BRIDGEWAT (BRIDGing Communities for SustainablE WATers) is the initiative that addresses the growing threat of chemical water pollution in Bosnia and Herzegovina by promoting innovative, science-based monitoring and remediation solutions developed within the iMERMAID project. By fostering collaboration among scientific, institutional and community actors, BRIDGEWAT aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, ultimately contributing to cleaner waters and stronger environmental governance. 

Key achievements of the project as of September 2025 include the launch of a digital awareness campaign, the organization of three stakeholder workshops engaging government bodies, NGOs, and industry actors, and the implementation of four hands-on training sessions for students and young professionals. These efforts significantly contributed to increasing public education, enhancing institutional engagement, and building local capacity in water quality monitoring. 

A significant project milestone was the organization of the 5th Stakeholder Event: Water Bridges – Connecting Communities for Sustainability, held on August 26-27 in Banja Luka. Hosted by BRIDGEWAT  lead – the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, the event gathered 39 attendees for presentations, networking, and discussion. 

 

This initiative featured iMERMAID partners, including the coordinating team, open call management team, solution providers, and use case representatives. Associated regions from iMERMAID Open Calls 1 and 2 were also present, allowing them to meet in person. The iMERMAID team attended the event to share their expertise on the project’s technologies and use cases, reinforcing their importance and technical standing with local stakeholders. 

The first day featured 11 presentations and a dedicated networking session. The iMERMAID project coordinator opened with an overview of the project, followed by presentations from solution providers: 

  1. a Heavy Metal Sensor was presented by Ilaria Palchetti from the University of Florence.
  2. a PFAS Sensor was presented by Vladimir Urosevic from ZENTRIX Lab.
  3. an Electrochemical Sensor for Micropollutants was presented by Maxime Pontie from the University of Angers. 

Giasmin Cecconi from the SMAT Group then presented iMERMAID Use Case 3, which is focused on removing heavy metals. The event also featured a workshop by IPERS titled BRIDGEWAT project: Two sides of the coin, after which projects from Open Calls 1 and 2 had the opportunity to present their work. 

The second day included visits to two industrial sites: COLORIT, a manufacturer of construction finishing materials, and Hemofarm, a pharmaceutical company. The companies showcased their wastewater treatment systems. This was followed by a live demonstration of the iMERMAID solutions, including the heavy metal sensor, the PFAS sensor, and the electrochemical sensor for organic micropollutants. The event concluded with an engaging dialogue between the project team and industry representatives. 

By demonstrating its innovative technologies, the iMERMAID project gained crucial real-world validation of its tools. This not only prepares the project for its final implementation and impact assessment but also strengthens collaboration with industrial stakeholders, ensuring the solutions are practical and effective for real-world application.