With a consortium of 16 partners, led by WHITE RESEARCH and of which CETIM is a member, RISE4UKRAINE aims to develop an adaptable and replicable recovery model, capable of responding to Ukraine’s needs and serving as a reference for other conflict-affected territories.

The reconstruction of conflict-affected territories poses significant environmental, social and economic challenges. Beyond restoring infrastructure and essential services, it is necessary to promote solutions that make it possible to build more resilient communities and make efficient use of available resources.

In this context, RISE4UKRAINE has emerged: a European project that aims to support Ukraine’s post-conflict recovery through the deployment of a circular and regenerative bioeconomy. The initiative combines Nature-based Solutions with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, which promotes sustainability, inclusiveness and improved quality of life for people and their surroundings.

The project follows the Build Back Better, Greener approach, which advocates rebuilding better and more sustainably, using recovery as an opportunity to improve the resilience of territories, protect the environment and promote social inclusion. To this end, value chains based on biological resources, ecosystem restoration and the strengthening of local capacities will be promoted.

The initiative will also create ReHubs, that is, collaborative spaces in which administrations, researchers, companies and local communities can design solutions tailored to the needs of each territory. Their activities will focus on six priority areas: housing, agriculture, water and sanitation, forest management, restoration of degraded land and cultural heritage.

Science and innovation in the service of sustainable reconstruction

At CETIM, we will contribute our experience in water treatment, pollutant removal, phytoremediation, restoration of degraded soils and the development of bio-based materials. To this end, we are leading the development and experimental validation of Nature-based Solutions that will help to address the needs identified in Ukraine’s four pilot regions. The aim is to assess their feasibility, effectiveness and adaptability to the environmental and social conditions of each territory, encouraging their practical application in reconstruction processes.

We will also contribute to the development of digital twins to explore reconstruction scenarios and support decision-making, as well as to sustainability assessment using Life Cycle Assessment, in order to analyse the environmental impacts associated with the solutions across their different stages.

A replicable model for sustainable and inclusive recovery

With a consortium of 16 partners from different European countries, led by WHITE RESEARCH and of which CETIM is a member, RISE4UKRAINE aims to develop an adaptable and replicable reconstruction model, capable of responding to Ukraine’s needs and serving as a reference for other conflict-affected territories. To this end, the initiative combines research and validation of innovative solutions with the participation of local communities, the strengthening of institutional capacities and collaboration between actors from different fields.

The valorisation of biomass and local resources, the reduction of waste and pollution, and the development of higher-added-value products will make it possible to explore new opportunities for economic activity and green jobs. At the same time, the project’s knowledge and results will be translated into tools, guidelines and recommendations for policymakers and local, national and international stakeholders.

RISE4UKRAINE is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, under Cluster 6, call HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13 (Research and Innovation Action, RIA).