EU Water Innovation Conference 2019

The EU Water Innovation Conference 2019 (EUWIC) will be held on December 12, in Zaragoza, Spain. It will carry the theme:

"Accelerating action to tackle water pollution and enhance EU preparedness to water-related climate change impacts"   #EUWIC #CleanWaterEU

The European Commission aims to raise awareness about the need and urgency to improve water management across the European Union towards a water-smart society. This high-level event will feed innovators minds with best practices and innovative approaches at technical, governance and policy levels.

This will be the 5th EIP Water Conference, after Brussels (2013), Barcelona (2014), Leeuwarden (2016) and Porto (2017), and shall build upon the European Innovation Partnership (EIP Water)’s efforts so far to foster innovation in the water sector and overcome the main existing barriers. At the same time, it is a stepping stone into the future, as the current EIP Water is planned to end in 2020, and it will likely be followed by new actions to address water-related challenges, secure enhanced compliance with the EU water acquis and foster the research-policy interface, whilst strengthening partnerships for joint efforts.

The city of Zaragoza was selected as a host city after a pan-European competition won by the Region of Aragon (Spain).

Aragon’s proposal builds on a strong legacy of hosting the water-focused World Expo in 2008, and a strong institutional, entrepreneur and civil society engagement in water. Zaragoza and the conference venue are located at the Ebro river banks, and Aragon faces many of the today’s and tomorrow’s challenges on water management, including pollution, floods, scarcity and droughts. At the same time, Aragon is a dynamic region, with strong innovation activities related to the circular economy and sustainability. Zaragoza is a recognized congress city with important events such as Smagua International Water and Irrigation exhibition.

EUWIC and side events

The EIP Water conference will be preceded and followed by an increasing number of side meetings, social events as well as site visits on December 11 and 13. Participants of the conference will learn about Aragon’s unique features, attend site visits in the middle Ebro river valley and Pyrenees mountains, and attend a series of side events before and after the event. Planned 29 side meetings will take place on December 11 between 9:00 and 18:00 at the conference venue, more details about the meetings and how to register can be found here. If you are interested in joining us at social events such as the welcome reception on December 11, networking cocktail on December 12 back to back with the conference and/or site visits on December 13, you can register here.

1. Aim – and what you can expect

To raise awareness about the need and urgency to improve water management across the European Union towards a water-smart society, take stock of key European Commission’s findings based on the 2019 Fitness Check of EU Water Law and of research and innovation results and outcomes, and promote exchange of best practices and innovative approaches at technical, governance and policy levels.

Participants can expect to:

1. Hear the direction the European Commission is taking in its water, climate change and research and innovation policies;
2. Learn the lessons of experienced water innovators in Europe;
3. Gain insight into the regulatory and financial framework, partnerships and how to successfully establish innovation;
4. Network with potential collaboration partners;
5. Get to know the funding and financial instruments available.

2. Participants and target audiences

The main target audiences of the EU Water Innovation Conference 2019 are high-level representatives of the public and corporate water sector in Europe and beyond. Attendees will include water managers, representatives of water authorities, launching customers (innovation demanders) from the private and public sector (cities, regions and EU Member States), water-using sectors and innovation providers. Furthermore, there will be participants from other sectors related to innovation development, uptake and financing.

The conference is free of charge, but registration is required.

3. Date, Venue and Registration

The EU Water Innovation Conference 2019 is scheduled for Thursday, December 12 2019. The conference will take place in the Palacio de Congresos de Zaragoza, Spain, and will start at 10:00 am. Planned 29 side meetings will take place on December 11 between 9:00 and 18:00 at the conference venue, more details about the meetings and how to register can be found here. If you are interested in joining us at social events such as the welcome reception on December 11, networking cocktail on December 12 back to back with the conference and/or site visits on December 13, you can register here.