A group of 33 leading experts from across Europe and Nigeria recently convened in Paris to discuss the most pressing research and innovation needs in the water sector.
They were selected among 220 candidacies from worldwide, responding to the Water4All call for applications launched at the end of 2024.
This gathering, held as part of the Water4All Partnership’s ongoing efforts, brought together specialists from academia, policy, water management, and industry, reflecting the initiative’s commitment to a systemic, cross-sectoral approach to water challenges.
The workshop forms a crucial step in updating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), the guiding document that shapes Water4All’s priorities and actions for ensuring long-term water security.
Key knowledge gaps identification
During the workshop, participants engaged in intensive discussions to identify and prioritise key knowledge gaps that persist in the water domain. Working groups focused on areas such as:
- Ecosystems and biodiversity,
- The circular economy,
- Sustainable water management,
- Water and health,
- Water infrastructures.
Experts examined the current SRIA’s, more than 200 research topics, critically assessed emerging challenges, and proposed new themes and research needs, especially in light of rapid developments in digital technologies and a quickly changing environment.
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For example, the group working on Water & Health issues discussed on how research can help to prevent human exposure to new and emerging toxic compounds present in water. A focus has been made on understanding the consequences on water-related health issues of political instabilities. Additionally, the use of water data to better understand relationships between water quality and environmental and public health has been hardly explored. |
Priority topics
A central outcome of the workshop was the identification of priority topics for the next phase of Water4All’s agenda. These include:
- Strengthening the resilience of water systems to climate change,
- Advancing digital tools for water monitoring and management,
- Fostering innovation to support European and global policy goals such as the EU Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The experts also discussed how to structure the updated SRIA, emphasising actionable roadmaps, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mechanisms for translating research into practical solutions for water management and policy.
The insights and recommendations from this expert workshop will be synthesised into a detailed report, which will directly inform the next version of the SRIA, set for release at the end of 2025.
A detailed report will be published, stay tune.
