EIT Water

EIT Water

The EIT has launched a new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) dedicated to addressing critical challenges across the water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems. EIT Water is supposed to accelerate solutions that respond to growing environmental, economic and social pressures on Europe’s water systems.

Its focus is on water scarcity, drought and floods; marine and freshwater ecosystem degradation; the development of a circular and sustainable blue economy.

To meet these challenges, EIT Water will deliver entrepreneurial education, create and accelerate startups, and support innovation-driven research. By uniting education, research, and business, it will build a strong European innovation ecosystem, and it will also align with key EU partnerships and missions, pioneering an integrated approach across water, marine, and maritime sectors.

Key Information

Who will build EIT Water?

Allwaters is a consortium consisting of 50 partners from 24 countries, including leading industry partners, universities, research organisations, ports, non-governmental organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, amongst others.

What are the next steps?

EIT Water will receive up to €5 million in startup funding through 2026 to build its governance, operations, and first business plan. Full operations will launch in 2027, with up to 100% of eligible costs covered by EIT funding. 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 time, funding will gradually decrease as EIT Water secures additional investment and moves towards financial sustainability, in line with the EIT’s unique model of building financially sustainable innovation communities.