This year, we move to Copenhagen! Under the auspices of the Danish EU Presidency, Water Innovation Europe 2025 takes place on 27–28 October, placing the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy at the core of discussions. As Europe faces growing climate risks, water stress and overexploitation of water resources across all sectors, this event sets a new course where sustainable water management, climate resilience, and industrial competitiveness must converge. The conference will open with keynote speeches by Commissioner Jessika Roswall, and the Danish Minister, Magnus Johannes Heunicke, followed by two high-level panels: “Digitalisation: Enabling the Water-Smart Economy” and “Building a Water-Smart Economy for a Competitive Europe.”
These sessions will spotlight how digitalisation such as the smart metering, and AI-enabled infrastructure offer tangible pathways for better control of water resources, transforming water-intensive sectors and making Europe a global leader in water technology. Then, we will zoom on water efficiency and the new principle as a strategic lever to sustain water use, enhance competitiveness, and drive systemic change across industries and regions, particularly through its integration with the water-energy nexus.
Building a water-smart economy requires more. Water is no longer just a resource, it’s a driver of competitiveness, quality of life and environmental security.
The focus on the second day will shift toward human and financial capitals, particularly the challenges of attractiveness and investments, creating more syneriges and connecting industry, education and research with a source-tosea approach. With the Water Resilience Academy, Europe can stimulate its human capital to strengthen its resilience while attracting new talents in the water community.
Moreover, the role of public procurement as a lever to accelerate the uptake of clean and circular water technologies by utilities and municipalities and cities will be explored, highlighting how innovation and policy must converge. As the discussion on the Multiannual Financial Framework is starting, all the dimensions of the Water Resilience Strategy should be reflected, from supporting its implementation to the investment, mobilising both public and private resources through the cross-sectoral inclusion into other sectors, and into innovative solutions and approaches.
With a touch of Danish hygge, you might find yourself wanting to linger. Alongside the main sessions, a series of side events – including the renowned International Water Dialogue – will delve into the global dimension of European water policy. Water Innovation Europe 2025 will not only serve as a platform for dialogue, but as a launchpad for implementing the European Water Resilience Strategy.
The conference will open with keynote speeches by Commissioner Jessika Roswall, and the Danish Minister, Magnus Johannes Heunicke, followed by two high-level panels: “Digitalisation: Enabling the Water-Smart Economy” and “Building a Water-Smart Economy for a Competitive Europe.”
Welcome
- Tiffany Atwell, Vice-President, Water Europe
Keynotes
- Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
- Magnus Heunicke, Minister for Environment, Denmark
- Poul Due Jensen, CEO of Grundfos
- Kinga Szabo Christensen, Deputy Director General, Dansk Industri
Building upon the upcoming EU Action Plan on Water Digitalisation, this session will explore how digital tools can be deployed across Europe’s water systems and what smart utilities, industries, and public authorities could look like in practice.
From real-time metering and leakage detection to AI-powered forecasting and digital twins, digital solutions are key to making water infrastructure more efficient, resilient, and circular. The session will highlight how data and innovation can help reduce losses, optimise operations, and support decision-making from source to tap.
Panel discussion:
Moderator: Eloisa Vargiu, Coordinator of IDEATION Project & Leader of the Digital Water System Management Expert Group, Water Europe
Panellists:
- Sofia Lettenbichler, Managing Director, WE Data Europe
- Mette Vestergaard, CEO, DHI
- Karina Topp, CEO, Aarhus Land
Q&A
As water becomes a key asset for Europe’s climate resilience and industrial strategy, this session explores how to turn the Water Efficiency First principle into action. It will examine how to reduce both abstraction and consumption, stimulate industrial reuse, and foster cross-sectoral symbiosis. Starting with Denmark’s Esbjerg case and its new law on water reuse, the panel will assess what’s needed to scale such models EU-wide — from regulatory reform to innovation deployment.
Panel discussion:
Moderator: Morten Løber, Leading Senior Adviser, Danish Industry
Panellists:
- Pernille Weiss-Elher, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Roswall
- Inge Delobelle, Executive Vice-President and Divisional CEO for Industry Division, Grundfos
- Giorgos Sachinis, Director of Strategy and Innovation, EYDAP
- Sergiy Moroz, Policy Manager for Nature, European Environmental Bureau
Q&A
- Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
The first day will conclude with the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, celebrating Europe’s most ground-breaking innovations in water. Five awards will be presented to honour excellence in circular water solutions, digital innovations, community resilience, industrial efficiency, and the Water-Smart MEP Award.
Please note that the Gala Dinner is not included in WIE2025. An option needs to be selected during the registration process. Fees are charged. Further information on the place and detailed agenda will be provided to validated registration via e-mail.
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