The Thuringia Office invites regions working on water issues to get to know the Thuringian regional Water Innovation Cluster (ThWIC). On 6 February, the cluster representatives will present their activities and are keen to get in touch with interested regions and stakeholders to network and discuss collaboration opportunities on a European level.

Please RSVP to annelie.zapfe@tsk.thueringen.de by 2 February.

About ThWIC

The Thuringian Water Innovation Cluster aims to become an interdisciplinary center of national and international significance in the coming years, generating new solutions for sustainable water management and contributing to the integration of water issues in society. Collaborating with our partners, we aim to provide impetus from Thuringia to address global water challenges and leverage the advantages of Thuringian businesses to rapidly apply cutting-edge research to societal needs.

Exploring new approaches to secure water supply

The advancement of modern civilizations is accompanied by the development of new chemicals, such as those used in industry, pharmaceuticals, or industrial agriculture. These chemicals, as new classes of pollutants, can find their way into water, and their removal is challenging due to their often very low concentrations. ThWIC is establishing new methods for detecting and removing anthropogenic pollutant classes, driving the digitisation of water management through innovative high-throughput analytics and water data management.

Establishment of an integrated water assessment

Despite its existential importance, water is often not adequately valued in many contexts. This is largely due to the lack of a comprehensive assessment system that combines parameters such as usage, pollution, consumption, purification, distribution, or subjective perception of water into a manageable framework. ThWIC is laying the foundation for such an integrated water assessment by systematically linking sociological and data science research with natural scientific water research and developing qualitatively novel assessment methods for water.

Impact on the economy and society

Insights from cutting-edge water research are often only available to businesses and society with access barriers. ThWIC aims to contribute to breaking down these barriers as a publicly visible institution, making water problems more socially visible, and assisting companies in leveraging economic opportunities in the water sector. Through educational and participatory offerings, we aim to increase public water literacy and promote effective competence building in the region in the long term.

Strong partners from the region

As a robust innovation network, ThWIC brings together stakeholders from the Jena/Saaletal region, Thuringia, and neighboring states. We emphasise close collaboration between science, business, public administration, and civil society. ThWIC stands for the integration of cutting-edge research with entrepreneurial spirit and social responsibility.