After Athens, The Arch made a stopover in Malta to meet the Embassy which, for the occasion, organized a conference between experts about ecological issues in the Mediterranean.
The Arch was honored to be received at the Residence of France for this very enriching time of exchange, surrounded by about fifty participants.
Alan Deidun, Oceans Ambassador for Malta presented the European strategy for the protection of the oceans for the period 2021-2023 supported by the results of its research project “deep-see” whose objective is to reduce the concentration of microplastics in Mediterranean waters.
Then, Malek Smaoui, representative of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), spoke about the strategy put in place to reduce marine pollution from ships in the Mediterranean. A strategy, resulting from the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, signed by 21 States, which includes both prevention, preparation and solutions to deal with this problem.
In Athens, The Arch takes stock of its tour of Europe’s solutions and reaffirms its ambition to become the leading European network of innovation for positive impact.
Moored in Marina de Flisvos, the Maxi-Trimaran IDEC-Sport was welcomed on Monday 8th May in the morning by the local authorities: Giorgios Patoulis, regional governor of Attica and Ionnais Fostiropoulos, mayor of Palio Faliro La Marina de Flisvos, by our partners and by Georges Kiriakidis, founder of PCN Materials IKE, the Greek winning solution.
VISIT OF CLEMENT BEAUNE, MINISTER IN CHARGE OF TRANSPORT
In the afternoon, we had the honor to welcome Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, who was in Greece on an official trip. Alongside Françis Joyon, on the Maxi-Trimaran IDEC Sport, Clément Beaune attended a presentation of The Arch initiative.
EUROPE DAY
As part of Europe Day, Francis Joyon and the other representatives of The Arch delivered a video message to Europe and Europeans at the Parthenon. They then visited the Acropolis Museum in Athens before heading to Malta the next morning for the ninth stopover of this Tour of Europe.
On this emblematic date of Europe Day, which celebrates the Schuman Declaration that laid the foundations of an organization for the joint management of coal and steel resources, The Arch team with Francis Joyon is at the Parthenon in Athens.
The opportunity to deliver a message to all Europeans: citizens and institutions, encouraging them to take concrete action against climate change.
We are three quarters of the way through Europe. It’s symbolic to have made all this way collecting solutions to improve the planet and preserve the environment.
Francis Joyon, navigator of the Maxi-Trimaran IDEC Sport
For its sixth stopover, The Arch is sailing to Naples. The Maxi-Trimaran IDEC-Sport is moored from May 3 to 6 at the Port Marina Militare, Molosiglio.
Italy having been a major contributor to the call for solutions launched by The Arch a few months ago, this stopover is an opportunity to showcase all the Italian solutions but also the entire local ecosystem, mobilized for the ecological transition.
The Foundation of the City of Science of Naples, in the framework of the regional strategic project Manifattura Campania : Industrial 4.0, is the organizer of this Neapolitan stopover.
The program for the 3 days of the stopover
As soon as the Maxi-Trimaran IDEC Sport arrives, an event about the protection of the oceans is organized, in the presence of the navigator Francis Joyon at the Salle Dumas of the French Institute.
The next morning, journalists are invited to participate in a press conference presenting The Arch project and local solutions at the Accademia dell’Alto Mare – Marina Militare, Molosiglio.
In the early afternoon, tours of the boat, for the general public, will be organized at the Molo San Vincenzo – Marina Militare, Molosiglio.
Then, at 3 pm, The Arch goes to meet the regional ecosystem of Research and Innovation in an event dedicated to the ecological transition at the Aula Magna at the University of Naples Parthenope.
Finally, on Friday, May 5 at 9:30 am, The Arch participates in an event about “the blue economy in the countryside” organized by the project Distretto del Mare Campano at the Anton Dorh Zoological Station, Molosiglio before leaving for the next stop in the early afternoon.
A stopover supported by local partners
The Arch has received the patronage of the Navy, the Municipality of Naples, the Consulate General of France and the Campania Region, which has also contributed financially.
At the same time, The Arch can count on the support of the Anton Dorh Zoological Station, the University of Naples Parthenope, the French Institute of Naples and the Naples Navy League.
Finally, some of the solutions are part of local incubators such as Campania NewSteel and O12 Factory while others come from local universities: the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Salerno and the University of Sannio.
After a 3-day stopover in the Phocaean city, The Arch set sail at the end of April on the island of beauty.
The Maxi-Trimaran IDEC Sport is moored at the Brancaleoni quay of the Ajaccio Tino Rossi Marina (Ajaccio Chamber of Commerce and Industry) where it was welcomed under the tune of the Ajaccio imperial band.
The day after his arrival, The Arch was invited to a day of workshop around sustainable tourism co-organized by the Tourist Office of Ajaccio, the association SENS Corsica and the Congress Palace of Ajaccio.
