EP Intergroup on water     The EP Intergroup on Water recently organised two Meetings on 27th of February under the theme ‘Water & Energy’ and on the 27th of March on ‘Water & Regional Policy, Innovation and Research in the Context of Smart Specialisation”. WssTP was actively involved in both meetings by the participation of Durk Krol, WssTP director, as a keynote speaker and panelist.     Read the whole speech from the 27th of February here.    Read the whole speech from the 27th of March here.                                                   WssTP & COPA-COGECA workshop                           on Innovative agricultural water management                                                  20th March, Brussels               WssTP‐ Copa‐Cogeca Joint Workshop on Innovative Agricultural water management took place on the 20th of March in Brussels.Over 90 people from the water, agriculture and food sector attended our event participating actively into it.Please find here the programme and the presentations for all those who didn’t manage to be there or who would like to look into them once again.   Programme    Mr Robert Schröder,The European Innovation Partnership on Water    Ms Inge van Oost,The European Innovation Partnership(EIP) ''Αgricultural productivity and Sustainability''                                   Mr Sindre Langaas,The Baltic Deal – various approaches to reduce nutrient losses in the Baltic Sea     Mr Adriano Battilani,Approaches to improve the productivity of water use in irrigation    Mr Anthony Verschoor, An example for public-private innovation in water technology and nutrient recovery    Mr Dan Alluf, Collaborative approaches in Israel in view of efficient water management for irrigation    Mr Bruno Molle, Effective irrigation devices, improved management & use of alternative water sources    Mr Antonio Lopez,Water4Crops – combining bio-treated wastewater with enhanced water use efficiency to support the green economy in the EU and India    Mr Bertrand Pinel,Efficient irrigation management at cooperative level – use of a decision support tool for Ecologically Intensive Farming   Mr Mariano Navarro,Water-Energy Balance at Irrigation Systems   Ms Alice Cerutti,Achievements in the rice production in view of efficient water management    Mr Peter Prins, Integrated water management at farm level. How farmers’ organisations cooperate with science to achieve a profitable, sustainable and resilient food production   Ms Trine Balskilde Stoltenborg,The Danish approach to boost innovation benefitting the farming sector and at the same time water – the cluster project “WATERCAP” and other examples    Mr Christian Kabbe,Sustainable sewage management- closing the nutrient cycle – the P-REX project    Ms Jennifer Bilbao,Recovery of nutrients for fertilizer production             Workshop on Emerging Contaminants in the aquatic environment with    special focus on endocrine disruptors, nano-particles and micro-plastics.                                      14-15 March, Utrecht, the Netherlands                                WssTP Task Force Water Framework Directive                              Objectives of the workshop The main objective of this workshop is to exchange information on the state-of-the-art and recent developments with respect to emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment and to identify urgent needs for: (a) tools to detect and diagnose emerging compounds, (b) models to simulate emissions, fate and transport of the emerging compounds and (c) tools to identify risks for human health, aquatic ecosystems and use of water resources, and (d) treatment technologies. to initiate an Action Group within the European Innovation Partnership on Water   Participants The meeting is open for WssTP members and invited colleagues and friends only.  Date and venue Date: March 14 -15, 2013 Organisation:  Deltares Venue: Grand Hotel Karel V, Geertebolwerk 1, Utrecht, the Netherlands For connecting flights on March 15, the program will end at 14.30   Registration For registration, please use the form  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1diSJCK9MCNx2tPdWlPJZNJQcu3bqaF6lwu9ookC--BI/viewform Deadline for registration: March 8  To read the programme, click here. For practical information here                        WssTP-ERRIN-SUSCHEM-NETWERCH2O Brokerage Event                                             20th of February 2013                                                       Brussels   Our event will take place on 20th of February from 09:30 till 14:30 in the ACC10-Representation of Catalunya for the EU in Brussels.  Τhe registrations are still open with the deadline extended to 17th of February. To find the agenda of the event click here.   We re excited to welcome you all on Wednesday 20th February in Brussels.   Location: Rue de la Loi, 227 ,B-1040 BRUSSELS                                             ACQUEAU 1st workshop 2013                                       on 19 February 2013                    in EUREKA Secretariat, 107 rue Neerveld, Brussels  This workshop aims to bring together relevant R&D and innovation stakeholders - Large Enterprise, SMEs, Research Centers and public authorities –to develop projects ideas around 3 water priority challenges:  Water & Wastewater Infrastructures  Water & Wastewater Treatment processes with a focus on water quantity and quality* Energy saving & recovery innovations with a focus on the water and energy nexus*   *Topics to meet the European Innovation Partnership on Water priority challenge ACQUEAU is the Eureka Cluster for water. It contributes every day to make your project happen. Register now! To get more information, contact Capucine BEUNES-DEVAUZE by mail capucine.beunesdevauze@acqueau.eu or phone 32(0)2777 0986.      