20-22 June 2023, BluePoint, Brussels
The recent United Nations Water conference has emphasized the need for action to address water-related risks and invest in resilient infrastructure. Europe has a role to play in this task, and despite positive developments in EU legislation, water-related risks have been managed with a fragmented perspective. As the current Commission’s mandate comes to an end, the call is made for a Water-Smart Strategy that will put water at the heart of the next Commission’s program.
Water Innovation Europe 2023 will aim to shape the European water-related future by offering new perspectives, insights, and the latest updates on water technologies and innovations.
The Blue Cube is back to raise your voice!
What if you could join your voice to high-level EU policymakers and discuss with them the future of water-related policies? The Blue Cube is back for this edition of Water Innovation Europe 2023. On each topic, your participation will be expected among the speakers, about policies and fundings drivers to build a Water-Smart Society in Europe.
With our Blue Cube, a wireless microphone in the shape of a cube, be ready to get involved. Every time it is thrown at you, bring to the audience your views and insights and contribute to shape the future of EU water policies!
Event Agenda
🟩 Events and activities only for Water Europe members (e.g. Working groups meeting)
🟨 Dinner requires a specific ticket or invitation.
💧 Water Europe Working Groups meetings
On June 20, our 15 Working Groups will meet to discuss updates, share knowledge, and collaborate on current and upcoming working plans. Please remember that these meetings are reserved exclusively for Water Europe members.
13:13 – 14:30
💧Water and Climate WG led by Tone Muthanna
14.45 – 16.00
💧Water & Public Health WG led by Cristian Carboni
💧Water & Biodiversity WG meeting led by Sara Eeman
💧Resource Recovery WG led by Martijn Bijmans, Blanca Antizar, Pieter de Jong
16.15 – 17.30
💧 Water and Zero Pollution WG led by Jan Hofman and Blanca Antizar
💧 Renewable Energy Desalination WG led by Guillermo Zaragoza
💧 Human Capital WG led by Naomi Timmer and Leonardo Piccinetti
💧 Digital Water Systems and Interoperability WG led by Eloisa Vargiu
💧 Water Beyond Europe WG led David Smith.
🟩 Events and activities only for Water Europe members (e.g. Working groups meeting
🟨 Dinner requires a specific ticket or invitation.
Room: Reception desk & -1 Lobby
08.30-09.30 – Welcome and registrations – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe.
09:00 – 11:00 – Side event IC4 Water Cluster Event
Room: Einstein AB
09:00 – 11:00 – Side event: Water Projects Europe 2023
Room: Einstein C
11.00-11.30 Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00 – Side event: tbc
Room: Einstein AB
11:30 – 13:00 – Side event: tbc
Room: Einstein C
13.00-14.15 – Lobby – Lunch break
14.15-16.00 – Part 1: Let’s achieve a European Water-Smart Society
President Speech
💧Hans Goossens, CEO of De Watergroep & President, Water Europe
Interview – ” The New Vision: A Water-Smart Society Concept under construction?
Moderated by Thomas Rebermark, Director, Swedish Water House
💧Dominique Gâtel, Director Public Affairs, Veolia
💧Chrysi Laspidou, Professor-Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, Water Europe
Keynote Speech – “The Water-Smart Society: from a vision to a strategy in Europe and beyond”
💧Tiffany Atwell, Senior vice president, Global Government Relations, Ecolab & Vice President for the Advocacy Programme, Water Europe
📣Open Debate with the public – “Why must the EU undertake a Water-Smart Strategy?”
💧Tiffany Atwell, Senior vice president, Global Government Relations, Ecolab & Vice President for the Advocacy Programme, Water Europe.
16.00-16.30 – Coffee break
16:30-16:45 – Keynote Speech -“Strong European Leadership and European future on water policies”
💧Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
16.45-18.30 – Part 2: Let’s build on the R&D collaboration towards a Water-Smart Society
Introduction – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
Exchange – “Opportunities and gaps in the R&D policy towards a Water-Smart Society? ”
Moderated by Nuno Brôco, Chairman and CEO, Águas do Tejo Atlântico –tbc
💧Laura Štrovalde, Deputy Director in charge of investment and energy, LIAA
💧Lydia Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, Senior, KWR Water Research institute
💧European Commission representative – tbc
💧Laurent Horvalth, Smart Water Innovation Manager, Blue Ark, Altis -tbc
Presentation – “Living Labs and Water: an instrument for zero pollution into water?”
💧 Joachim d’Eugenio, Policy Advisor for Zero Pollution, DG Environment, European Commission
📣 Open Debate with the public – “Which collaborative tools should the EU support to carry out this strategy?”
💧Nuno Brôco, Chairman and CEO, Águas do Tejo Atlântico –tbc
18:30-20:00 – Cocktail Welcome – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
20:00-23:00 – Water Innovation Europe dinner
Introduction – Hans Goossens, CEO, De Watergroep & President, Water Europe
Honorary Member Awards – tbc
Keynote Speech – “Austrian Perspective: Towards a Water-Smart Strategy for Europe”
💧DI Günter Liebel, Secretary General at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Republic of Austria
Awards Ceremony
SME Award, MEP Award, Digital Water Award, Water Governance Award, Water Technology & Infrastructure Award, and Global Water Challenge Award
Conclusion – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
🟩 Events and activities only for Water Europe members (e.g. Working groups meeting)
🟨 Dinner requires a specific ticket or invitation.
Room: Reception desk & -1 Lobby
08.30-09.00 Welcome and Registrations
09.00-10.30 Part 3: Which Water Policies to ensure water security, sustainability and resilience?
Introduction – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
Keynote – Water-Smartness: What does it mean for our economy, environment, and society?
💧Jani Salminen, Head of Unit at Finnish Environment Institute – tbc
Exchange – “What could be a EU leadership in water?”
