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 and water stress, this event sets a new course where water security, climate resilience, and industrial competitiveness must converge. The conference will open with keynote speeches by Commissioner Roswall and the Danish Minister of Environment, 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 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 reduce abstraction, 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 and resilience.
The first day will conclude with the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, celebrating Europe’s most groundbreaking 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.
The focus on the second day will shift toward nature, human and financial capitals, particularly the challenges of skills, nature based solutions and investments. With the EU Water Resilience Academy, a broader question pops up: how Europe can stimulate its human capital to strengthen its resilience while attracting new talents in the water community?
Then, how can we prioritise the deployment of nature-based solutions across Europe? Nature-based solutions are part of our tool box to repair the water cycle while restoring nature. These infrastructures can provide several benefits for a strong Europe ensuring its green transition while strengthening its competitiveness in a changing world.
Lastly, 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, 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. Throughout the venue, coffee breaks will offer the chance to explore cutting-edge innovations at dedicated exhibition booths.
Water Innovation Europe 2025 will not only serve as a platform for dialogue, but as a launchpad for implementing the European Water Resilience Strategy, building coalitions beyond the full value-chain of the water sector to make Europe the global leader in water-smart solutions for a resilient world.
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