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What is RITMER?
Context
After the the oil spill following the sinking of the ERIKA, which affected a large part of the Atlantic coastline, from
Brittany to Charentes, the Comité Interministériel de l'Aménagement et du Développement du Territoire (CIADT)
took a series of measures to cope with the consequences, to improve the measures for the prevention of such accidents, and to
reinforce the means available to combat them.
In this context, it was decided to create a Network of Research and Technological Innovation (Réseau de Recherche et d'Innovation
Technologiques, abbreviated as RRIT) on the theme of "Accidental Marine Pollution Events and their Ecological Consequences".
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Areas of interest for RITMER
The field of marine pollution is a broad one and the RRIT must define the scope of its area of investigation within existing
structures: a monitoring network of the ecological consequences of the ERIKA sinking (MATE), scientific research activities conducted
by different organizations in the context of their stated missions (IFREMER, CNRS, Universities, CEDRE,…), the research program LIT'EAU on
the long-term management of littoral environments, long-term observation programs,… Some technological research can also be supported
by public funds in the context of programs of the Comité d'Etudes Pétrolières et Marines (MEFI). Good
coordination between the projects is thus indispensable.
The area of interest of RITMER, in it's current configuration, begins after the event, whether accidental or deliberate (sinking,
emptying of ballast,…), that results in an oil spill or other pollution. The organisation does not address, in principle,
the prevention of wrecks or other causes of pollutant spills in the oceans- these questions are addressed by other organisations.
RITMER is interested in tracking, characterisation, and monitoring of pollutant spills over time and space, and in technical procedures of
intervention, protection, and rehabilitation of littoral and marine ecosystems.
Chemical pollution, that may include pollution by macro-waste of accidental orgin, are also of interest to the
network.
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Objective
RITMER associates teams of government researchers, industrial partners, and both public and private managers and professionals in
the marine domain. The objective of the network is to identify priority needs in the domain of accidental marine pollution and to
create and support
actions of applied cooperative research in order to increase the capacity of technological responses.
To complement these efforts, the association
conducts technology transfer programs, and communication and dessemination of results, according to the directions defined by the
Steering Committee.
The research and development proposals are certified in order to receive incentive credits from the State, from local communities,...
RITMER's mission is to be in touch with the social and economic needs, to identify technological problems, to organize the
technical and scientific community and to bring together the laboratories and businesses around collective research projects
targeting the development of innovative products, procedures, methods or services. The participation of SMI/SME is encouraged.
Some international collaborations can be developed and established.
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Organisation
RITMER is structured around a Steering Committee and a Coordination and Organisation Group:
- The Steering Committee, which has members from government research, from industry, or marine professionals and other persons responsible
for directing actions and programs on
the prevention and treatment of littoral marine pollution, is charged with defining the directions of research and
development, and the evaluation and certification of projects.
- The Coordination and Organisation group ensures the functioning and organisation of the group.
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Areas of activity
Activities lead by RITMER are essentially of three types:
- research and development activities,
- scientific and technical co-ordination by organising themed meetings for the presentation of completed studies or studies under
evaluation,
- communication and publication of results and developments.
They are coordinated with other research and development programs in France and internationally, mainly in Europe.
The projects must be cooperative: they associate one or several potential users
of the research results, in the field of pollution prevention (industrial, professional), to one or several government research laboratories. They must work within
the commercial and scientific context described above. The implication of SME/SMI constitutes a favorable factor
for a project. The social and economic impacts of a project should be described in the proposal and are considered to be
an essential criteria for project selection.
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Statements from the Ministry of Research
(some of these links may be available in French only)
Contact RITEAU
Network for research and technological innovation "Water and Environmental Technologies" :
Réseau de recherche et d'innovation
technologique "Eau & technologies de l'environnement"
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