Participants Invited to Innovate Against Marine Plastic Litter in India-EU Ideathon

The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched on September 25, 2025, bringing together innovators from India and the European Union for a focused effort to tackle marine plastic pollution through practical, scalable solutions. This Ideathon is coordinated by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council’s Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies.

Bilateral Collaboration for Marine Health

The launch event was co-chaired by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at OPSA, and Ms. Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission. Dr. Maini highlighted the Ideathon as a demonstration of India and the EU’s shared vision for impactful, site-specific solutions to marine plastic pollution. Ms. Ratso emphasized that the Ideathon is part of a broader effort to cement EU-India cooperation on sustainability, directly addressing challenges to marine life, public health, and coastal economies.

Three Priority Challenge Areas

Participants are invited to address three defined challenge themes:

• Developing methods for identification and tracking of marine plastics, focusing on the detection and monitoring of plastics’ movement across coastal and ocean ecosystems.

  
  

• Creating technologies for the removal of plastic litter from marine environments, with emphasis on scalable and effective solutions.

  
  

• Raising awareness and mobilizing communities for the prevention of marine plastic leakage, highlighting the critical role of behavioural change and grassroots actions in stopping plastic pollution at its source.

  
  

Applications are due by October 2, 2025, and are open to startups, researchers, businesses, and other stakeholders in both regions.

Expert Engagement and Research Context

The event featured presentations on the current landscape of marine plastic litter by Prof. Hoysala N. Chanakya (Indian Institute of Science) and Mr. John Hanus (Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission), outlining regional challenges and existing research frameworks in India and the EU. Over seventy-five participants, including government officials, researchers, startups, businesses, and civil society members, took part in the meeting, contributing expertise and perspectives from both regions.

Process and Participation Structure

The Ideathon is structured as an early-stage innovation platform that provides teams with expert mentorship and guidance throughout the process. Teams participate in online sessions, workshops, and final pitching events, with post-programme support for winners, including mentorship and matchmaking opportunities.

Commitment to Regional Action

India’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign and the nationwide single-use plastics ban, were also noted at the launch, highlighting efforts to reduce plastic leakage into marine environments. The Ideathon is poised to contribute to both countries’ sustainability goals by facilitating collaborative innovation, with tangible impacts anticipated for marine environments in India, the EU, and beyond.

For complete rules, participation guidelines, and application procedures, interested participants may visit the event website or reach out via the official contact channel before the October 2 deadline.