WaterWorks2014 addresses the water challenges in Europe through its support of the Water JPI, which aims to coordinate individual water research agendas of participating countries with a European-wide strategic research agenda on common research questions, increase cooperation between European water professionals through sharing resources and building networks, and make better use of Europe’s public Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) funding. Since the Water JPI responds to a societal challenge, impact needs to reach society at large.
The following impacts are observed:
1. Better use of scarce human and financial resources in the area of water R&I
WaterWorks2014 effectively exploits synergies at all levels and nurtures transnational research and innovation teams with the objective to speed up the progress in the cooperation and coordination between national and regional European Water RDI programmes. The promotion of water RDI coordination was fostered by launching a cofunded transnational and multidisciplinary call for research and innovation proposals on the theme “Research and Innovation for Developing Technological Solutions and Services for Water Systems”.
2. Reduced fragmentation of water research and innovation efforts across Europe
The fragmentation of efforts and the execution of RDI activities was continuously addressed at the Water JPI level through consultations, collaboration and consensus of a broad base of Water JPI partners and stakeholders, resulting in the two iterations of the Water JPI strategic agenda (SRIA) and a strategic Water JPI Vision document.
3. Improved synergy, coordination and coherence between national and EU funding in the relevant research fields through transnational collaboration
WaterWorks2014 plays a major role in the implementation of the Water JPI by interfacing national and EU funding and bringing together National Programmes to a higher dimension through transnational collaboration. WaterWorks2014 implemented activities to identify gaps and overlaps in the agendas of the National Programmes through effective exchange of knowledge and good practices, as well as through the implementation of the Cofunded Call.
4. Improved implementation of research and innovation programmes in these fields through exchange of good practices
A number of thematic meetings on the sharing of good practices on funding and management among national and/or regional programmes were carried out.
5. Achievemnt of a critical mass
On the intergovernmental level: The WaterWorks 2014 consortium of 25 partners represents major European players in water RDI, in terms of Ministries, Government Agencies, and funding Programmes.
On the level of research: In collaboration with researchers from the past and on-going JPI Calls and other national, EU and H2020 projects, WaterWorks2014 organised a number of alignment and networking activities intended to strengthen future collaboration in Water RDI.
6. Dissemination of the project activities and results
Dissemination of Water JPI activities and results is crucial to keep society informed of the latest news on water RDI and policies. The implementation of current communication technologies (newsletter, social networks, website) is effectively contributing to disseminate results in a effective and immediate way, maximizing impact.
