ERRIN submits input to the Water Resilience R&I Strategy consultation

ERRIN submits input to the Water Resilience R&I Strategy consultation

ERRIN has submitted a joint network response to the European Commission's Call for Evidence on the Water Resilience Research and Innovation Strategy, which closed on 2 August 2026 ahead of a combined EU Ocean and Water R&I Strategy expected in Q4 2026.

The response focuses on the central role of local and regional authorities in achieving water resilience through place-based innovation. As managers of spatial planning, water utilities, agriculture and civil protection, they are closest to citizens and to the water-land nexus in practice.

ERRIN highlights the persistent gap between research results and implementation and calls for a coordinated mechanism between FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund and the National and Regional Partnership Plans, so 'blue' priorities and relevant projects don't fall between funding streams. Alongside proper financing mechanisms, testing infrastructure and specialised training – through vocational schools and universities of applied science – are presented as key to delivering water resilience.

The response also argues that the future Strategy should build on and continue the model already driving the EU Missions 'Restore our Ocean and Waters' and 'Adaptation to Climate Change', and illustrates how projects such as CO-WATERS and Pathways2Resilience (where ERRIN is a partner) are supporting territories in doing so while following the principles of a mission-oriented approach. 

ERRIN also calls on the Strategy to build on existing structures and initiatives such as EIT Water, the Mission Ocean and Waters Implementation Platform, and the Water4All and Sustainable Blue Economy Partnerships, alongside relevant Smart Specialisation Partnerships such as Water Smart Territories and Marine Sustainable Blue Economy.

The topic-specific part of the response presents concrete experiences to illustrate how local and regional water-related issues are being tackled on the ground. Some examples include Piedmont's work on satellite-based water monitoring and irrigation efficiency, Southwest Finland's Archipelago Sea tackling eutrophication through nature-based and technical measures, East Macedonia and Thrace's issues with seasonal tourism and island water supply, and Northern Netherlands' innovation in circular water systems.

Join the conversation

ERRIN's Blue Economy Working Group will present this joint contribution and discuss what comes next as the Commission moves towards adopting the combined Strategy at a members' meeting on Thursday 24 September, 14:00–15:30 CEST, at ERRIN's Brussels office. The session will include an exchange with a representative of the Mission Ocean and Waters Secretariat. More information, including a call for members to present relevant good practices at the event, can be found here.