The INCREASE project was submitted under the BIOTEC-05-2017 call (Sub-call of: H2020-NMBP-2016-2017) – Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing. It was presented by Atena in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Barcelona, MIGAL – Galilee Research Institute (Israel), the University of Surrey (UK), and the University of the West of England (UK).

The combination of CO₂ into NaHCO₃ within an enzymatic reactor—achieved through the use of cyanobacteria and BESs—makes it possible to:
(i) create a system for removing CO₂ from industrial emissions to reduce air pollution;
(ii) convert CO₂ into a raw material for the production of both basic chemicals and electricity;
(iii) treat agro-industrial wastewater to enable its recovery, reuse, and valorization;
(iv) provide biomass as a raw material for the sustainable production of chemicals;
(v) support the development of new professional profiles by establishing dedicated training courses for graduates;
(vi) raise awareness of the potential for a CO₂ recovery-based economy through a web-based collaborative platform.