Cofunded by the European Union

The revised Water4All Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is available online. The 2026 version is a comprehensive update identifying priority areas for Research and Innovation to be addressed in the water domain.

After having been in operation for 4 years, several initiatives within the priority themes identified at that time have seen daylight and are currently in progress. However, the world is changing fast, and so is the perception of priorities and how the global situation is encoded by the water professionals within the Partnership.

This update is at the same time an indication of the ability of the Partnership to absorb and adapt to changes, balancing existing and new upcoming challenges and still keep the strategic orientations which were set in 2022. It also shows the potential of the Partnership to reflect new tendencies in the world in the water domain.

The SRIA therefore reflects this change, and it has now been updated accordingly in this second version, taking departure in three key water-related challenges: 

  • Water and ecosystem degradation, 
  • Hydroclimatic extremes
  • Water scarcity and imbalance

How is the SRIA being updated?

This updated SRIA is grounded in a rigorous evidence base. A bibliometric analysis of over 10,000 research abstracts from the Web of Science, combined with AI-assisted full-text analysis of 2500 papers, identified emerging research trends and gaps. 

These findings were validated and enriched through foresight workshops, partner and stakeholder consultations, and a broad public consultation across the European water community. The result is a research agenda that is both scientifically robust and responsive to stakeholder needs.

The updated SRIA sets five key themes with specific sub-themes and priority topics. 

  • Water-smart, circular and competitive economy 
  • Water for ecosystems and biodiversity  
  • Integrated water management 
  • Water and health 

  • Water infrastructures 

Read more about each theme R&I topics: link to the 2026 SRIA 

Other news

See all news

The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.