In March 2018, the Griechenland Zeitung reported that Germany and Greece had launched 17 joint research projects. One of them, in materials research, targeted seawater desalination: a membrane-based process was to be developed that would use little energy, keep costs low and spare the environment. The bilateral programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), had existed since 2013. Each country planned to commit up to nine million euros over three years, with further projects due to start in April and May.
The report showed that desalination also featured in European research funding in 2018 as a materials science topic, here as one of 17 projects alongside health, energy and the bioeconomy.
Source: Griechenland Zeitung