Moderated by Tania Pentcheva, Senior Manager Government and industry Relations, Xylem
💧High-level representative from a Member State – tbc
💧Secretariat General of the Council representative – tbc
💧European Commission representative – tbc
📣Open Debate with the public – “Which action plans and policies are required to shape the future water-smart Europe?”
💧Tania Pentcheva, Senior Manager Government and industry Relations, Xylem
10.30-11.00 Coffee Break
11.00-13.00 Part 4: Next Election: A Water-Smart Commission?
Introduction – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
Keynote – Paving the path toward a Water-Smart Europe
💧Pietro Francesco De Lotto, President of the Consultative commission on Industrial Change
Exchange – “How to get water at the heart of the next Commission”
Moderated by Pär Larshans, Senior chief sustainability officer, Easy-Mining
💧Steffen Erath, Head of Sustainability, Hansgrohe
💧Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO, SolarPower
💧Nicole Couder, Vice-President European Public Affairs, Suez
📣Open Debate with the public – “How can water-smart progresses be finance
💧Pär Larshans, Senior chief sustainability officer, Easy-Mining
Conclusion Keynote – “How can Europe build a leadership for water?”
💧High-level representative from a Member State – tbc
Conclusion – Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
13.00-14.00 Lunch Break
14:00 – 17:30 – Side event: International Water Dialogues 2023
Room: Einstein AB
Opening session
💧David Smith, Director at WE&B
💧Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
Keynote Water for Cooperation
💧Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema, Vice-President of the international commission on Water Resources Systems (ICWRS) and Executive Manager of WaterNet Africa
Presentation: White Paper Water Beyond Europe
💧Gaetano Casale, Manager Liaison Office IHE, co-leader of the Water Europe Working Group Water Beyond Europe
Panel discussion: Effective International Cooperation on Water
Moderated by Richard Elelman, Head of Politics, Eurecat – Centro Tecnológico de Catalunya
Panellist:
💧DG INTPA Representative -tbc
💧Alessandro Miraglia, UNEP MED-WAVES – tbc
💧Susanne Schmeier, Associate Professor of Water Law and Diplomacy at IHE Delft/Head of Water Governance Department (online)
14:00 – 15:30 – Side event: Envision the future of the water sector: Youth & Skills
Room: Einstein C
Introduction
💧Neil Dhot, Executive Director at AquaFed
Water human resources: which challenges and opportunities?
💧Chiara, Lucia Tregnago, Xylem Ignite representative
💧Naomi Timmer, Director of the EJWP
💧Gabriëlle Knufman, CEO of the World Water Academy
💧Noemie Plumier, WaveMakers United
Keynote – Presentation of the Danube Youth Council
💧Robert Lichtner, Head of Danube Strategy Point (online)
Building with the European youth the future of water governance
💧European Commission representative – tbc
💧Alexandre Ledoyen, Administrator for Youth at the Artois-Picardy Basin Committee
Wrap up
💧Neil Dhot, Executive Director at AquaFed
15:30-16:00 – Coffee Break
Panel Discussion: Living Labs experience – building from lessons learnt
Moderated by Andrea Rubini, Director of operations, Water Europe
Panellists:
💧Jochen Froebrich, Strategy Development – Innovation for Inclusive Growth at Wageningen Environmental Research at Wageningen
💧Representative of Water4All – tbc
💧Nara van Cauwenbergh, Climate Services, ISIC
💧Henrik Aspegren, CEO, Sweden Water Research – tbc
Wrap-up
💧David Smith, Director, WE&B
Launch of the international community for water cooperation partnerships
💧Karine Caussé, Socio-Environmental Systems Consultant at WE&B
Conclusion
💧Durk Krol, Executive Director, Water Europe
16:00 – 17:30 – Side event: Global Water Intelligence: Water statistics
Room: Einstein C
Join the Water-Smart Bootcamp
Want to supercharge your Water Innovation Europe experience as young water professional? Join the Water-Smart Bootcamp (19 June – 22 June in Brussels.) as part of the Water Innovation Europe Conference 2023. You’ll connect with other young professionals, get to know the ins- & outs of Water Europe, tackle challenges in the sector, join in trainings to create impact, and go full hands-on in connecting with water expertise.
What will you get?
An Integrated programme of professional development, water innovation knowledge and networking from Monday 19 June 2023, 15.00h till Thursday 22 June 16.00h 2023, including: trainings, workshops, Masterclasses, contributing to water innovation Europe, Working Groups & Side Events. Including lunches and (conference) dinner in programme time. So are you a young water professional? And you would like to
– create impact
– connect
– keep learning from and with each other
– and have fun!
Registration is open to maximum 12 participants. Be the first to Apply!
For the ticket
Join the Water-Smart Bootcamp (19 June – 22 June in Brussels.) as part of the Water Innovation Europe Conference 2023. The ticket shall be paired with the WIE 2023 ticket (main event + side events). The networking dinner is already included.
Agenda
💧Monday, 19 June
15.00- 19.00 Kick off Bootcamp by Naomi Timmer, EJWP & leader of human capital WE WG– Welcome, Introduction programme
– Introduction of Water Europe & Water Innovation Europe
– Workshop Personal Leadership
💧Tuesday, 20 June
09.00- 12.30 Masterclasses & Workshops
13.00-17.00
– Participation in Water Europe Working Groups and preparation of contribution to Water Innovation Europe
– Dinner
💧Wednesday 21 June
10.00 -13.00 Masterclass
14.00-22.30 Participation in WIE programme incl. dinner
💧Thursday 22 June
09.00-13.00 WIE2023 Programme
14.00-15.30 Side Event: Youth & Skills
16.00 Check Out & Closure
Media Partners & Exhibitors
