Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SMARTWATER (Promoting SMART agricultural WATER management in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2024-06-30
SMARTWATER project is funded by the European Union’s H2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No 952396. The project aims: 1) to reinforce the networking, research and innovation capacities of the University of Banja Luka (UNI-BL), University of Sarajevo (UNSA) and other institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of sustainable agricultural water management (AWM); and 2) to increase their competences and fund-rising skills for a successful participation in the EU Research and Innovation Programs.
Project specific objectives are to: a) Enhance the capacity building and human resources development of the UNI-BL, UNSA and other institutions; b) Strengthen networking between UNI-BL, UNSA, the EU institutions and other regional institutions; c) Sett-up a smart scientific strategy in the field of sustainable agricultural water management and d) Adopt an effective smart communication/dissemination strategy for adequate promotion of twinning activities.
SMARTWATER project implementation (2021-2024) was successful and enabled the fulfillment of project main objectives. UNI-BL and UNSA together with connected institutions in the agricultural domain increased their networking, research and innovation capacities within the main project events like summer schools (SS), advanced training courses (ATC), stakeholder meetings (SM) and academic exchanges (AE). Also, competences and fund-rising skills were improved during the R&I workshops, which resulted in new project proposals and some ongoing EC funded projects.
In terms of project specific goals, capacity building and human resources development were done during the training activities (SS, ATC) targeted ESRs from BiH and 3-year joint experimental activities that included also the procurement of research equipment. Cooperation between BiH, regional and EU institutions was strengthened during the networking activities (SM, AE), in occasion of international conferences (IC) and EC conferences and during the day-to-day communication with project target groups and EC Officers. Smart scientific AWM strategy was developed during the 2022 and 2023 with significant feedback from BiH stakeholders. Promotion of SMARTWATER twinning activities was done at 25+ international conferences that project team members attended. Communication/dissemination activities targeted project stakeholders were implemented through different channels like project official website (news), social media profiles (posts), promotional materials, training materials and OA scientific publications.
Project specific objectives are to: a) Enhance the capacity building and human resources development of the UNI-BL, UNSA and other institutions; b) Strengthen networking between UNI-BL, UNSA, the EU institutions and other regional institutions; c) Sett-up a smart scientific strategy in the field of sustainable agricultural water management and d) Adopt an effective smart communication/dissemination strategy for adequate promotion of twinning activities.
SMARTWATER project implementation (2021-2024) was successful and enabled the fulfillment of project main objectives. UNI-BL and UNSA together with connected institutions in the agricultural domain increased their networking, research and innovation capacities within the main project events like summer schools (SS), advanced training courses (ATC), stakeholder meetings (SM) and academic exchanges (AE). Also, competences and fund-rising skills were improved during the R&I workshops, which resulted in new project proposals and some ongoing EC funded projects.
In terms of project specific goals, capacity building and human resources development were done during the training activities (SS, ATC) targeted ESRs from BiH and 3-year joint experimental activities that included also the procurement of research equipment. Cooperation between BiH, regional and EU institutions was strengthened during the networking activities (SM, AE), in occasion of international conferences (IC) and EC conferences and during the day-to-day communication with project target groups and EC Officers. Smart scientific AWM strategy was developed during the 2022 and 2023 with significant feedback from BiH stakeholders. Promotion of SMARTWATER twinning activities was done at 25+ international conferences that project team members attended. Communication/dissemination activities targeted project stakeholders were implemented through different channels like project official website (news), social media profiles (posts), promotional materials, training materials and OA scientific publications.
The activities carried out during the last 27 months (out of 42) of project implementation are summarized below.
At the management level, in RP2 the organization of project meetings and report drafting was operative and timely effective. PSG/SEAB teams held several meetings tackling main project achievements so far and future plans. Communication with the EC was effective and two amendments to GA were approved. The engagement of relevant stakeholders was done during the main project events.
At the operational level, in RP2 the following activities were organized: summer schools, advanced training courses, stakeholders’ meetings, R&I workshops, MSc courses, academic exchanges, experiments and international workshop. Project reports (35) for RP2 were submitted.
At the dissemination level, activities have been achieved at:
• The SMARTWATER website: brochures, newsletters, news/events page, training materials(opens in new window)
• The SMARTWATER social media: (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Zenodo link https://zenodo.org/search?q=smartwater&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=bestmatch(opens in new window)
Relevant conferences and workshops in RP2:
- “Encontro Ciência”, “Irrigation and Drainage” and “National Fair of Agriculture” (Portugal);
- “Managing Land and Water” (Austria);
- “Urban Water” (Czech Republic);
- “ISAF” (North Macedonia);
- “57th and 58th Conference of Serbian Agronomists”, “1st and 2nd International Symposium on Biotechnology”, “Agenda 4.0” and “ISAE 2023”, “ExcellMater” (Republic of Serbia);
- “World Soil Day” (BiH);
- “59th Croatian and 19th International Symposium on Agriculture” (Croatia);
- “Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences” (Italy).
Relevant REA conferences attended by SMARTWATER members:
- “Coordinators' Day” (2020),
- „Sustainable Agriculture and natural resources“ (2021);
- „Horizon Europe Info Days” (2021);
- „Avoiding errors in declaring personnel costs“ (2021);
- „Horizon Europe proposal writing“ (2021);
- “Avoiding common errors in declaring other direct costs” (2023).
