The first event in this spirit was organized together with Israeli innovation and project management company Y. A. Maof and universities from Latin America and the Caribbean. It was held online and attended by more than 400 people from 28 countries including four prominent Israeli companies that provide solutions to water challenges: Metzer, Aqua HD, LED-UV and Contel, and distinguished researchers from 6 Latin American universities: UNAPEC in the Dominican Republic; Tech de Monterrey from Mexico; The Center for Innovation of the Catholic University of Chile; University of Technology in Panama; Pereira Technological University of Colombia; and Del Valle University in Guatemala.
They presented research innovations in the field as well as water challenges in the near future in the region. Also spoke at the event Giora Shaham, Chairman of the Water Authority in Israel, Hila Cohen Mizrav, in charge for water innovation at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Israeli Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Daniel Biran Bayor.
The event has already led to promising connections between academics and the private and public sector, and is expected to initiate new projects in Latin America with the participation of leading international companies in the water field.
The president of Scholas, Prof. Jose Maria del Corral, announced at the event that Scholas will hold throughout the year educational programs with young people from all over the world that focus on water issues, where they might propose solutions to tackle them in their communities. Scholas will work on this problem in the programs it implements with young people on five continents. Del Corral added: "I am happy about the connections that Maof is making between the representatives of countries suffering from poor water treatment and supply and Israeli companies that have advanced solutions to the issue".
Maof provides water and waste management services, oversees the planning and execution of environmental projects, and develops innovative technologies for waste treatment, especially those that turn waste from a hazard into a resource, while building sustainable business models.
Ygdal Ach, CEO of Maof, commented: "Our unique collaborations with universities and municipalities in Latin America and the Caribbean allow us to implement a wide variety of solutions offered by international companies and significantly reduce their entry barriers for operation in the region."
Last year, Maof signed a cooperation agreement with Scholas Occurrentes and the worldwide network of Scholas university chairs to plan and carry out environmental projects, which also have social and economic impact, i.e., a Triple Bottom Line. These projects will promote sustainability and decent living conditions for populations whose living conditions have been harmed due to environmental threats, while sharing knowledge between countries and organizations. Among the projects:
● Green technology parks with facilities for energy production from renewable sources, waste treatment and wastewater treatment, which will help prevent pollution, improve the living conditions of the residents and encourage economic growth and the creation of new jobs.
● International centers for sharing knowledge on environmental issues that will connect universities, organizations, government authorities and small and medium-sized companies
● Establishment of an accelerator program for startups that offer problem solving in the fields of environmental protection, according to the principles of Laudato si´.
The meeting was one of the steps that Maof is taking to connect the innovative Israeli ecosystem that develops water solutions in countries and regions where there is a need for them, with the support of Scholas Occurrentes.
As a continuation of this cooperation, Maof will attend the 6th Scholas Chairs International Congress that will take place at Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid in July. The event will bring together more than 300 academics from the Scholas Chairs program, in more than 100 universities committed to social engagement, along with diplomats, religious leaders and government officials to promote cooperation and learning based on the idea of education as a main mean for social change. Maof will showcase in the event the results of its cooperation with Scholas.
