Cornellà de Llobregat has been chosen as the test ground for a new open innovation programme designed to restore balance to its urban lakes. The initiative, led by Aigües de Barcelona through its Open Innovation Lab for the Territory, seeks digital and technological solutions to combat the degradation of aquatic ecosystems in cities.
At the heart of the project are the lakes of Can Mercader Park, a popular green space where poor water quality has become a growing problem. Years of nutrient overload, caused by urban run-off, bird droppings, sediment build-up and a design ill-suited to ecological needs, have left the lakes with green water, unpleasant odours and a marked decline in biodiversity.
The park includes a large central lake, two ornamental fountains and two smaller ponds, together covering around 2,250 square metres. They are currently supplied by underground water from the Can Mercader mine, at a rate of 86.4 cubic metres a day. Yet despite this steady supply, the ecological health of the lakes has steadily worsened.
To reverse the trend, start-ups with at least a mid-level technological maturity (TRL 6 or above) are being invited to submit proposals. Selected companies will receive up to €25,000 each to develop and test their systems in situ over a period of six to nine months. The aim is to improve water quality, cut reliance on chemicals and encourage biodiversity.
The application window remains open until 31 October 2025 at noon. The programme will conclude on 18 December with a ‘Pitch Day’, where the shortlisted solutions will be presented.
This project is part of a broader push to make Barcelona’s metropolitan area more resilient in the face of environmental pressures, blending public ambition with entrepreneurial expertise.
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