In today’s world, marked by population growth, higher living standards, and a growing number of industrial and agricultural chemicals, combating water pollution has become a top priority. Under the umbrella of the iMERMAID project and as part of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters”, innovative, highly effective technologies for monitoring and remediation of the Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CoEC) were developed (https://imermaid.eu) and implemented in multiple effluents within the Mediterranean Sea basin. These activities coincided with commercialization strategies, evidence-based social impact framework and toolkit including capacity building, citizen engagement, and schooling projects across the region. This presentation assesses key lessons learned from technological, business, and societal standpoints on implementation of the novel technologies within wastewater treatment plants and industrial effluents. The implemented solutions include low-cost monitoring sensors for the detection of organic micropollutants (i.e. BPA, pharmaceuticals drugs, PFAS) and heavy metals as well as remediation systems targeting micropollutants and dissolved metals. The developed innovative solutions support EU industries in complying with the Urban WasteWater Treatment Directive and the Industrial Emission Directive by adopting a closed-loop production model. Complementary societal activities underpin the importance of change in mindsets and individual behavior.