A pioneering step in sustainable construction has been achieved through the SMACORT project, which has successfully demonstrated how advanced 3D printing technology can be

used to produce a low-carbon, thermally efficient 3D-printed façade panel for existing structures. The project’s most visible milestone is the installation of a 3D-printed façade system on an existing structure at the Public Abattoir in Marsa, Malta.

What makes the innovation particularly significant is its environmental sustainability. The façade panels were produced using a cement-free geopolymer mortar made entirely from recycled construction and demolition waste, including crushed concrete and ceramic tiles. Using a gantry-style 3D printer, the material was shaped into modular 40x40 cm panels designed for efficiency and adaptability.

Nine of these modules were assembled into a 1.2 x 1.2-meter test section directly on an industrial building at the Public Abattoir. The panels feature a specially designed reciprocating pattern that improves insulation and helps naturally regulate indoor temperatures, reducing the need for mechanical cooling systems.

The successful transition from laboratory development to real-world application demonstrates that 3D-printed retrofitting is not only feasible but also highly effective for upgrading existing building stock. The project highlights a promising pathway for making Malta’s historic urban environment more energy-efficient while preserving its architectural identity.

SMACORT is funded through the Xjenza Malta–TÜBİTAK 2023 Joint Call for R&I Proposals.

For more information, contact Principal Investigator Prof. Ruben Paul Borg, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta (ruben.p.borg@um.edu.mt)

The Management Committee of the OFF-SOURCE COST Action (CA21112) is delighted to announce its final conference. This event is the main dissemination hub for our network, uniting leading researchers, industry professionals, policymakers, and early-career investigators to share the latest advancements in the study of Offshore Freshened Groundwater (OFG). Together, we will foster new collaborations, explore the culmination of four years of work, and chart the future for this promising unconventional water resource. We look forward to you joining us to shape the next chapter in OFG research and application.

The primary objective of the RESCUE project is to build knowledge of deep-coastal and offshore low salinity aquifers in European coastal areas, to evaluate novel water resources and to help secure a steady supply of water to both population and industry in times of hydroclimatic extremes.

Objectives

This conference seeks to:

• Disseminate of the key findings and outcomes of the OFF-SOURCE COST Action
• Connect a diverse community of scientists, engineers, water managers, and policymakers.
• Expand the OFG network by fostering collaboration between academic and non-academic partners.
• Define future research priorities and pathways for the sustainable use of OFG resources.

Themes

The scientific program is organized around four key themes reflecting the OFF-SOURCE Working Groups.

Mapping and Characterizing Global OFG Systems

Exploring the fundamental understanding of OFG through data compilation, literature synthesis, and database development. Contributions highlighting the extent, volume, and hydrogeological context of OFG bodies in Europe and beyond are welcome.

Innovative Methods and Technologies for OFG Exploration

Presenting cutting-edge tools for OFG detection and analysis, including geophysical surveys, geochemical methods, hydrogeological modelling, and integrated interpretation of multidisciplinary datasets.

From Resource to Reality: Utilization, Economics, and Feasibility

Bridging science and application by examining the technological, economic, and practical feasibility of OFG as a potable water source. Case studies, industry collaborations, and economic models are encouraged.

Sustainable Management and Governance of OFG Resources

Addressing environmental, legal, and policy challenges for long-term OFG sustainability. Topics include responsible abstraction, environmental impacts, and governance frameworks.

Information and image source:

🌿Protecting the Mediterranean means more than drawing lines on a map.

The Mediterranean is one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems — but also one of its most pressured. From tourism and shipping to fisheries and coastal development, human activities continue to place increasing strain on marine habitats already affected by climate change.

Yet nature protection remains one of the weakest areas of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) implementation across the region.

Key challenges identified include:
⚠️ Limited ecosystem restoration actions
⚠️ Insufficient Marine Protected Area networks
⚠️ Weak protection of blue carbon ecosystems like Posidonia seagrass meadows
⚠️ Lack of clear measures to reduce environmental pressures at sea

There are still important signs of progress.

