Microplastics and Textiles – a state description
24. June 2024
Impact of microplastics on wildlife
17. July 2024
Global Water Challenge Award from Water Europe for water without microplastics
The event: Water Innovation Europe
This year's edition of Water Innovation Europe 2024, which took place just after the European elections, was all about recognising the crucial role of water in strengthening Europe's economic competitiveness and the urgent need for investment to avoid economic downturns due to water crises and to put the right forward-looking steps in place.
Did you know that, for the first time, the European Environment Agency recognised water as a cross-sectoral challenge in the climate risk assessment report and called for a comprehensive approach to smart water management, while the Letta Report emphasises that utilities need investment to secure water supplies?
Europe's role in this issue is relatively clear: by investing in innovative solutions and circular economy, Europe is at the forefront of water management worldwide. This strategic focus not only promotes water security, but also strengthens Europe's competitive advantage and ensures that its water-related sectors are global leaders. The next few years will be decisive for the future of water. Our relationship with water also needs an update.
What role does Water Europe play in the round tables?
Water Europe is about harnessing new ideas and research to solve major water challenges such as droughts, floods and pollution, as well as the increasing impacts of climate change. By fostering innovation, Europe can manage water resources intelligently and demonstrate the benefits of sustainable practices for all people on our planet.
Water Europe plays the facilitating role. The organisation wants to ensure that everyone involved with water - from companies to researchers to governments - works together in Europe and beyond. The goal is clearly formulated. It is about finding better and locally adapted solutions to the diverse and complex water problems.
The awards as part of the event. And door openers?
Since their launch in 2015, the Water Europe Innovation Awards have increased the visibility of new innovative water-related approaches, solutions and technologies with high market or high-value application potential to pave the way for the realisation of the Water Europe Vision 2030: "Paving the way to a more water-conscious society".
The Water Europe Vision Leadership Teams help to evaluate the submissions to the awards. They judge all entries at their own discretion based on their:
- innovation
- market potential
- impact
- replicability
- commercialisation strategy
The Water Europe Innovation Awards open their doors to different fields of expertise as five different award categories are offered, giving a wide range of applicants the opportunity to stand out in their respective fields.
The award winners in all five categories
If you look at the list of honoured individuals and companies and extend the view to the nominees, then the success of the team and the success of our mission for water without microplastics is indescribable. As the winner of the Global Water Challenge, the cross-category award so to speak, we feel honoured and are very proud and happy that from now on people in Brussels will be talking more about us and hopefully also with us.
We would like to thank Water Europe for the award, the great evening and congratulate all the winners on their success.
✨Water-Smart MEP Award: Pernille Weiss
✨ SME Award: Hydro Volt
✨ Water Governance Award: Vatteninfo Sverige AB
✨ Water Technology & Infrastructure Award: Palermo University
✨ Digital Water Award: KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence
✨ Global Water Challenges Award: Wasser 3.0 gGmbH
Wasser 3.0 gGmbH prevails despite strong competition and receives the WIE 2024 | Copyright Water Europe
Andrea Rubini presented the 2024 Award to Dr Katrin Schuhen | Copyright Water Europe
