Commission launches European Water Resilience Strategy

On 4 June 2025, the European Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy, aiming at restoring and protecting the water cycle, securing clean and affordable water for all, and creating a sustainable, resilient, smart and competitive water economy in Europe. Boosting research and innovation is mentioned as one of the Flagship Actions. This includes the establishment of a science/policy interface to valorise the knowledge from EU and national funded R&I actions. The Commission will launch a Water Smart Industrial Alliance to support its consolidation by stimulating innovation, competitiveness and securing the necessary water skills. Complementing these initiatives, the Commission will also launch a European Water Academy to address capacity needs in Europe’s water sector, fostering public-private partnerships, innovation, and technology transfer to fill skill gaps.

The strategy states that effective use of EU research funds can help bring innovative technologies to market and support SMEs. Building on the cutting-edge research under EU Missions Restore our Oceans and Waters and Adaptation to Climate Change, the Commission will adopt, by the end of 2026, a Water Resilience R&I Strategy addressing the fragmentation of EU R&I initiatives.

In 2026, the Commission will launch a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems under the European Institute of Technology (EIT), to boost Europe’s competitiveness in the water field by spurring innovation and closing the skills and knowledge gaps.

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