Water JPI SRIA Revision Workshop, Dublin 22 & 23 October 2019

The EPA (Ireland) led a consultative 2-day Water JPI Experts Workshop in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin, to discuss drafting the new Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA 2025). There were 86 participants representing 17 countries and the aim of the workshop was to collect feedback and recommendations from the group regarding the structure of the new Water JPI SRIA 2025. Day one consisted of Session 1 and Session 2. Session 1 saw Alice Wemaere (EPA), Dominique Darmendrail, Water JPI Coordinator (ANR), Olivier Gaillot (RPS), and Heather McKhann (FACCE JPI Coordinator) providing an overview of Water JPI & Key Achievements, Water JPI Vision 2030 – Proposed Directions, and the Common Vision between the Water & FACCE JPIs. Session two was composed of four breakout discussion groups where each group was asked to focus on the four mains themes of the SRIA; (1) Ecosystems; (2) Health and Wellbeing; (3) Water Value and Usage; and (4) Sustainable Water Management. The main focus of each breakout group was to assess whether the key RDI priorities for each of the Water JPI proposed new research themes 2020-2025 (focusing on the research priority level rather than topic level) and to agree/group into sub-themes. The majority of the discussion groups agreed the current themes are still relevant, but the titles should be revised to make them more concise with a clear message and in some case broadened out. Each of the themes and sub-themes were reviewed and recommendations for revisions were provided, including: (i) increased linkages between ecosystem services and human health; (ii) incorporation of SDG’s, climate change; and (iii) rephrasing some of the subtheme titles. Day 2 comprised of breakout sessions where each group discussed the expected impacts and possible trade-offs, cross-cutting issues, and research infrastructure needs/gaps. Read more about the Consultative SRIA workshop here.