Water Europe has launched a new era of collaboration with the introduction of 15 Expert Groups (EGs) and 3 Communities of Practice (CoPs) as part of its Collaboration Programme. This milestone builds on six years of success with the previous Working Groups (WGs) and Vision Leadership Teams (VLTs). The newly integrated Collaboration Matrix, which combines Expert Groups and CoPs, aims to enhance synergies, tackle sector challenges, and accelerate the transition toward a Water-Smart Society.
Each Expert Group consists of leading professionals and researchers, strategically focused on Water Europe’s three core objectives: water security, sustainability, and resilience. Covering topics such as digital water management, desalination, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity, these groups will generate insights, foster innovation, and provide evidence-based recommendations to key stakeholders.
The Expert Groups’ teams have been appointed, enabling members to engage in targeted research, shape sector priorities, and develop strategic work plans under the guidance of dedicated leadership teams. These groups will also work closely with the Communities of Practice, which serve as collaborative forums where Water Europe members and non-members can discuss sector-specific challenges, share best practices, and generate actionable insights.
The Water Europe Communities of Practice (CoPs) are structured as interactive, context-driven forums designed to unite stakeholders across different water-use sectors. These spaces provide a collaborative environment where participants can share knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and address key challenges on the path to a Water-Smart Society.
Each CoP focuses on specific water-use contexts and plays a key role in bridging gaps between policy, technology, and implementation. Discussions within the CoPs help identify policy and regulatory bottlenecks, define technology needs, address funding challenges, and explore research and knowledge gaps that require innovative solutions. They also help overcome operational hurdles and communication barriers that may limit stakeholder engagement.
In the coming period, we will feature exclusive interviews with the leadership teams of our Expert Groups and CoPs, offering insights into their visions, goals, and next steps.
