The MSCA-DN programme “EXBRINER/Next-generation membrane technologies for sustainable exploitation of seawater brine resources: transition towards a "circular blue industry” is designed to train a new generation of doctoral candidates in Membrane Engineering by means of a synergic cross-fertilization of complementary competences centered on the development of innovative membrane technologies at water-energy-resources nexus for a sustainable valorization of desalination wastes. The doctoral programme is implemented through an inter-sectoral and multidisciplinary Network, composed by 8 Universities, 3 Research Centers and 4 Industrial Companies (two of them are SMEs) from 8 European Countries, all with recognized excellence in the field of membrane technology. Based on more than 10 years of joint experience in Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate/Master in Membrane Engineering, the Consortium shares a common infrastructural platform - with worldwide recognized excellence - for implementing highly competitive and jointly supervised training and research activities. Those activities, oriented towards societal needs of strategic relevance for the European Union, cover a large spectrum of “market-relevant” applications such as: sustainable desalination for water supply, exploring alternative mineral sources for a secure supply of critical raw materials, low-carbon power technologies based on Salinity Gradient energy.