Description

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds projects that deliver innovative solutions for the European Water Resilience Strategy. The call seeks creative or disruptive approaches that contribute to restoring the water cycle, enabling water-smart economies, and ensuring clean, affordable water for all EU citizens. Projects should focus on demonstration, testing, or validation of new tools and solutions, and must involve key stakeholders such as farmers, water-intensive industries, energy producers, land managers, water governance bodies, and local authorities.

Applicants are encouraged to address topics such as:

• Retaining water in natural ecosystems (including groundwater and river restoration)
• Enhancing preparedness for water scarcity, droughts, and floods
• Improving hydrological and ecological monitoring, with cross-border collaboration and open data
• Developing water efficiency techniques and indicators
• Proposing water pricing and certification systems to support sustainable management
• Upscaling water reuse and recycling, including potable applications
• Increasing public engagement in water resource protection and river basin management
• Ensuring equitable access to affordable water, especially for vulnerable groups
• Developing methodologies to improve water consumption patterns

Collaboration with other projects funded under this topic is required to maximise impact and avoid duplication. Proposals must implement a multi-actor approach and outline plans for future uptake and scaling at various governance levels.