Cofunded by the European Union

The main goal of Pillar C is to support knowledge transfer and the uptake of research outcomes and innovative approaches in the water sector. To achieve this ambitious goal, the activities aim at acceleration of the dialogue between science and policy communities, in order to ensure that research and innovation actions  are  responding  to  policy needs, but also to reinforce the connections with the economic sectors for a more effective implementation of innovative solutions at  local and regional scales. In this context, specific activities will be dedicated to further develop the skills of wide range of involved actors, as well as to provide a framework for data and information sharing.

  • Structure & objectives

    Pillar C is structured in 4 tasks:

    • Task C1: Strengthening the science-policy-governance interface
    • Task C.2: Accelerating the uptake of R&I results by the economic sectors
    • Task C.3: Fostering capacity development of all actors
    • Task C.4: Developing open science & open access to projects outputs and connected observatories and research infrastructures

    The activities developed within  different tasks will contribute to the achievement of  following Pillar objectives:

    • Supporting systemic knowledge transfer to relevant policies via activities of Knowledge Hubs and policy assessment working groups
    • Fostering systemic innovation transfer to economic sectors by bringing together the solution providers and problem owners
    • Developing new approaches for accelerating the uptake of projects outputs by the economic sectors for more effective implementation at all scales
    • Being a driver of transformation by increased capacity building of various actors by implementing PhD schemes, mobility programs and vocational training activities
    • Supporting Open Science & Open Access to projects outputs and connected observatories and research infrastructures
    • Supporting interoperability between existing Open Data portals for sharing and reusing data across data sources.

     

  • Outputs & impacts

    The main expected outputs and impacts of Pillar C are:

    • The identification of research and innovation needs in support of implementing selected water policies and legislations, together with the “translation” of research outcomes into applicable policy recommendations
    • A more effective development of innovative start-ups and SMEs in the water sector, including a quicker access to the market
    • The improvement of capacities and skills of actors in the water community
    • The development of a solid framework for data and information sharing, including the provision of dedicated tools

     

  • Medium & short term impacts of activities

    In medium/short terms, the activities developed by Pillar C will lead to:

    • To facilitate dialogue across the key policy actors to identify both technical and governance needs for the implementation of water related strategies and regulations in short term, and present them scientific evidence to achieve their goals in medium and long terms; (C1).
    • A better understanding of the landscape of the already existing programs, facilities, financial instruments and incubators for innovations in the water sector and of the needs of (pre) start-ups in developing their company. This will be the starting point for supporting the creation of successful start-ups and for the development of an incubator strategy; (C2).
    • To design, implement and proliferate PhD schemes with an emphasis on triple helix, multidisciplinary and cross-sectorial collaborations across interested partners that are in line with the Water4All SRIA priorities; (C3).
    • To understand the current landscape of vocational training activities related to water management within and beyond Europe and develop strategies to expand their impact via mobilization activities, while conceiving the need for a systematic transformation of all actors to tackle the complex nature of water management challenges; (C3).  
    • To promote  exchange with EU and National actors to foster the cooperation in the development of observation data and services for broadening implementation; (C4).
    • To develop a Data Management Plan, including measures for integrating data produced by the funded research projects, aimed at the promotion of open access to data and of the use of the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable data) principles; (C4).
    • To identify the best approaches for the development of a data platform and relative tools, with regards to latest evolutions in FAIR data sharing; (C4).
  • Public Deliverables

    The Entrepreneurship and Business development training program with focus on inspiration, education and incubation;

    The incubator strategy, aimed to support early stage start-ups and European projects spin-offs, to increase their abilities to bring their technology faster to the market;

    The guidance document on data management in the context of Open Science (Data Management Plan)

    A data Platform Pilot and related tools, that will integrate existing databases and data collected from R&I projects funded by Water4All.

    A report on the design and best practices of PhD schemes, vocational education and training programmes implemented by Water4All partners.

    A thematic gap analysis report to identify the challenges on selected policy areas and guidelines to implement the emerging and available solutions.

    An online platform to foster mobility of water professionals by matchmaking across the problem owners and solution providers

    Synthetic science-policy outputs (policy briefs, concept notes, state-of-the-art reports, etc.) by the Knowledge Hub

     

The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the planet - 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 objectives are to tackle water challenges as means to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The Water4All Partnership's 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 that we all 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 how to preserve, restore, and manage 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 wide and cohesive group of 79 partners from 31 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.