The overview of SMARTWATER results in the period 2021-2024:
- 3 summer schools, 3 advanced training courses, 3 stakeholders’ meetings and 3 R&I workshops organized;
- 3 MSc studies and 3-year experimental studies organized;
- 13 mutual staff exchanges organized;
- participated in 25+ international conferences;
- international workshop in BiH organized;
- developed 2 smart water management tools and smart national scientific strategy;
- prepared new project proposals and ongoing projects;
- published 12 papers in conference proceedings and 10 OA scientific papers;
- published 2 promotional brochures, 7 E-newsletters and prepared flyers/banners;
- established 1 official website, 3 social media profiles, and Zenodo repository;
- prepared 50 deliverables, reached 48 milestones, implemented 2 amendments;
- 5000+ people reached by SMARTWATER activities.
The exploitation of SMARTWATER results is free of access to all stakeholders and all publications are open access. Relevant stakeholders were always invited to main events, joined the event and gave their feedback. The dissemination of SMARTWATER results (news/posts, training materials, publications, data sheets, reports, evaluations etc.) was done through several communication channels (website, social media, Zenodo, mouth-to-mouth communication) and still takes place.
At the management level, in RP2 the organization of project meetings and report drafting was operative and timely effective. PSG/SEAB teams held several meetings tackling main project achievements so far and future plans. Communication with the EC was effective and two amendments to GA were approved. The engagement of relevant stakeholders was done during the main project events.
At the operational level, in RP2 the following activities were organized: summer schools, advanced training courses, stakeholders’ meetings, R&I workshops, MSc courses, academic exchanges, experiments and international workshop. Project reports (35) for RP2 were submitted.
At the dissemination level, activities have been achieved at:
• The SMARTWATER website: brochures, newsletters, news/events page, training materials(opens in new window)
• The SMARTWATER social media: (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Zenodo link https://zenodo.org/search?q=smartwater&l=list&p=1&s=10&sort=bestmatch(opens in new window)
Relevant conferences and workshops in RP2:
- “Encontro Ciência”, “Irrigation and Drainage” and “National Fair of Agriculture” (Portugal);
- “Managing Land and Water” (Austria);
- “Urban Water” (Czech Republic);
- “ISAF” (North Macedonia);
- “57th and 58th Conference of Serbian Agronomists”, “1st and 2nd International Symposium on Biotechnology”, “Agenda 4.0” and “ISAE 2023”, “ExcellMater” (Republic of Serbia);
- “World Soil Day” (BiH);
- “59th Croatian and 19th International Symposium on Agriculture” (Croatia);
- “Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences” (Italy).
Relevant REA conferences attended by SMARTWATER members:
- “Coordinators' Day” (2020),
- „Sustainable Agriculture and natural resources“ (2021);
- „Horizon Europe Info Days” (2021);
- „Avoiding errors in declaring personnel costs“ (2021);
- „Horizon Europe proposal writing“ (2021);
- “Avoiding common errors in declaring other direct costs” (2023).
The overview of SMARTWATER results in the period 2021-2024:
- 3 summer schools, 3 advanced training courses, 3 stakeholders’ meetings and 3 R&I workshops organized;
- 3 MSc studies and 3-year experimental studies organized;
- 13 mutual staff exchanges organized;
- participated in 25+ international conferences;
- international workshop in BiH organized;
- developed 2 smart water management tools and smart national scientific strategy;
- prepared new project proposals and ongoing projects;
- published 12 papers in conference proceedings and 10 OA scientific papers;
- published 2 promotional brochures, 7 E-newsletters and prepared flyers/banners;
- established 1 official website, 3 social media profiles, and Zenodo repository;
- prepared 50 deliverables, reached 48 milestones, implemented 2 amendments;
- 5000+ people reached by SMARTWATER activities.
The exploitation of SMARTWATER results is free of access to all stakeholders and all publications are open access. Relevant stakeholders were always invited to main events, joined the event and gave their feedback. The dissemination of SMARTWATER results (news/posts, training materials, publications, data sheets, reports, evaluations etc.) was done through several communication channels (website, social media, Zenodo, mouth-to-mouth communication) and still takes place.
SMARTWATER project started in January 2021 and lasted 42 months. Project activities covered a diversity of stakeholders at different levels (from farmers to water managers). Responsible Research and Innovation implies that societal actors (researchers, citizens, policy makers, business, third sector organizations etc.) work together during the whole research and innovation process in order to better align both the process and its outcomes with the values, needs and expectations of society.
When it comes to expected results SMARTWATER beneficiaries organized different activities in all five working packages in RP2.
At the management level, we continued with the timely effective organization of project meetings and events, submission of reports and the engagement of relevant stakeholders. These activities were overseen by project executive bodies (PSG, SEAB, WP Groups and Dissemination Team). We were dedicated to the effective communication with the EC.
At the dissemination level, we continued our work on the project website and social media profiles. We prepared and disseminated promotional materials. We participated in different international conferences where SMARTWATER project was promoted. These activities were taken in order to i) spread knowledge about SMARTWATER project, ii) disseminate project activities iii) widen the project network and iv) increase the socio-economic impact of the SMARTWATER project.
When it comes to expected results SMARTWATER beneficiaries organized different activities in all five working packages in RP2.
At the management level, we continued with the timely effective organization of project meetings and events, submission of reports and the engagement of relevant stakeholders. These activities were overseen by project executive bodies (PSG, SEAB, WP Groups and Dissemination Team). We were dedicated to the effective communication with the EC.
At the dissemination level, we continued our work on the project website and social media profiles. We prepared and disseminated promotional materials. We participated in different international conferences where SMARTWATER project was promoted. These activities were taken in order to i) spread knowledge about SMARTWATER project, ii) disseminate project activities iii) widen the project network and iv) increase the socio-economic impact of the SMARTWATER project.