On May 4th 2010, the High Level Group (GPC) endorsed the Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) on Water Challenges for a Changing World. The Vision Document has been drafted by representatives of the JPI Partner and Observer countries. It provides the context to this proposal (Trends and Challenges) and outlines the JPI objectives and research questions responding onto the issues and challenges that the European water sector is facing. It identifies research needs on a high level, to be developed further in the JPI Strategic Agenda. The aim is to tackle the ambitious challenge of achieving sustainable water systems for a sustainable economy in Europe and abroad. This will be obtained through a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing economic, ecological, societal and technological considerations.
European water policy has ambitious goals and deals with complex and systemic issues. It sets challenges for European Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) in the field of water: developing new knowledge and reinforcing mechanisms for knowledge and technology transfer. Joint Programming Initiatives focus on the strengthening and harmonization of public research and innovation activities. The recent financial crisis and the still struggling European economies call for a change in approach. At the European and global levels, the world is much more interconnected and this leads to the need for globalised solutions across a range of policy areas – including through research. Joint Programming provides the possibility to combine research resources in a more strategic and effective way with a view to tackling grand societal challenges. This will be done by combining national research efforts and making better use of Europe's limited public RDI resources. The water JPI will undoubtedly strengthen Europe’s economic position on water.
Major achievements of the proposed JPI is that, over the period September 2010 – April 2011, via the commitment of its Partner and Observer countries, it has been able to:
- Produce a common Vision;
- Design an Implementation Plan;
- Set up an interim Governance; and
- Carry out an exercise on Mapping Water Research in Europe.
Here we aim to keep you uptodate with the development if this exciting initiative. There will be a permanent link on the menu to the right to ensure that all the latest information available will be put on this page and when the website is up and running provides a link directly.