The WaterWise Excellence Hub on Water in the Circular Economy was successfully launched, during its kick-off meeting on February 13–14, 2025, hosted at the Eugenides Foundation in Athens. Coordinated by NTUA, the project which is officially started on January 1st, unites 21 partners from Greece, Romania, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine to drive innovation in sustainable water management and circular economy practices.
Professor Christos Makropoulos, Scientific Lead of the WaterWise Hub, opened the event by highlighting the Hub’s critical role in aligning with the EU’s revised Water Resilience Strategy. The WaterWise Hub will serve as a catalyst for research, technological advancement, and cross-border collaboration, ensuring sustainable water management becomes a cornerstone of our regional economies,” he emphasized.
Key Highlights from the Event
- Strategic Partnerships: The Hub bridges academia, industry, regulators, and civil society through a quadruple helix model. Notable speakers included Professor Ioannis Gkolias (Eugenides Foundation), who stressed the importance of lifelong learning and applied innovation, and Professor
- Dimitrios Psychogios (Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste & Water), who underscored the need for robust regulatory frameworks to support sustainable water governance.
- Innovation in Action: Periklis Terlixidis (SMART ATTICA Hub) shared insights on leveraging digital innovation to scale circular solutions, while Ioannis Androulakis (Green Fund) outlined funding mechanisms to empower startups and SMEs in the water sector.
- Circular Solutions: Professor Konstantinos Aravossis (UNESCO Chair on Green Innovation and Circular Economy) closed the event by addressing challenges in wastewater management and the Hub’s potential to drive systemic change through circular economy principles.
The WaterWise Hub’s Roadmap
The Hub will roll out a suite of initiatives over the next four years to foster innovation and capacity-building:
- WaterWise Open Calls: Competitive funding for up to 20 pilot projects and startups.
- Innovation Accelerator: Tailored support for SMEs to test, refine, and scale technologies.
- Skills Development: Training programs addressing gaps in water-related expertise.
- Tech Challenges: Competitions inspired by NTUA’s successful Green Tech Challenge.
- Knowledge Hub: A digital platform on WaterEurope for networking, case studies, and innovation tracking.
By integrating cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial support, and policy alignment, the WaterWise Hub aims to position Southeast Europe as a leader in circular water solutions. Its services will link to existing infrastructures and initiatives, creating a collaborative ecosystem for long-term impact.
