Januar 2024
Rising to the challenge of water management
In Europe, the dual challenges of water scarcity and compromised quality have reached critical levels, driven by the impacts of climate change and human activities. The EU-funded BOOST-IN project aims to tackle these challenges. It will transform water management through circular economy principles, paving the way for sustainable solutions. Specifically, the project promotes water reuse and material recovery, targeting six diverse European regions (across Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy). By using a dynamic funnel method, the project identifies and transfers Water Circular Economy Solutions, overcoming barriers such as technology, economics, knowledge, and social perception. Through co-creation workshops and stakeholder engagement, BOOST-IN aims to raise public awareness and support, fostering a sustainable water future for Europe.
Objective
The quantity and quality of water resources are serious problems in many European areas, mostly being a joined result of climate change and anthropic influences. The BOOST-IN project aims to develop a successful strategy that promotes technological changes, governance schemes, shifts in mind-set and organizational structures in order to solve these problems through a better management of the water sector and application of the circular economy principles, enabling water reuse and recovery of different materials (e.g. energy, nutrients). However, implementation of these changes still faces several barriers (e.g. technology, economy, knowledge, social perception) that need to be overcome. BOOST-IN will achieve these goals by an effective identification, selection (through a specifically designed dynamic funnel method) and transfer of innovative Water Circular Economy Solutions (WACES) to further close and improve the water cycle. The project will develop and apply its approach in six Regions of Opportunity evenly distributed across Europe (Spain, Greece, Germany, France, Italy and Bulgaria) by organization of co-creation workshops to increase public awareness and support for WACES implementation, barriers overcoming as well as by the specific risk management plans design. At the EU level the project will create an active network of stakeholders and set detailed action plans, including different training and education activities targeting water professionals. In order to promote and boost a successful market uptake of circular solutions and maximize the impact, the project will provide expertise on suitable business models and develop standardized quality criteria, as well as facilitate the links between solution providers and potential investors. Moreover, BOOST-IN will upgrade and benefit from the existing Water Europe Marketplace platform that will enable the projects clustering, B2B matchmaking and selections of appropriate WACES solutions for specific user needs.
Dr. Thomas Track +49 (0)69 7564 427
Aleksandra Jurewicz +49 (0)69 7564 567