-France has mapped Posidonia oceanica ecosystems along its Mediterranean coast — a major step in protecting valuable carbon-storing habitats.

-Spain designated Natura 2000 sites as “Priority Zones for Biodiversity Protection” to help support EU conservation targets.

-Slovenia strengthened environmental assessments by considering cumulative impacts and land-sea interactions in its planning process.

Healthy marine ecosystems are not separate from economic development — they support fisheries, tourism, coastal resilience, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability across the Mediterranean.

As pressures on the region continue to grow, ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning will be essential for ensuring that ocean development works with nature, not against it.

Information and image source:
📊 Source: WWF (2023), Maritime Spatial Planning in the Mediterranean Sea

The SMACORT project (3D manufacturing of developed sustainable coating materials for building retrofitting and energy efficiency) is showcasing how 3D printing can transform construction by combining digital fabrication with recycled waste materials to improve building performance and sustainability.

At its core, the project focuses on turning construction and demolition waste into valuable resources. Discarded ceramic tiles and crushed concrete are processed into fine powders and used to create a cement-free geopolymer mortar. This eco-friendly material reduces CO₂ emissions while helping to address the growing challenge of construction waste.

To further improve energy efficiency, the system integrates phase change materials (PCMs), which absorb and release thermal energy to help stabilise indoor temperatures. This passive approach reduces the need for energy-intensive heating and cooling systems, supporting more sustainable building operation.

A key achievement of SMACORT is the successful optimisation of 3D printing techniques to produce modular façade panels. These were installed in a real-world setting in an industrial building at the Public Abattoir in Marsa, Malta, demonstrating the transition of the technology from laboratory research to practical application.

Building on this work, the University of Malta is further developing 3D concrete printing using limestone waste, recycled aggregates, and industrial by-products. A gantry-type 3D printer is being used to test material performance, focusing on key properties such as pumpability, extrudability, buildability, strength, and durability.

Together, these initiatives highlight how 3D printing can enable high-performance, low-impact construction solutions and support the modernisation of existing buildings in a more sustainable way.

The project is funded through the Xjenza Malta–TÜBİTAK 2023 Joint Call for R&I Proposals. For further information contact Prof. Ruben Paul Borg, Faculty for the Built Environment, University of Malta (ruben.p.borg@um.edu.mt)

The PolyMEMSens (Polymer-MEMS-based sensors) project represents a significant step forward in the development of next-generation low-cost air quality monitoring technologies. Conducted through a collaboration between the University of Malta and Sabancı University in Turkey, the project focuses on designing highly sensitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly isopropyl alcohol (IPA), in real-time environments.

At the core of the innovation is a piezoelectric MEMS resonator coated with a functional polymer film. This polymer is engineered to selectively absorb target gas molecules, causing measurable frequency shifts in the resonator. This approach enables compact, high-sensitivity, low-cost, sensing suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, including smart homes, industrial monitoring, and healthcare systems.

During the project, researchers developed and tested multiple MEMS prototypes coated with different polymer materials, including polypyrrole and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam). A custom-built experimental setup allowed precise control of environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and gas concentration. Using signal processing and amplitude-based frequency tracking techniques, the system demonstrated the ability to detect minute frequency changes, down to sub-ppm levels, correlated with VOC exposure.

Results confirmed a clear relationship between gas concentration and sensor resonant   frequency response, with fast response times of under two minutes. However, the study also revealed a critical challenge: the durability of polymer coatings. Several prototypes exhibited coating degradation and peeling, which affected measurement accuracy and long-term reliability.

The findings provide valuable insights for future improvements, particularly in enhancing polymer adhesion and sensor robustness possibly through the use of intermediate layers.

Overall, the PolyMEMSens project highlights the potential of combining MEMS technology with advanced materials to create efficient, scalable, and intelligent air quality monitoring solutions for the future.

Acknowledgement

This project was financed by Xjenza Malta through the Xjenza Malta-TÜBİTAK 2023 Joint Call for R&I Proposals.