The EIT’s tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) will apply an integrated approach across freshwater, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems to solve water-related challenges. EIT Water will support entrepreneurial education and skills development, innovation projects as well as business creation by connecting innovators, researchers, and educators to Europe’s largest innovation network.

Building on the EIT’s proven model of powering innovation, talent, and entrepreneurship, this new KIC will contribute directly to the EU’s priorities for a greener, more digital, and more resilient Europe – turning local potential into European impact. With an on-the-ground presence in all EU Member States, the EIT ensures that new technologies and innovative solutions are developed and rapidly deployed where they are needed most.

It will focus on the following areas:

1. water scarcity, drought, and floods;
2. marine and freshwater ecosystem degradation;
3. the circular and sustainable blue economy.

The Winning Team

The winning team, Allwaters consists of 50 partners from 24 countries, including leading industry partners, universities, research organisations, ports, non-governmental organisations, SMEs, amongst others. Independent experts reviewed the proposals, and the top teams presented to the EIT Governing Board before the final selection.

The University of Amsterdam is proud to be part of the team. Allwaters’ focus fits very well to the Amsterdam led Do more for water initiative. A long-term initiative that builds a national water value ecosystem of scientific, industrial, and societal partners to drive system change by integrating knowledge on water bodies, society and technology. Universities, companies, industries and communities join forces to create system change and safeguard our water future. At UvA groups from Ecology, Data Science, Economics & Business and Social Sciences actively participate.

Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said: ‘Water connects all parts of our society and economy – from food and energy to industry and biodiversity. With EIT Water, Europe is strengthening its ability to manage and protect this shared resource more sustainably and innovatively. This new community will play an important role in the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy and the building of a water-smart economy in Europe. A water-smart economy that works for people, nature, and our competitiveness.’

Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, said: ‘A healthy ocean and resilient freshwater systems are two sides of the same coin. EIT Water will help us bridge the gap between blue and green innovation by empowering local communities, businesses, and researchers. Supporting the delivery of the European Ocean Pact, it will contribute to restoring ecosystems, protecting marine life and securing a sustainable future for Europe’s water and maritime sectors.’

Jasper de Goeij, head of UvA’s fresh water and marine ecology department and core team member of Do more for water, said: “water is essential to human lives and covers most of our “blue” planet, but received way too little attention the past decades. We need to engage our teachers, governments and industrial leaders much more in the importance of water to our health, to our economy and to our planet, and the European EIT on Water is a huge step forward in accomplishing that. Throughout different faculties and world leading scientists, the University of Amsterdam has a strong connection with the theme water and wants to be a leading academic core partner with the EIT.”

Next steps

To facilitate EIT Water’s establishment, the EIT will provide the consortium with a startup grant of up to €5 million during the launch phase in 2026, before it is expected to become fully operational in 2027. EIT Water will be an open partnership, allowing all stakeholders in the water sector to take part and benefit from its activities over its 15-year EIT-supported duration. Over its 15-year lifespan, the EIT Water KIC is foreseen to receive an estimated €500 to €700 million euro in total EIT funding, The partnership is also expected to attract investment from other public and private sources to generate revenue, with the aim of ultimately achieving long-term financial sustainability.