The goal of CleanTech is to help decrease the discharge of air pollutants in the cross-border area. The partners will look at the role of nitrogen and sulfur oxides in atmospheric pollution. These pollutants – the general oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and the general oxides of sulfur (Sox) – are often the result of direct combustions formed in industrial processes. Building on previously developed methods and tools, with the support of the public sector and industry itself, and thanks to collaborations between different research laboratories, the partnership will now develop models to validate their findings. Crossborder cooperation is essential to trace and study the contaminants which can affect a zone larger than 100 km from the source of the transmission.Initially modelling and developing a pilot procedure, partners will also detect and measure the chemicals present during the combustion process and finally, they will develop advanced sensors which can be used during the industrial process to control emissions. Expected Results: What are the key results of the project?The project will know it has succeeded if there is a general decrease of NOx and SOx pollutants in combustion processes. Activity 1, corresponding to both fundamental and experimental works, will result in the ability to better describe the phenomena that occur in combustion processes. More precisely, at the end of the project, we will able to say what are the exact influence of the additives versus pollutant emission levels. We will also develop a new generation of gas sensors based on oxide thin films exhibiting better properties than those presently available. New potentiometric-type sensors, based on chalcogenide glasses, will constitute very promising sensors with better limit detection, selectivity and durability. New optical-type sensors designed by laser technology will also have been developped. During the same period, we will also characterize new vitreous compositions in order to optimize the potentiometric and optical sensors. The same procedure will have to aim to synthesize new thin film oxides.Are all partners and territories benefitting from the results?Theoretical and experimental outputs will be beneficial to the population as they will live in a healthier environment. The theoretical developments will benefit the scientific community, by developing and validating new computational models. The main beneficiary of activity 2 is the industry because the understanding of the exact nature and concentrations of compounds entering the combustion process will help steer future developments.The measurements that will be carried out with these more efficient sensors or detection systems will provide more reliable information to communities and local populations. Regarding activity 3, the scientific community is the first beneficiary. More precisely, we can specify the community of non-oxide glass materials, oxides materials, and those interested in the structures of amorphous materials.Finally, the beneficiaries of this project are manifold. In fact, any reduction of pollution can only have positive effects. In fact, the reduction of NOx and SOx, which may cause serious lung problems, is a very positive step for the general health of the population. The other main beneficiary of this reduction in harmful gases in the atmosphere is the environment because these pollutants are responsible for the phenomenon of acid rain that disrupt ecosystems, specifically NOx, which contributes to photochemical pollution and tropospheric ozone formation and can indirectly accentuate the greenhouse effect.What are the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?The main outcome of the project is that NOx and Sox levels in the atmosphere will be able to be reduced. The scientific results of this project will directly benefit industrialists across the 2 Seas area, such as Arcelor Mittal or Port of Rotterdam who are really interested by the CleanTech projec, as it has the potential to render their activities more environment friendly. Also, all of the cross-border population on the Channel and North Sea coasts will have the opportunity to live in a healthy environment thanks to the increased capabilities to reduce emitted pollutants. As such, the region will dispose of an healthier environment for both nature and its populations.Through the commercialisation of project results, there may well be the potential for jobs and economic growth if the findings of this project can be capitalised upon and rolled-out to industries across the EU and furhter afield.