The project foresees the synergic work of participants of various scientific profiles by improvement of scientific relationships, exchange of know-how and experience between the participating centres, including training in MS of Ph.D. students and/or post-doctoral researchers, to upgrade S&T research capacities of centres in MED countries dealing with waste treatment technologies both conventional, advanced and nanoscience based. The proposal includes one SME (Environmental Engineering) in order to give to the project a complementary and applied - business dimension. To be able to participate in the project on an equal-footing basis, the different technological developments of the groups should be balanced by reinforcement of MED countries research infrastructure and improvement of their human potential. This will be achieved by upgrading research equipment in the laboratories of less developed countries and by hiring new senior researchers in these groups. Thus, the transfer and exchange of know-how will be accelerated and the potential of the groups can be better exploited. This approach will prepare laboratories from MED countries to participate more efficiently in European projects. Moreover, it will enable MED countries to increase their contribution in the ERA, making them interesting partners to scientists from MS.