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Water JPI

International Cooperation


WATER JPI: Water challenges for a changing world


The joint programming initiative "Water challenges for a changing world" aims at aligning efforts, mobilize resources and reinforce the European competitiveness and leadership in research and innovation in the Water domain. Portugal is one of the partners in this initiative, in which the European Commission is also a participant. In 2014, it was launched the ERA-NET WaterWorks 2014-2019 in Support of the Water JPI, in which Portugal is a partner as well.

On this page you can consult information about:


Water JPI overview


The Water JPI is an intergovernmental initiative which aims at achieving sustainable water systems for a sustainable economy in Europe and abroad. This grand challenge will be achieved through harmonizing and mobilizing resources. To attain those goals it will be necessary to adopt a transnational and multi-disciplinary vision in order to address the specific challenges that have been identified in the economic, ecological, societal and technological domains.

  • Objetives and RDI Domains
    • The Water JPI is focused in the area of freshwater and Hydrology, and seeks to address one major challenge: Achieving Sustainable Water Systems for a Sustainable Economy in Europe and Abroad. This overarching goal is split in five areas- research challenges:
    • 1. Maintaining ecosystem sustainability.
    • 2. Developing safe water systems for the citizens.
    • 3. Promoting competitiveness in the water industry.
    • 4. Implementing a water-wise bio-based economy.
    • 5. Closing the water-cycle gap.
  • Action Plan
    • Among the activities developed by this initiative a mapping of European research and innovation in Water will be undertaken, as well as the definition of a Strategic Research Agenda and Innovation (SRIA), whose implementation intends to reach the alignment of national programs in a common programmatic guidance. Development of joint activities is another important action – two transnational calls for projects are already foreseen.

      This European initiative bets the promotion of a systematic, active and critical involvement of Water policymakers and stakeholders, especially from companies and industry sectors.

  • Member-Countries
    • Since 2008 the Water JPI has been building a cohesive taskforce at the level of RDI Programmes, and currently integrates 19 partner countries, the European Commission and 5 observer countries. For detailed information, one should consult the Water JPI website.

CSA WatEUr

The Coordination and Support Action WatEUr aims at the preparation and support of the development and implementation of the Water JPI. With the elaboration of the commitments and objectives of the Water JPI, and its management structure, it is of primordial importance to create the mechanisms to guarantee the efficient progress and development of this joint initiative. In harmony with the Water JPI, the WatEUr develops joint efforts with the aim at consolidating the European Research Area (ERA), and to benefit researchers, water legal entities, industry, farmers and producers, and citizens in general. The WatEUr provides the support to the Water JPI in order to minimize the fragmentation of research efforts at the European level, the maximization of the collaborative work and the use of the limiting resources, and the European growth and development at the scientific and technological level, in the Water domain.

For detailed information consult the WatEUr webpage.


Closed calls and funding granted

Within the scope of the co-fund ERA-NETS in support of the Water JPI, several Joint Transnational Calls (JTC) were launched whose purpose was to support collaborative research and innovation projects related to the current challenges of European society in the domain of Water.

FCT participated in the WaterWorks 2014 and 2015 co-funded calls:

WaterWorks 2015 Co-funded JTC: Sustainable management of water resources in agriculture, forestry and freshwater aquaculture sectors

This JTC has funded collaborative research and innovation projects to support the implementation of sustainable water resources management policies in the agriculture, forestry and freshwater aquaculture sectors, in order to increase water use efficiency and reduce soil and water pollution.


WaterWorks 2014 Co-funded JTC: Research and Innovation for Development of Technological Solutions and Services for Water Systems

The overarching aim of this call was to develop technological solutions for water and wastewater treatment, to assess risks, and for cost effectiveness and improved quality of life. All should contribute to tackling European water challenges and produce new scientific and technological knowledge and/or explore the implementation of novel management, treatment and mitigation measures and technologies.


Pilot call 2013 – WatEUr: Emerging Water Contaminants – Anthropogenic Pollutants and Pathogens

The overarching aim of this Pilot Call was to identify new ways to efficiently assess, prevent, control and remove emerging freshwater contaminants, thereby preventing risks to human health and securing the ecological functions of water ecosystems now and in the future.

  • More information about this JTC
    • Three themes have been identified as specific challenges within this Pilot Call:
      1. Identification and prevention of emerging freshwater contaminants;
      2. Control, mitigation and methods for treatment and removal; and
      3. Impact on ecosystems services and human health.
    • 11 funding agencies from 10 countries participated in this co-funded call.
    • More information about this call can be found on the Water JPI website.
  • Results and funding granted
    • Title of the project: StARE: Stopping antibiotic Resistance Evolution
    • Coordinator: Célia M. Manaia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal)
    • Financing granted by FCT: €100.000,00 (hundred thousand euros)
    • Portuguese researcher: Isabel Henriques, University of Aveiro
    • Financing granted by FCT: €50.000,00 (fifty thousand euros)

    • Title of the project: TRACE: Tracking and assessing the Risk from Antibiotic Resistant genes using Chip technology in surface water ecosystems
    • Coordinator: Wolfgang Fritzsche (Germany)
    • Portuguese researcher: Pedro Viana Baptista, NOVA.ID.FCT – Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da FCT
    • Financing granted by FCT: €149,544.00 (one hundred and forty-nine thousand, five hundred and forty-four euros)

    • For more information on these and other projects funded under this JTC, check Water JPI website.

Contacts

Governing Board of the Water JPI
Alexandre Fernandes
alexandre.fernandes@fct.pt
Executive Board of the Water JPI and Steering Committee of the WatEUr CSA
Germana Santos
germana.santos@fct.pt
Executive Board of the Water JPI and Steering Committee of the WatEUr CSA
Rui Munhá
rui.munha@fct.pt

Water JPI website

http://www.waterjpi.eu/