Businesses in Wales are being invited to take part in a national innovation challenge around the detrimental effects abandoned metal mines are seen to be having on the nation’s rivers at a special event in Newport on December 18.

A briefing session at the Holiday Inn, Coldra, will highlight a competition that is seeking novel solutions from companies into how the loading of metals into Wales’ rivers can ultimately be reduced.

With support from Welsh Government and Innovate UK, Natural Resources Wales is inviting organisations from the private, public and third sectors to submit proposals to develop innovative, sustainable and effective solutions to associated water pollution issues.

The event will provide attendees with the opportunity to find out more about the Small Business Research Initiative and NRW’s aims and objectives for the project, as well as details on its approach to the bid process and project plan going forward.

It comes as evidence shows that nine per cent of Welsh rivers fail to meet European Water Framework Directive objectives because of polluted discharges from the 1,311 abandoned metal mines known to exist across Wales.

Richard Hancox, Natural Resources Wales project Mmnager for SBRI, said: “Our ambition is to encourage innovative methods to treat mine waters or spoil heap runoff at many of the smaller, more remote metal mine sites, to reduce the loading of metals being discharged to our river systems.

“The approach must be as sustainable as possible and be light touch in terms of operating costs – many sites are remote and are unlikely to have local services available to support the running of sites.”

Existing methods of extraction rely on active chemical treatment or large land areas for passive treatment, such as reed beds, which are often impractical at many of the remote sites affected.

The NRW is seeking small to medium size cost effective measures to help remediate or mitigate pollution from metal mine sites, with suggested approaches able to tackle mine water discharges, spoil heap pollution or contaminated sediment issues, or combinations of all three.

Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, said: “The aim of the Small Business Research Initiative Innovation Catalyst Programme is to drive participation in SBRI competitions by the public sector and businesses in Wales.

“Wales is home to thousands of innovative businesses that are working on pioneering projects which could be used to combat national challenges facing Wales. The challenge is to ensure these businesses are given the opportunity to showcase their ideas to public sector organisations.

“As this project shows, the Programme is driving innovation in public services and offering opportunities for innovative businesses to win contracts to help grow the Welsh R&D industry.”

Stage one application packs are available for collection from Sell2Wales, with further briefing set to take place at the Holiday Inn, Coldra, between 10am and 1pm on December 18 ahead of the closing date for submissions on January 5 2015.

For more information contact richard.hancox@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk or call 03000 654302.