The WATERLINE project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing advanced water skills and digital innovation in the water sector, successfully hosted a two-part International Academic-to-Business event on January 30th and February 20th, 2025.

The online sessions brought together over 70 participants worldwide, including academics, industry professionals and business representatives, to discuss the latest advancements in digital water solutions and the challenges facing the water industry. The event underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in addressing global water challenges, such as water scarcity, climate change impacts, and the need for sustainable water management practices.

“The success of these sessions underscores the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation in the water sector. By bringing together experts from diverse fields, we are paving the way for a sustainable and resilient water future. The discussions and insights shared during these events will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing success of the WATERLINE project and its mission to transform water management practices through digital innovation,” says project principal researcher Edwin Zammit.

The event was organised under the WATERLINE’s project’s mission to engage with the quadruple helix stakeholders and bridge the gap between academia and industry, motivating innovation and capacity building in the water sector. The sessions focused on key themes such as digital transition in the water sector, water skilling to future-proof water professionals, and strategies in water management for a more resilient future, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Session 1: January 30th, 2025 – Exploring Global Water Challenges

The first session, held on January 30th, set the stage by exploring the global water challenges that the industry faces today, including water scarcity, drought, and the increasing impacts of climate change. The session emphasized the critical role of industry support in addressing these challenges and highlighted how the WATERLINE project is uniquely positioned to tackle these issues through its innovative approaches and collaborative efforts.

Key Presentations:

• MENDELU (Mendel University in Brno): Petra Oppeltová from MENDELU delivered a presentation titled “Facing the Water Scarcity Challenges,” which provided an overview of the impacts of climate change on the water sector. The presentation also included practical examples of drought management strategies from the Czech Republic, showcasing how innovative approaches can mitigate the effects of water scarcity.
• Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS): Jan-Hendrik Körber from TUAS presented on “Digital Solutions to Support Urban Water Resilience.” He discussed the regional impacts of climate change on rainfall patterns and the associated risks of pluvial flooding. The presentation highlighted digital solutions developed by TUAS, including high-resolution monitoring of drainage systems, hydrologic and hydraulic models, and digital twins for stormwater management. These tools are designed to build resilient urban water systems that can adapt to changing environmental conditions.
• NMBU (Norwegian University of Life Sciences): Agnieszka Katarzyna Cuprys from NMBU provided an overview of WATERLINE’s achievements, focusing on capacity-building initiatives such as the International Water Summer Schools, Life Cycle Assessment Training, and Scientific Writing Seminar. These programs have strengthened the research skills and experience of early career researchers.  
• UNIRC (University of Reggio Calabria): Giacomo Falcone from UNIRC presented on “Strengthening Research and Innovation in the Digital Water Ecosystem.” He highlighted the project’s efforts to create an academic ecosystem for digital water, bringing together higher education institutions (HEIs), industry, government, and civil society. The presentation also outlined the development of a shared governance framework and an R&D capacity-building plan for the digital water sector.
• MCAST (Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology): Edwin Zammit from MCAST provided an overview of how the three-tier Learning Environment system based on Extended Reality was developed in WATERLINE. This system was created to enhance transfer of knowledge, skills and competences transfer without confinements of borders and time, thus providing access to training from anywhere and at any time, overcoming traditional geographical and scheduling constraints.

Session 2: February 20th, 2025 – Digital Transition and Future Opportunities

The second session, held on February 20th, focused on the digital transition of the water sector and the opportunities it presents for achieving a sustainable and resilient water future. The session featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia, Director of Watershare and a Senior Researcher at KWR, who discussed the challenges and opportunities of digital technologies in the water sector.

Key Presentations:

• UNI (University of Nis) – Aleksandar Djordjevic and Vuk Milosevic from UNI delivered an interactive presentation on the evolving skill requirements in the water industry, focusing on the skills gap and mismatch in ‘Digital Water’ from a multi-stakeholder perspective. They shared insights from a survey conducted across eight WATERLINE countries, gathering input from 216 stakeholders across academia, industry, policy, and civil society. Their conclusions emphasized raising awareness about water’s importance, aligning skills with industry needs, fostering an inspiring ecosystem, and strengthening industry engagement in both learning and production. Additionally, they facilitated an interactive activity with the event participants to explore challenges in the digital water sector from both academic and industry perspectives.
• UNEXE (University of Exeter) – Dr. Lydia S. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia: In her keynote presentation, Dr. Vamvakeridou-Lyroudia explored the EU’s twin green and digital commitments for a zero-pollution Europe by 2050. She emphasized the importance of managing the green and digital transitions simultaneously, with a systemic approach, to ensure a sustainable and just future. Her presentation also highlighted the role of the ICT4WATER cluster, which brings together over 80 projects to foster the digital transition in the water sector.
• Digital Water Curriculum: The session also introduced the Digital Water Curriculum, developed within the WATERLINE project. This curriculum aims to equip water professionals with the skills needed to manage water resources effectively in the face of climate change and other challenges. The curriculum focuses on areas such as water allocation, distribution, wastewater disposal, and the management of hydrological extremes like droughts and floods. The presentation also addressed the potential bottlenecks in disseminating digital water education and the strategies needed to overcome them.
• Panel Discussion: The session featured a panel discussion with Prof. Dr. Ali Gül,  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sumeyra Duman and Assoc. Prof. Albert Chen who shared insights on the development of the digital water curriculum and its practical applications in the water sector. They discussed the importance of aligning the curriculum with the needs of water professionals and the challenges of implementing innovative educational programs.