Key priorities of the Irish Presidency for European water innovation The Irish Presidency aims to make a difference at three key areas ‘People centered recovery designed to last';‘Investment in job-friendly growth and in Europe's resources' and ‘Europe and the world: a win-win engagement with our partners'. WssTP analysed the Policy Programme of the Irish Presidency. The second and third key areas correspond strongly with the agenda to strengthen European water innovation. The key priorities of the Irish Presidency most relevant for European water innovation are: Investment in job-friendly growth and in Europe's resources  Channeling the EU's future financing for jobs and growth • Agreement on the six regulations of the Cohesion package to deliver benefits for citizens and EU business. • Reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP): better define the role it plays in sustainable growth and job creation. The IP2013 will also focus on Blue Growth, the opportunities presented by the resource off Europe's 89,000 km of coastline. • Horizon 2020 to contribute to making Europe a world-class research and innovation centre and boost high-potential sectors of the knowledge economy. the Irish Presidency will work to ensure that researchers have ready access to EU research and innovation funding in a simplified application process that cuts away much of the red tape. The Competitiveness for SMEs Programme (COSME) will also form a key part of the presidency's work. Smart and sustainable growth • Working to finalise agreement on the 7th Environmental Action Programme and supporting development of a new EU Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. • Making progress on legislation in areas as the proposal on Priority Substances, Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) and Environmental Impact Assessments. • Representing the EU in the international arena (Rio +20, UNEP, UNFCC) • Highlight the link between energy and environment in the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) policy and sustainability criteria for Biomass. Europe and the world: a win-win engagement with our partners Fighting global poverty and hunger & Renewed global leadership on climate change • Addressing the linkages between hunger, nutrition and the impact of climate change on the poorest countries in the world, and seeking solutions. • Working with partners to reach agreement on an EU position for the 2013 UN Special Event on the Millennium Development Goals and the future shape of development policy after 2015 • Lead the EU effort to build on the firm decisions and time-phrames agreed to in Doha, particularly towards the ntersessional UNFCCC meeting in Bonn (June 2013) New markets for European exporters • Completion of the trade agreements with Canada and Singapore. • Advance Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, Japan and other strategic partners, and to advance the EU-China relationship with a focus on investment protection and market access.            Irish Presidency 2013: Investing in Europe’s resources   2013 ushers in a new phase in the European Union’s drive for recovery. The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU is about securing stability and ensuring that it leads to sustainable jobs and growth.  Ireland attaches a strong priority to new technologies as a driver for strengthening competitiveness, and promoting stronger growth and jobs creation. The Council has highlighted the importance of removing the remaining barriers to the Single Market, especially in digital and network industries. The Irish presidency has chosen Telecommunications and Energy as priorities to bring forward during their Presidency. These topics strongly link to water innovation topics as ICT & Water, the water-energy and the water-energy-food nexus, energy efficiency and energy storage in water.  The Presidency will also play its part in securing agreement on the EU’s future financing for the 2014 to 2020 period and to working with other Member States and the European Parliament on the key programmes that can underpin strong economic growth and social cohesion in Europe, including the Common Agricultural Policy, Horizon 2020 and the structural funds. A particular focus will be placed on the potential of Europe’s natural resources on land as well as at sea (“Blue Growth”), and on putting the Green Economy agenda back on track as an engine for smart, sustainable growth.  Europe’s recovery cannot happen in isolation and Europe must be an effective partner on the world stage. The Irish Presidency also announced to strengthen the Union’s trade links with third countries to open new markets to EU exporters and to boost jobs and growth. The full programme of the Irish Presidency will be launched soon. Keep posted for the WssTP’s perspective and actions.                       Download the full newsletter!  Newsletter A  common vision  for water innovation  December 2012 / In PDF www.wsstp.eu     AT A GLANCE WssTP congratulates Commissioner Potočnik with the adoption of the EIP Water SIP! A look at... EU funded projects WssTP - ERRIN brokerage event on Demonstration Sites The four corner stones for water innovation in the Blueprint Welcome to a new member!  