EIP Water Conference – Innovating Water

The first conference of the European Innovation Partnership on Water (EIP Water) entitled “Networking and Interacting – Innovating Water” will be held in the European Parliament building in Brussels on 21 November 2013. The meeting will bring together EIP Water stakeholders, take stock of the current status of the EIP and help shape its future progress and further increase the opportunities for collaborating on water innovation in Europe and globally.

The one-day conference will showcase innovations from both within and outside the water sector through keynote addresses, panel discussions and moderated plenary sessions. The nine initial EIP Water Action Groups established in May 2013 will showcase their emerging work; interactive sessions will assist new ideas to be taken forward, and the next steps of the EIP Water will be presented and discussed. The conference also aims to help establish new links and partnerships as well as facilitate networking between participants from water innovation supply and demand.

The conference will be opened by a plenary address from European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.

Innovation and growth
The EIP Water conference is part of the EIP Water’s efforts to engage with stakeholders from water innovation supply and demand in Europe and globally. The overall aim of the EIP is to stimulate creative and innovative solutions that contribute significantly to tackling water challenges at the European and global level.

The EIP Water aims to create market opportunities for these innovations, and by doing so stimulate sustainable economic growth and job creation.

The objectives of the conference itself are:

• To build awareness, particularly in Europe, of the necessity and potential of innovation within the water sector and EIP Water.
• To facilitate the creation of market opportunities by establishing new links, networks and partnerships between water innovation supply and demand.
• To take stock of progress made so far in EIP Water.
• To receive detailed feedback and input on a draft EIP Water activity agenda for 2014.

Registration
EIP Water expects up to 400 participants at its first annual conference and aims to attract participation from all stakeholders from EU and non-EU countries. Participation in the conference is free of charge.

For environmental reasons, no conference documents will be printed, but all relevant papers will be made available for download prior to the conference.

Due to the security regulations of the European Parliament, participants need to register before 12 November. Registration is open now and you can register here.

Further information
For questions relating to the content of the conference , please contact Robert Schroeder. For any organisational issues, please contact Michaela Matauschek. And for media enquiries contact Sören Bauer.