The Horizon Europe project SOLUCIR- Solutions for Circular Water and Decentralisation officially launched on 1 January 2026, marking the start of a four-year collaborative effort to accelerate the deployment of circular and decentralised water management systems across Europe.
Funded under the call HORIZON-CL6-2024-CIRCBIO-02, SOLUCIR is supported by a maximum EU funding of €4,994,729.13. The project is coordinated by the Urban Water Management and Hydroinformatics Group of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and brings together 15 beneficiaries from across Europe and beyond, including universities, research institutes, water authorities and innovative technology providers spanning the entire water value chain.
SOLUCIR responds to the urgent need for resilient water solutions in the face of rapid urbanisation and infrastructure gaps, particularly in peri-urban areas. It aims to overcome technical, financial, regulatory and societal barriers that hinder the large-scale uptake of decentralised and circular water systems, solutions that can complement and strengthen existing centralised infrastructure.
Professors Christos Makropoulos and Simos Malamis stated at the launch of the project: ‘NTUA is proud to coordinate this impactful project. SOLUCIR is driven by the ambition to catalyse the large-scale adoption of circular and decentralised water solutions, strengthening resilience and sustainability across Europe’s water sector’.
Building on insights from 23 Inspirational Pilots, SOLUCIR will develop 5 plus 1 Pathfinding Studies in close collaboration with utilities and local stakeholders to demonstrate scalability and real-world impact. The project will deliver innovative integration tools, digital solutions for improved system performance, and comprehensive risk assessment frameworks addressing health, operational and environmental dimensions. With a strong focus on financial sustainability, SOLUCIR is ready to advance circular business models and innovative financing mechanisms.
The project’s kick-off meeting took place over two days, on 4–5 February, at the Serafio Complex of the Municipality of Athens, Greece, bringing together all partners to align their vision and lay the foundations for more resilient, circular and future-proof water systems across Europe.
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