The Waterline Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionising advanced water skills and digital innovation in the water sector, successfully hosted a two-part International Academic-to-Business event on January 30th and February 20th, 2025.

The online sessions brought together over 70 participants worldwide, including academics, industry professionals and business representatives, to discuss the latest advancements in digital water solutions and the challenges facing the water industry. The event underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in addressing global water challenges, such as water scarcity, climate change impacts, and the need for sustainable water management practices.

The event was organised under the Waterline’s Project’s mission to engage with the quadruple helix stakeholders and bridge the gap between academia and industry, motivating innovation and capacity building in the water sector. The sessions focused on key themes such as digital transition in the water sector, water skilling to future-proof water professionals and strategies in water management for a more resilient future, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

The first session, held on January 30th, set the stage by exploring the global water challenges that the industry faces today, including water scarcity, drought and the increasing impacts of climate change. The session emphasised the critical role of industry support in addressing these challenges and highlighted how the Waterline Project is uniquely positioned to tackle these issues through its innovative approaches and collaborative efforts.

Presentations from various universities highlighted innovative approaches to water management and digital solutions. Petra Oppeltová from Mendel University in Brno discussed drought management strategies in the Czech Republic, focusing on climate change impacts on the water sector. Jan-Hendrik Körber from Turku University of Applied Sciences presented digital tools for urban water resilience, including high-resolution monitoring and digital twins for stormwater management. Agnieszka Katarzyna Cuprys from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences overviewed Waterline’s capacity-building initiatives for early career researchers. Giacomo Falcone from the University of Reggio Calabria outlined efforts to create a digital water ecosystem involving academia, industry and government. Lastly, Edwin Zammit from MCAST showcased a three-tier learning environment using Extended Reality to enhance knowledge transfer in water management, overcoming geographical and scheduling constraints.

The session concluded with a discussion on the unique contributions of the Waterline Project, emphasising its role in fostering innovation, partnerships and the development of a resilient global water community.

The second session, held on February 20th, focused on the digital transition of the water sector and the opportunities it presents for achieving a sustainable and resilient water future. The session featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, Director of Watershare and a Senior Researcher at KWR, who discussed the challenges and opportunities of digital technologies in the water sector.

Aleksandar Djordjevic and Vuk Milosevic from the University of Nis presented on evolving skill requirements in the water industry, focusing on the digital water skills gap from a multi-stakeholder perspective. They highlighted the need for awareness about water’s importance, aligning skills with industry needs, and fostering an inspiring ecosystem. Dr. Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia from the University of Exeter discussed the EU’s green and digital commitments for a zero-pollution Europe by 2050, emphasising the importance of managing these transitions simultaneously for a sustainable future. The session also introduced the Digital Water Curriculum, developed within the Waterline Project, which aims to equip professionals with skills to manage water resources effectively amidst climate challenges. This curriculum covers areas such as water allocation, distribution and hydrological extremes management, while addressing potential bottlenecks in disseminating digital water education.

The session featured a panel who discussed the importance of aligning the curriculum with the needs of water professionals and the challenges of implementing innovative educational programmes.

The event concluded with closing remarks from the Waterline team, summarising the key takeaways from both sessions and outlining the next steps for the project. Participants were encouraged to continue collaborating and engaging with the Waterline Project as it moves forward with its initiatives, including the dissemination of the digital water curriculum and the development of the European Digital Water HEI Alliance.

The Waterline Project invites researchers, industry partners, policymakers and the general public to join its journey toward a sustainable water future. Stay updated on the project’s progress and participate in upcoming events by following our social media channels and visiting our website: https://www.waterline-project.eu.

About Waterline:
The Waterline Project is an ambitious initiative focused on transforming water skills through cutting-edge research, collaboration, and education. By establishing a European Digital Water HEI Alliance, Waterline aims to drive innovation and sustainability in water management and technology.

Waterline Project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-05 under grant agreement No 101071306. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessary reflect those of the European Union or the Horizon Europe Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.