held a more in-depth discussion with the representatives of the civil organization "Manastirski livadi - West", the deputy mayor of Sofia Municipality Doncho Barbalov, and the head of Sofia’s "Transport" Directorate Ivan Nikolov, who answered their questions about the service.
The attendees were also able to get acquainted with the BUSINN mobile app, through which they will be able to order a minibus to pick them up, see the movement of the minibuses in real time and check for a nearby drop-off or pick-up point.
BUSINN is now available for download from the App Store and Google Play.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.
AEROSOLFD PRESENTS THREE RETROFIT SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC-RELATED EMISSIONS
Air pollution is a complex problem to be tackled. The co-funded EU-Project AeroSolfd aims to reduce traffic-related emissions through the deployment of three retrofit (filtration) solutions for tailpipes, brakes and (semi-)closed environments. AeroSolfd will be present at FILTECH, the largest filtration show worldwide, which will take place in Cologne from 14 to 16 February 2023. The project coordinator MANN+HUMMEL will be available at their exhibition stand for questions and exchanges. Additionally, MANN+HUMMEL and project partner VERT-Association will hold two presentations addressing the project’s solutions to traffic-related air pollution.
AeroSolfd, an innovation action of Horizon Europe, aims to achieve rapid success in reducing the overall footprint of existing fleets by developing retrofit filters for tailpipes already addressed by VERT, as well as brakes and (semi-)enclosed environments. This can involve filtering emissions at the source (exhaust and brake) or, in semi-enclosed environments, filtering the air to reduce overall exposure.
The overall project methodology is based on two pillars: A) Development to bring existing retrofit technologies from product validation/demonstration to market-readiness (TRL 4-7 to TRL 8), and B) Market preparation, including sustainability assessment, public awareness, stakeholder engagement and proposal of incentive schemes.
Highly efficient ultrafine particle filter system
Emissions of highly toxic but invisible ultrafine particles from petrol engines can reach levels similar or higher to those from diesel engines in untreated exhaust and therefore pose a widely underestimated health and climate risk. Exhaust gas filtration for petrol engines (GPFs) can effectively reduce these emissions.
VERT-Association identified the technical, legal and, to some extent, political framework conditions for the introduction of particle filters and the prospects for a widespread introduction of exhaust gas filtration for petrol engines (GPFs). The anticipated very long presence of petrol engines in individual transport (more than 40 years) confirms the relevance of the efforts taken.
A technology is needed that must be flexible enough to be used on in-service vehicles, and the EU is looking for a technical demonstration that proves this technology can be made available within three years at an affordable implementation cost. As part of the AeroSolfd project, VERT will therefore test a statistical sample of 1000 vehicles for ultrafine particle emissions to get a sense of the scale and urgency of the problem and retrofit 50 vehicles of different makes in three different countries. VERT presents the best available technology for this project and the first results with different GPFs in terms of size-specific filtration and toxic gas emission.
Filtration devices for brake and (semi-)closed environments
Air pollution remains a major health risk for premature death. A significant contribution is traffic-related. While exhaust emissions have been significantly reduced over the years through ongoing legislation, non-exhaust emissions will for the first time be subject of the planned EURO7 legislation for new vehicles. For the existing vehicle fleet, retrofit solutions could address this issue.
MANN+HUMMEL focuses on the development of two solutions: the brake dust particle filter aims for reducing emission directly at the source. Stationary filtration solutions for (semi-)closed environments target to reduce fine dust exposure level at e.g. metro stations. In the presentation, MANN+HUMMEL outlines the ongoing development from product validation/demonstration to market-readiness (TRL 4-7 to TRL 8) and the methodology considered for the next steps, alongside the initial results for assessing the status quo of brake emissions on city bus routes as well as exposure at metro stations.
Fast track to cleaner urban air
The three filtration solutions that AeroSolfd is developing to reduce traffic-related air pollution enable cleaner mobility and a healthier environment for everyone. Making an appearance at this renowned filtration event, AeroSolfd takes the next step into the public, as the project will continue to do in March at VERT Forum.
The project is funded under HORIZON Innovation Actions.
THE SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE BCAUSE FOUNDATION HELD A WEBINAR ON THE EU PROGRAMME FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL INNOVATION
On 9th February 2023 the Sofia Development Association and the BCause Foundation held an informational webinar, with the goal of further explaining to representatives of different organizations from Bulgaria the specifics of the application process and implementation of projects under the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation, as well as more specifically ALMA – the now active programme for mobility and integration of young people who are neither in the education system , nor working. This year, the financial framework for a singular ALMA project is between 300 and 600 thousand euros.
Nearly 30 representatives of various organizations from the sector participated in the online event, which was led by Denitza Lozanova and Snezhina Gabova from the Sofia Development Association and Penka Tsvetkova from the BCause Foundation. The presenters detailed the details surrounding the application, financing and implementation of projects within the framework of the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.
During the event, the programme's new Information Center, which has been in existence since the end of 2022 and is facilitated by ARS and the BCause Foundation, was also officially presented. In the center's online platforms, all interested organizations can keep up with the news surrounding the programme and other interesting opportunities for organizations and social enterprises. They can do this through the centre's website, Facebook page and LinkedIn profile.
The EaSI NCP Bulgaria project is funded by the European Union and has a duration of two years. (2022-2024)
SI PLUS AND FUSE WITH A JOINT WORKSHOP ON THE MODEL FOR COMPETENCE CENTRES IN BULGARIA
On 8th February the two big European social innovation consortiums – SI PLUS and FUSE – had a joint workshop on the subject of Competence Centers for social innovations. Representatives of the BCause Foundation, Cleantech Bulgaria, The Business Institute, the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the Sofia Development Association joined the meeting.
Representing SDA was Denitza Lozanova, coordinator of the SI PLUS project, who actively participated in the discussions on the model of the competence centers and their different functions.
The SI PLUS project is funded by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, European Social Fund and European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON THE INNOAIR PROJECT IN THE MANASTIRSKI DISTRICT WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND
On 12th February at 12:00 PM in the Mur green space in the Manastirski livadi district, an information day will be held with representatives of Sofia Municipality, at which the final project for the on-demand transport under the INNOAIR project will be presented.
The meeting will be attended by the new head of the INNOAIR project Doncho Barbalov - Deputy Mayor for Finance and Health and Acting Deputy Mayor for Transport and Urban Mobility and Ivan Nikolov - Director of the Transport Devision of Sofia Municipality. Within the framework of the meeting, the communication of the project will also be discussed for its maximum promotion.
For more information, follow the Facebook event: HERE
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative. This is the first Bulgarian project selected for funding by UIA.