Acqueau’s 2nd workshop ”Water Beyond Europe”, 17th and 18th October, Paris
Acqueau is celebrating its new cooperation with Canada by organising the workshop ‘Water Beyond Europe’ on 17th & 18th October in Paris. The workshop aspires to bring together European and Canadian stakeholders as well as representatives from the national funding agencies in both continents, with the aim of fostering the transnational collaboration and innovation for the benefit of the water sector.
For more information about the detailed programme and the registration process, please visit Acqueau’s website
Read MoreFirst EIP WATER CONFERENCE ‘Networking & Interacting- Innovating Water’
Under the theme ‘ Networking & Interacting- Innovating Water’, the first conference of the European Innovation Partership will take place on 21st of November in the EU Parliament in Brussels.
The one-day conference will showcase innovations from both within and outside the water sector through keynote addresses, panel discussions and moderated plenary sessions.
The nine initial EIP Water Action Groups established in May 2013 will showcase their nascent work; interactive sessions will assist new ideas to be taken forward, and the next steps of the EIP Water will be presented and discussed.
The draft programme of the conference is now available and the registration process has already started.
Read MoreWssTP recognized as “European Technology Platform” for ETP 2020
WssTP is very pleased to inform you that the European Commission has decided to renew WssTP’s recognition as a European Technology Platform (ETP) in line with the new ETP2020 strategy. ETPs are industry-led stakeholder platforms that develop short-to long term research and innovation agendas and roadmaps for action at EU and national level.
As an ETP, WssTP endeavors:
- To increase members’ coordination and collaboration in water research
- To create a strong EU water sector leadership by overcoming fragmentation and providing an answer to increasing competition from outside Europe
- To contribute to solving Europe’s water-related societal challenges through strategic planning, lobbying, and coordinated research
In its ETP2020 Strategy, the EC states “The Commission undertakes to take full account of relevant aspects of the research and innovation agendas established by European Technology platforms. Other relevant structures providing advice will include Joint Programming Initiatives and European Innovation Partnerships.” To learn more about ETPs and the ETP2020 strategy, please visit the European Commission website.
Should you have any enquiry, please don’t hesitate to contact us at wsstp@wsstp.eu
Read MoreInterview with Hans Seitinger
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Hans Seitinger, Minister for Agriculture and Foresty, Water and Waste Management, Government of Styria, Austria[/quote]
Within WssTP the stakeholders for water supply in urban and rural areas are playing an important role. How the governance of water supply is structured in Styria?
In Styria exclusively groundwater and springs are used for water supply. The Northern part of Styria represents the mountainous Alpine region with sufficient water resources. On the other hand in the Eastern and Southeastern region, which is a hilly area out of the Alps, water resources are sometimes scarce and therefore in some places the water supply must be provided by transregional pipelines from aquifers in the north. The operation of supply is structured through water boards and water corporations, which are organized on a strong economic basis, controlled by a supervisory committee with public background.
WssTP has been developed to an important advisory body on water issues for the European Commission. Could this constellation also be used for the benefit of Styria?
Definitely yes, Styria will merge its interests in the water sector from time to time and deliver to WssTP through the Austrian delegate, expecting that the interests will be adjusted with other European regions in order to become accepted easier by the Commission. Styria is in favor of an excellent geopolitical position with specific know how for high water related investments and for networking.
By the establishment of MSMG Secretariat in Graz, the Region of Styria will be upgraded. Could this step also extend the sphere of influence to neighboring regions in Southeast Europe?
This perception was one of the main reasons that Styria is strongly supporting the establishment andrunning of the MSMG secretariat. It should definitely increase the co-operation of Styria with the Member States and the Candidate Countries on public lines.
The “European Innovation Partnership on Water” as the new future oriented program of EU is reflecting deeply the governance instruments for a sustainable utilization of water resources. How this task can be implemented in Styria?
Styria as a whole has sufficient water resources for drinking purposes. Nevertheless we have to govern the distribution of the resources carefully and also to end users from the industry, the energy and theagriculture.
The private industry on European scale is undertaking a lot of efforts by R&D developments to adopt the operation of water supply systems. Which models could be applied for Styria expecting the most benefit for the state andits population?
The running models are still attractive and the co-operation with private providers for certain services might be successful, it should be based on innovative activities through research investments governed by public interests.
Read More2013 WssTP Stakeholders Event – Water In The Urban Environment
Pictures | See Gallery |
Presentations | Download Presentations |
Report | Download Post-Conference Report |
Website | www.waterintheurbanenvironment.eu |
The joint WssTP-COST Strategic Event on “Water in the urban environment: Bringing research to the market” was an outstanding success with more than 200 attendees. After the Water Innovation Europe 2012 conference which we organised together with ACQUEAU, this was the 2nd time that WssTP organised a conference of this scope and magnitude in which it managed to bring together representatives from all domains of the water sector. Each day of our event was specially focused on a different dimension of the topic ‘Water in the urban environment’, achieving this way to combine policy, science and business in an innovative and productive way. Our attendees were provided with a platform to discuss, exchange knowledge, debate and reach a conclusion that is impossible to be reached without collaboration on all sides of the water sector. Rudolf Strohmeier, the deputy director of DG RTD, said during his keynote speech on the first day of the event that the ‘Water sector needs to work in partnership’. We as WssTP identify ourselves with this statement since our core goals are to increase the collaboration and coordination within the water sector and to enhance its competitiveness. This conference was one of our initiatives towards the fulfilment of this goal. Many more will follow. Stay updated on WssTP events’ and activities.
For further information please visit the Water in the Urban Environment website
Read MoreJoint WssTP – CopaCogeca Workshop
[quote align=”right” color=”#999999″]The workshop was jointly organised by WssTP, and Copa-Cogeca, representing European farmers and their agri-cooperatives.[/quote]
The aim of this workshop was to have a broad debate on how to unlock the potential of improved water management in the agricultural sector. It brought together representatives from the water industry, science and the agricultural sector to share their knowledge on innovative solutions and how to apply them in practice.
The main objective was to share recent technological developments and new management tools with participants, which can enable farmers to further improve water management in agriculture. This will lead to a more efficient use of water and contribute to achieving a good ecological status for European water bodies.
In particular, the event provided an opportunity to conclude an expression of commitment to form an Action Group on “Water & Irrigated agriculture Resilient Europe (WIRE)” under the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water. This will bring together existing expertise and identify opportunities to work together for the benefit of the farming community and water industries.
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Workshop Presentations[/quote]
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