Task-Force Water Reuse 13th EU Forum on Eco Innovation Water Innovation Europe 2013 Download this newsletter in pdf To contact us: durk.krol@wsstp.eu   Welcome! Maria Mirachtsi joined WssTP as our new communication officer. Maria completed her Master degree in Global Journalism from the University of Sheffield this September 2012. She is specialised on the political role of journalism. Please don't hesitate to contact her: maria.mirachtsi@wsstp.eu / Tel: +32.27.92.75.52 EU Water Blueprint Conference Water reuse   The WssTP Task Force on Water Reuse is about to finalize its report, contributed to the EU Water Blueprint conference held in Cyprus on November 26-27th by its poster presentation.   To see the poster: click here More information: thomas.wintgens@fhnw.ch Agenda 2012 January 14th  WssTP Brokerage Event on FP7-ENV-2013-Water-Inno-Demo Call Brussels, Belgium January 15th  European Commission Information Day on FP7-ENV-2013-Water-Inno-Demo Call Brussels, Belgium  January 31st - February 1st Workshop on Emerging Compounds Utrecht, the Netherlands   Writing Committee Céline Hervé-Bazin Durk Krol Tomas Michel Mayer Tony Sharp Theo van den Hoven Nicole Zantkuijl More information: www.wsstp.eu   Follow us on twitter: @wsstpeu Join our LinkedIn Group WssTP Group WssTP, a key player                 to EU Water Research and Innovation by Tomas Mayer Michel  Dear WssTP members,                                           With 2012 drawing to an end, it is time to reflect on the achievements of the current year and take a glimpse of what is likely to happen next year. One of 2012 special highlights was our yearly stakeholder event “Water Innovation Europe 2012” with the participation of Commissioner Potoċnik. Over the course of 2012, WssTP has been very actively engaged in supporting the European Commission (EC) to set up the European Innovation Partnership on Water (EIP Water). Beyond the EIP Water, WssTP consolidated its relationship with the different Directorate Generals (DG) of the EC, such as DG ENV, DG RTD, DG Regio and DG Connect.   Read the editorial WssTP congratulates Commissioner Potočnik with the adoption of the EIP Water SIP! Towards the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) The Steering Group of the European Innovation Partnership on Water (EIP Water) adopted the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the EIP Water at its second meeting on November 18th 2012.  WssTP has been strong supporter of the EIP Water since its inception. We believe that the EIP Water can play an instrumental role on profiling the water sector as an innovative sector with huge economic and societal benefits in the short and long term. However, in order to achieve this, it is necessary to have a good alignment of the different European, national and regional funding mechanisms and policies with the priorities of the EIP Water.   Read the full article A look at… EU funded projects Since its launch, WssTP originated several EU funded projects. Over the last year, 4 new EU projects started through the activities and networking of WssTP members bringing additional value to their membership. Discover the projects! WssTP - ERRIN brokerage event on Demonstration Projects WssTP and ERRIN will organise a joint brokerage event on FP7-ENV-2013-Water-Inno-Demo Call for their members on Monday 14th January 2013. This event is organised in preparation of the European Commission Information Day on this call that will take in the same location, one day after on January 15th 2013. If you want to register or more information, please contact: Maria.Mirachtsi@wsstp.eu The four corner stones for water innovation in the Blueprint The European Commission detailed the Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s water resources in Nicosia, Cyprus on November 26th. The Blueprint  develops actions to tackle obstacles which hamper action to safeguard Europe’s water resources. The EEA report on European waters - assessment of status and pressures shows the need for extra efforts. In 2015 the WFD-objective for good ecological status will be achieved by 53% of EU Waters. Pursuing water innovation significantly drives full implementation of the water policies together with generating more jobs and business opportunities for Europe. Read the full article Welcome! Wetsus, centre of excellence for sustainable water technology is a facilitating intermediary for trend-setting know-how development. www.wetsus.nl 13th EU Forum on Eco Innovation A focus on water The 13th European Forum on eco-innovation took place on November 27-28th in Lisbon. The 13th Forum highlighted the main challenges and opportunities in research, development and innovation when entering the global market. WssTP organised a round table “getting EU companies active in India and China” at the forum.   More information on the conference and the outcome of the WssTP round table: nicole.zantkuijl@wsstp.eu   Water Innovation Europe 2013 On April 16-18th 2013 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) and WssTP will jointly organize the 2013 edition of Water Innovation Europe 2013 under the theme: “Water in the urban environment: Bringing research to the market.” More information will be available at the beginning of next year. Stay connected to our website!