RECEPTION AT AJACCIO’S CITY HALL
Then, Francis Joyon and his crew had the honor to be received by Caroline Corticchiato, 2nd deputy mayor of Ajaccio, delegated for environmental excellence and ecological transition. Symbolically, the flag of Corsica was given to Francis Joyon, which he will add to his flag before his departure for the next stopover in Naples.
The stopover in Marseille was a great opportunity to mobilize the general public and local networks around the environmental transition and innovation.
THE ARCH CONQUERED THE PHOCAEAN CITY
The Maxi-Trimaran IDEC Sport was greeted by a curious public on its arrival, under the sun, in the Old Port of Marseille. A crowd which, day after day, was fascinated by the immensity of this boat whose reputation is well established.
About fifty people: companies, associations, experts participated in the round table presentation of The Arch movement and its solutions, organized with our partners Rive Neuve and the agency E+P.
It’s very important for us to be here today with The Arch because it’s an incubator of innovation. We want to be part of this social and environmental revolution.
Belén Moreno, HySiLabs
I am really amazed by the richness of this collective project that presents solutions for our citizens in terms of ecological transition. Welcome to Brussels on June 7, to present all these solutions. It will be a great moment of innovation and sharing.
Sylvie Brunet, Member of the European Parliament
NEXT STEP : AJACCIO
The Arch is setting sail at the end of April on the island of beauty, to meet the Ajaccio Tourist Office and the Chamber of Commerce. This will be the fifth stop of the European Tour of the navigator Francis Joyon.
The visit of The Arch to Malaga was an opportunity to mobilize the International Association of Science Parks and Innovation Zones (IASP) and the French-Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE THAT MOBILIZES LOCAL PARTNERS AND NETWORKS
Upon arrival at the IGY Malaga Marina, the Maxi-Trimaran IDEC SPORT received a warm welcome from the general public and local networks. In the evening, Francisco de la Torre Prados, Mayor of Malaga, accompanied by the main representatives of the city, did the honor of welcoming our crew in the City Hall.
This event was an opportunity to meet our partners and Spanish solution providers: Visionary Hospitality, Space Farmers, Canonical Green Andaltec, Ocean Blue Reef and Life Compolive. The next day, we met them again at the Malaga Technology Park for a morning dedicated to innovation with the discovery of the Smart City Cluster project and the new regional “dry port” created by our partner IDEC.
Very enriching exchanges in favor of the ecological transition that continues to mobilize throughout Europe !
NEXT STEP : MARSEILLE
Francis Joyon and his crew will soon be back in France with a stopover in Marseille for Earth Day, which each year encourages people to take action for the environmental transition.
During this second stage, Brittany, through the Bretagne Eco Entreprise (B2E) network, and The Arch joined forces to promote the ecological transition! It was an opportunity for the navigator Francis Joyon to meet his compatriot François Gabart, mythical competitor of the Route du Rhum, in MerConcept’s offices and to “embark” three new solutions: HÉOLE, AQUAWIZE and GREENOV.
BRITTANY : A LAND OF INNOVATION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUkWb4t661k
This stop was marked by the exemplary mobilization of the Breton territory thanks to the Bretagne Éco-Entreprises network at MerConcept, which illustrates the capacity of the territory to innovate.
NEXT STOP : MALAGA
Direction the Mediterranean with a next stop in Malaga, to meet the International Association of Science Parks and Innovation Zones (IASP) and the French-Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
Amazing historical city center. Nyhavn New Harbour canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. The canal harbours many historical wooden ships. Aerial view from the top.
The Danish stage was the occasion to seal the partnership with the European Environment Agency, a fundamental actor in the approach that drives The Arch, and to “embark” SEAVIS, one of the 100 winning solutions, worthy representative of the Nordic countries.
TWO DAYS UNDER THE SIGN OF ECOLOGY
Catherine Chabaud, Member of the European Parliament and ambassador of The Arch, could not but be present for this European launch !
The Maxi Trimaran IDEC SPORT, moored in the heart of the Danish capital, was the playground of many curious people who had the chance to visit the boat. A probe was also installed on board by the National Institute of Aquatic Resource, in order to measure the amount of organic matter in the ocean by crossing different environments, including the Copenhagen harbor, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.
The French Embassy in Denmark – this year centenary – did the honor to receive the delegation and made a point of accompanying the crew until the last moorings were cast off.
What beautiful meetings, we look forward to the next ones and hope to see you there !
NEXT STOP : CONCARNEAU
On Thursday, April 6, THE ARCH and the Bretagne Eco Entreprise (B2E) network will gather Brittany around the ecological transition in Concarneau. Francis Joyon stopped by François Gabart’s house, in MerConcept’s offices, to embark the 3 Breton solutions of THE ARCH adventure.
About fifty business leaders will be present and ready to take to the sea in THE ARCH’s onboard forum which will take place from June 2 to 6. With the participation of the B2E network, THE ARCH is pursuing its mission for the ecological transition and boosting the energy of the Breton ecosystem. A cross talk of committed actors on the territory, in the premises of MerConcept !