CLEAN invites DanishWatertech and Ecotech SMEs to apply for funding to develop and implement environmental pilot projects in Salvador, Brazil.
Building on Innovation Camp Salvador and SITUS 2026, the call is developed in partnership with Orla Brasil, supporting the sustainable transformation of Salvador’s waterfront, including the 7 km redevelopment of Pituaçu.
Selected companies will have the opportunity to test their solutions in real-world settings, address local environmental challenges and explore commercial opportunities in Brazil.
Salvador’s role as a host city of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™️ provides additional opportunities, although projects do not need to be directly linked to the tournament.
Funding
Up to five Danish SMEs will receive:
- DKK 100,000 from CLEAN to develop and implement a pilot.
- A minimum of R$ 100,000 in local implementation support to be mobilised by Orla Brasil and its partners per selected pilot, covering implementation-related costs such as local staff, training, works, adaptation and other activities needed to deploy the solution in Brazil.
The local implementation support will be managed by Orla Brasil and its partners and will not be transferred directly to the Danish SME.
Additional resources may be provided by the City of Salvador and private partners.
What are we looking for?
Solutions addressing the challenges identified by Orla Brasil at challenges.daorla.com, particularly in:
- Water management and environmental monitoring
- Waste management, recycling and circular economy
- Coastal and marine environments
- Climate adaptation, biodiversity and nature-based solutions
- Cleaning, sanitation and environmental performance
Pilots may be implemented in waterfront areas, public spaces, hospitality facilities, sports venues or other relevant locations in Salvador.
Projects are not limited to Orla Brasil’s sites. Applicants may propose other Brazilian partners or implementation settings, provided there is a clear pathway to implementation in Salvador or Brazil.
Orla Brasil will facilitate connections with relevant local partners and pilot sites.
Who can participate?
The program is intended for Danish SMEs that:
- Offer mature solutions within water, waste, circular economy, coastal environments, climate adaptation, biodiversity, sanitation, resource efficiency or environmental performance
- Want to explore new export markets in Brazil
- See opportunities for collaboration with local partners in Salvador and other Brazilian cities
- Work with innovation, demonstration, market entry and international growth
Companies with expertise in the following areas are particularly well-suited:
- Water management, reuse and environmental monitoring
- Waste management, recycling and circular economy
- Coastal and marine environmental solutions
- Climate adaptation, biodiversity and nature-based solutions
- Energy and resource efficiency for tourism, events and public spaces
- Cleaning, sanitation and environmental performance
- Sustainable tourism, hospitality, venues and major-event operations
Conditions
- Danish SME with 1–249 employees
- Solution must be mature enough to be tested or demonstrated in Brazil
- Grant of up to DKK 100,000 per selected company
- Minimum R$ 100,000 in local implementation support per selected pilot, mobilised by Orla Brasil and its partners
- Local support may cover implementation-related costs such as local staff, training, works, adaptation and deployment activities
- Local support will be managed by Orla Brasil and its partners and will not be transferred directly to the Danish SME
- Submission of the required De Minimis Declaration is mandatory
- Complete the online application form by 2 November 2026
- All pilot activities must be completed no later than 31 August 2027
- Participation in previous Salvador activities is not required
How applications are assessed
Applications will be assessed based on:
- Relevance to the environmental challenges identified by Orla Brasil and Salvador partners
- Fit with sustainable tourism, major events, waterfront transformation and environmental performance
- Maturity of the solution and readiness to implement a pilot in Brazil
- Clear implementation pathway, including local partner, pilot site or operational setting
- Expected environmental benefits, such as reduced waste, improved water use, lower emissions, resource efficiency, biodiversity benefits or improved sanitation
- Potential for continued collaboration, commercialisation, replication or external funding after the pilot
- Strategic value for the company’s international development in Brazil
Additional consideration may be given to projects that contribute to Salvador’s waterfront transformation and/or create a sustainability legacy connected to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™️. Projects do not need to be directly linked to the tournament to be eligible.
Key dates
- Application deadline: 02/11/2026
- Evaluation period: 02–16/11/2026
- Applicants informed: 20/11/2026
- Expected pilot start: 01/12/2026
- Pilot completion: no later than 31/08/2027
How to apply
Complete the application form by 2 November 2026.
State aid
The funding is provided as de minimis aid. Companies receiving support must therefore submit the required de minimis declaration.
Download De minimis-Declaration
*De minimis declaration: The activity is co-financed by the Danish Board of Business Development, and the value is assessed at DKK 115,000. A company in Denmark may receive up to EUR 300,000 in state aid (approximately DKK 2.2 million) over a three-year period. The amount will therefore count towards your state aid for 2026–2028. If your company is selected, you will be required to sign a de minimis declaration.
