Brussels, 14/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is proposing to create a European Innovation Partnership (EIP) in the field of water, in order to speed up the development and implementation of innovative solutions to problems related to water. This partnership, which was announced in a press release published on Monday 14 May, will harmonise the activities and results of European, national and regional initiatives already in place, and will bring together all parties concerned (producers, SMEs, researchers, local authorities, water-consuming industries and the financial sector) around three objectives: removing obstacles to innovation, reconciling supply and demand for innovative solutions for the sustainable management of urban, rural and industrial waters, and making full benefit of Europe's relative advantages. It will be up to the stakeholders to determine the priority areas for action.
“The European Innovation Partnership on water will help ensure that we can continue to provide safe, available and affordable water for all, by supporting the development of innovative solutions to deal with water challenges - while simultaneously aiming to position Europe as a world leader in water technology and services”, said Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for the Environment, in a press release.
The implementation of the EIP should promote: the creation of innovation sites to identify barriers to innovation, to develop, test and demonstrate concrete activities, actions, prototypes and solutions in relation to particular water challenges; - the dissemination of innovative solutions; - the removal of water innovation barriers - regulatory, financial, standardisation, technical, social etc, which hamper the successful delivery of innovations to the market; - the creation of an innovation “market” in the field of water to promote interaction between those facing water problems and those who can provide potential solutions, regardless of their geographical location.
If the communication is approved by the Council and Parliament, Commissioner Potocnik will invite the members of the high-level steering group to an initial meeting before the summer. This group will appoint an ad hoc team tasked with sketching out a strategic implementation plan to be adopted in December in order to be up and running in early 2003 and produce results in the first year.
Much is at stake. The world water market is experiencing rapid growth and is forecast to reach US$1000 billion by 2020. Deploying the EU's innovation potential in the field of water management may significantly help to create jobs and strengthen competitiveness in Europe. An increase of 1% in the growth rate of the water sector in Europe could create up to 20,000 jobs, the Commission estimates. (AN/transl.fl)