The program is structured around five thematic pillars, reflecting the most pressing issues and emerging opportunities
Pillar 1: Innovations in water and wastewater treatment
Advancing sustainable, efficient, and resilient treatment technologies to meet evolving water quality challenges.
- Emerging and advanced technologies for drinking water and wastewater treatment
- Fate, impact, and removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs): micropollutants, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, microplastics
- Decentralized and modular treatment systems for diverse contexts
- Hybrid treatment systems integrating biological, chemical, and physical processes
- Industrial wastewater, sludge, and landfill leachate treatment and valorization
- Desalination and brine management innovations
Keywords: advanced treatment, contaminants of emerging concern, decentralized systems, hybrid processes, industrial wastewater, sludge valorization, landfill leachate, desalination, brine management, micropollutants, nanomaterials, microplastics
Pillar 2: Digital tools, AI & Cybersecurity for smarter water systems
Leveraging digital transformation to optimize water system performance, resilience, and transparency.
- Digital twins and real-time simulation platforms
- AI and machine learning for predictive analytics and decision support
- IoT, SCADA, and cloud-based smart monitoring systems
- Data governance, accessibility, and cybersecurity in water systems
- Open-source modelling tools for anomaly detection, forecasting, and process optimization
- Integration of digital tools in utility operations and infrastructure planning
- Real-time water quality monitoring and sensor networks
Keywords: digital twins, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, SCADA, cloud computing, smart monitoring, big data, cybersecurity, anomaly detection, open-source modelling, real-time sensing, data governance
Pillar 3: Governance, policy, and risk assessment
- Policy innovation and regulatory frameworks in the water sector
- Risk assessment through One Health and climate resilience perspectives
- Transboundary and cross-sectoral water governance
- Public engagement, behavioral change, and science communication
- Equity, affordability, and inclusion in water services
- Indigenous knowledge, water justice, and culturally sensitive approaches
- Water economics, financing models, and investment strategies
Strengthening institutional frameworks and inclusive participation for equitable and adaptive water management.
Keywords: water governance, policy innovation, One Health, risk assessment, transboundary cooperation, equity, affordability, inclusion, public engagement, behavioral change, water justice, indigenous knowledge, water economics, financing
Pillar 4: Climate resilience and integrated water cycle management
Designing adaptive strategies to manage the full water cycle under climate stress, urbanization, and ecological pressures.
- Urban and regional planning for water resilience
- Net-zero carbon strategies and energy optimization in water systems
- Nature-based solutions, sponge cities, and blue-green infrastructure
- Stormwater, urban drainage, and flood risk management
- Infrastructure renewal and asset management
- Groundwater protection, aquifer recharge, and sustainable abstraction
- Diffuse pollution and eutrophication control in agricultural landscapes
- Climate-induced migration and water-related conflict mitigation
Keywords: climate resilience, net-zero carbon, nature-based solutions, sponge cities, blue-green infrastructure, stormwater management, asset renewal, groundwater recharge, diffuse pollution, eutrophication, climate migration, water conflict
Pillar 5: Circular water economy – reuse, recovery & nexus thinking
Promoting circularity and sustainability through integrated resource recovery and cross-sectoral approaches.
- Water reuse across urban, industrial, and agricultural sectors
- Recovery of nutrients, carbon, energy, and value-added products from wastewater and sludge
- Biosolids management and valorization
- Water-energy-food nexus strategies for sustainable development
- Life cycle and sustainability assessments of water systems
- Innovations in sustainable food production linked to water reuse
Keywords: water reuse, circular economy, nutrient recovery, carbon recovery, energy recovery, biosolids, value-added products, water-energy-food nexus, sustainability assessment, life cycle analysis, sustainable food systems