AQ-WATCH develops a supply chain to generate innovative downstream products for improving air quality forecasts and attribution based on existing space/in-situ observations to improve public health and to optimise renewable energy in regions of the world. The project consortium includes research and business-oriented partners, who brings together the required expertise to define the optimal functionalities of these products to bring them to the market.
The prototypes for the seven innovative products that are based on existing space, in situ observations and model outputs of air quality are developed. These tools are integrated into a unified user-friendly web interface called AQ-WATCH Toolkit and are organised into 5 modules: (1) Air quality atlas, (2) Air quality attribution & mitigation, (3) Dust and fire forecast, (4) Fracking analysis, and (5) Air quality forecast. The different modules allow users to access historical and air pollution data as well as air quality forecasts at a global and regional scale, to compare different air pollution reduction scenarios and to assess the effect of wildfires or fracking activities on air quality, and to derive the changes in solar irradiance due to the presence of dust in the atmosphere.
These products are designed for the three AQ-WATCH target regions, namely Beijing, Colorado, and Santiago de Chile. A "spiral process" has been implemented for the co-development of the products with the local stakeholders, involving iterative cycles of collaboration between product developers and local prime users. The AQ-WATCH products and Toolkit were demonstrated to the prime users in different development phase in order to collect and incorporate users’ feedback in the product development process. Communication was not limited to the planned meetings, but also other means of interactions such as exchanges through emails and other occasions. The Core Stakeholders’ Network was also formed to provide additional advises to the project from the international air quality community. Feedback from the prime users and the stakeholders has been positive and valuable, acknowledging the toolkit's improvements over time. At the end of the project, regional workshops were held for the local environmental and health authorities and other relevant stakeholders to demonstrate the final version of the Toolkit to the users.
To ensure successful exploitation of the project's results, a comprehensive Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation Plan has been devised. This plan includes measures such as using social media, creating videos, organising webinars and workshops, and presenting at international conferences to maximise the project's impact. Key exploitable results and intellectual properties were identified, and an Innovation Management Roadmap was created to guide the project's solutions and target markets. Meetings with potential exploiters, including consortium partners, local prime users, and stakeholders from the Core Stakeholders' Network, helped shape an optimal exploitation pathway. Business cases were developed iteratively to address potential tender calls and business opportunities. The project envisions a hybrid approach for exploitation, combining self-exploitation and collaboration with external partners. The consortium plans to partner with external exploiters to provide air quality monitoring and prediction services, primarily targeting public authorities in developing countries through suitable fundings from governmental organisations.
