Interview: How EIT Water Will Strengthen Europe’s Water Innovation Ecosystem

Water is Europe’s most critical resource – and one of its most vulnerable. From droughts and floods to pollution and ageing infrastructure, pressures on Europe’s water systems are intensifying, with consequences for citizens, industry and ecosystems alike.

Meet Michelle H. Williams, Coordinator of EIT Water – the EIT’s newly selected Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), established to turn Europe’s water challenges into solutions. How will the EIT’s tenth KIC build a pan-European ecosystem and accelerate innovation where we need it most?

For people who have never heard of EIT Water, how would you describe your mission in the simplest and clearest terms?

Simply put, EIT Water exists to help Europe solve its water challenges faster and together. We bring people from education, research and business around the same table to turn good ideas into solutions that actually work in the real world – whether that’s in our rivers, coastal areas or at sea. It’s all about impact: building skills, backing innovation projects and helping new businesses grow, so that new water solutions can move from the lab to the market and make a difference all over Europe. 

Europe already has many water initiatives. What makes EIT Water fundamentally different – what specific gap in the water landscape are you stepping in to fill?

Europe has no shortage of great water initiatives – the problem is they often work in parallel. EIT Water is here to connect the dots, bringing research, education and industry together across sectors. By building bridges between initiatives, we can amplify impact, unlock new ideas and make sure Europe’s most valuable resource is protected and used sustainably. 

People and organisations will want to get involved. What are the main ways they can join, collaborate or benefit from EIT Water’s work?

2026 is about getting ready – and opening the doors. We’ll be setting up EIT Water’s operational organisation so we’re ready to launch our activities and calls in 2027. At the same time, we’ll put in place a transparent and open process for organisations that want to get involved. We’re keen to grow a diverse EIT Water community, so in 2026 we’ll be welcoming new members – and we encourage interested organisations to get in touch and register their interest.

Innovation only matters if it reaches everyone. How will you ensure that solutions emerging from EIT Water are scalable, affordable and accessible across all regions – not just well-resourced ones?

We would like to build a strong community across Europe. Through our eight regional Co-Location Centres, local actors – from small and medium-sized enterprises and startups to public authorities and organisations - can easily connect with us to take part in our activities. We’ve designed our innovation and business creation programmes to help ideas move beyond pilots, scale up and reach the market, tackling the typical barriers innovators face. And because strong innovation shouldn’t be limited to a few regions, we’ll put extra focus on areas where ecosystems are still emerging, including through the Regional Innovation Scheme.

If you had one message for people who feel ‘water issues don’t affect me’, what would you say to make them stop and pay attention?

If you think water issues don’t affect you, imagine a day without clean water from the tap. Securing safe drinking water, making sure there is enough water to go around, and protecting rivers, lakes and seas are not abstract challenges – they are here. Yet water is often taken for granted, despite the huge effort and infrastructure needed to clean it, transport it and keep ecosystems healthy. As climate extremes and pollution put growing pressure on our water systems, that reliability can no longer be assumed. This is already happening in parts of Europe, and it shows why we need to value water properly, protect clean and healthy waters, and invest now in resilient infrastructure that can stand the test of time.

Local research communities, farmers, utilities and citizens all experience water differently. How will they shape EIT Water’s priorities and the development or testing of solutions?

At EIT Water, we’re building a diverse network of partners from across Europe and across the knowledge triangle – business, education and research. Bringing these different perspectives together helps us better understand real market needs and spot gaps in skills and knowledge. Our partners don’t just advise us; they help shape EIT Water’s long-term direction and play an active role in delivering the priority activities we focus on each year.

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