The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched on 25th September 2025, jointly organised by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. The initiative invites applications from start-ups, researchers, businesses, and other stakeholders in India and the EU to co-develop practical and innovative solutions for tackling marine plastic pollution. The launch highlighted the collaborative vision of both regions to address this pressing environmental challenge.
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary of the PSA, emphasized the Ideathon’s role in creating solutions that are both globally relevant and locally effective, reinforcing India-EU cooperation in sustainability. Ms. Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, underlined the initiative as a key step in strengthening bilateral collaboration on environmental and sustainability issues, highlighting the urgent threat marine plastic pollution poses to marine life, public health, and coastal economies.
Experts including Ms. Nienke Buisman and Dr. Rakesh Kaur encouraged participants to actively contribute ideas and explore collaborative approaches. The launch featured detailed presentations on the current landscape of marine plastic litter in India and the EU by Prof. Hoysala N. Chanakya and Mr. John Hanus, which highlighted prevailing challenges and ongoing research while stressing the need for coordinated and sustained action.
The Ideathon was structured around three key challenges: identifying and tracking marine plastics to improve monitoring across coastal and ocean ecosystems, developing scalable technologies for effective removal of marine plastics, and raising awareness to mobilize communities and drive behavioural change for preventing plastic pollution. Each challenge was followed by interactive sessions to clarify objectives and engage participants in solution-building.
The event drew participation from over seventy-five attendees representing government bodies, research institutions, start-ups, businesses, and civil society organizations from India and the EU. Prominent experts such as Dr. Pravakar Mishra, Prof. E.V. Ramasamy, Dr. S.R. Marigoudar, Dr. Ajay Karmarkar, Dr. Robin R.S., Dr. Vanessa-Sarah Salvo, and Dr. Vesna Kuralt contributed valuable insights, enriching discussions on strategies to combat marine plastic pollution and advance joint sustainability goals.
