ENTER THE WATERWISE HUB

The WaterWise Hub is a partnership between 21 European partners, promoting knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and the acceleration of circular water innovation across seven SE European, and Eastern Partnership Countries. The hub aims to create a dynamic water research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem tailored to the unique challenges of Widening Countries, particularly the rural areas. Its mission is to drive the adoption of circular and decentralized water solutions that enhance resource efficiency, minimize waste, regenerate natural systems, and build resilience against climate change.
SE European Cluster: Greece, Romania
Western Balkans: Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia
Eastern Partnership Countries Cluster: Republic of Moldova, Ukraine
Knowledge Sharing Partners: Netherlands, United Kingdom 

 

Project Duration: 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2028
Grant Agreement ID: No.101184151

Why now?

Water is too precious to waste — yet pollution, overuse, and poor management are making it dangerously scarce, posing serious risks to both human populations and natural ecosystems. Traditional water infrastructure often struggles to keep up with these evolving challenges, failing to manage water in a sustainable way. To secure our future, we must rethink the way our water systems operate, and adopt a circular approach, where every drop is reused, restored, and regenerated, at a domestic, and city-wide level.

Why HERE?

The WaterWise Hub is strategically focused on Europe’s Widening countries —Greece, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine—regions that face unique challenges and opportunities in water management. These countries are some of the most water-stressed areas in Europe, experiencing significant environmental pressures, infrastructural constraints, and limited resources. For example, in Greece, only a small percentage of treated wastewater is reused for agricultural irrigation, and the reuse of wastewater sludge remains minimal, while almost all Widening Countries still face barriers to the adoption of water solutions, including regulatory hurdles, funding limitations, and technical gaps.

Objectives

CHAMPION ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Promote best practices, innovation, and behaviour change to reduce water use across sectors.

Establish the Water Knowledge Hub

Expand the Water Europe Marketplace with best practices, training content, and tools to support a collaborative water innovation ecosystem.

Support SMEs & Start-ups

Create space for emerging businesses to grow, through funding, technical support, and pilot projects.

Strengthen Policy and Capacity Building

Establish a multi-stakeholder Think Tank to map national water policies, provide policy advice, and support capacity development across the region

Enable Collaboration

Bring together policymakers, businesses, academia and communities to co-create sustainable solutions.

develop the Excellence Hub

Establish a recognised, sustainable centre in water circularity, showcasing leadership, skills, and innovation in water efficiency.