With the upcoming new Horizon2020 Work Programme (H2020 WP) for 2018-2020 a series of stakeholder consultations recently have been started.

Vlakwa is inviting to communicate your water-related research and innovation needs to us and will bring the messages from Flanders together and communicate them to the European Commission (EC).

1. The background

The public stakeholder consultations are one among several European Commission actions to indicate a bottom-up demand-driven research and innovation necessity in various water-related economic, social and environmental/ecologic areas. It drives Europe towards strengthening our economy, taking into account global societal challenges. Water is one of the most important challenges, as it was recognised by the various supranational organisations such as OECD, UN, and European Commission followed by various reports (Mc Kensey) and debates (Cities and Water, etc).

The Horizon 2020 programme is a complex one and comprises 19 different Work Programme parts. The structure of H2020 is available to download from here. Water is a transversal or cross-cutting component of H2020 as well as one of the overall challenges. A consolidated and systematic approach is needed to ensure that the most important water-related R&I priorities and needs are communicated and reflected in the organised way in H2020. Vlakwa strives to pick up your needs and priorities and, being an active member of some European-wide organisations (such as WssTP, EIP Water, ESPP), is ready to introduce your ideas into the European context.

2. The roadmap and current stakeholder consultations:

The roadmap of the elaboration of the new WP2018-2020 for H2020 is composed of several actions where public / stakeholder consultations are one of the actions in building the new work programme (see figure below).

Figure: H2020 Strategic programming for WP 2018-2020.

A number of stakeholder consultations for each thematic part of H2020 work programmes for 2018-2020 will take place in the first half of 2016.

3. Your action:

Vlakwa is inviting you to provide your input to currently open stakeholder consultations:

a)      SC5 – Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials: water is an explicit part of this societal challenge.

o    EC is asking to indicate the challenges in the areas of SC5, impact foreseen, specify gaps and potential game changers, and other emerging priorities linked to SC5.

o    Consultation documents are available from here. The description of the whole process is available from here.

o    Responses should be sent to: RTD-ENV-H2020STAKEHOLDERS@ec.europa.eu

o    Deadline to respond is 08.04.2016.

b)      FET – Future Emerging Technologies about

o   FET Proactive – invites to describe your vision for a game-changing future technology, indicating the main breakthroughs and the range of disciplines and stakeholders should be involved. More details on consultation are available from here. Deadline to respond is 30.04.2016

o   FET Flagships – invites to identify potentially game-changing themes for future research in technological, multidisciplinary areas leading to innovations with important economic and societal benefits for Europe. This will allow the FET programme to respond better to the transformation of science and technology as the boundaries between disciplines are blurred. Consultation documents are available from here. Deadline to respond is 30.04.2016.

c)       Mathematics for Excellence in Science in Horizon 2020 – as a significant contribution to ICT part in mathematical applications for big data, computing and especially HPC. Mathematics is essential and indispensable for addressing the major challenges in science, technology and society. Documents are available from here. Deadline to respond is 30.04.2016.

d)      A specific consultation, indirectly linked to Societal Challenge 2, on the new, so called PRIMA initiative (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area), to contribute to the challenges of sustainable food production and water resources management. The documents are available from here. Deadline to contribute is 24.04.2016.

4. The nexts steps:

Stakeholder consultations for the other parts of H2020 are planned to take part in March-April 2016. Vlakwa will inform you on this process via its newsletter.

In parallel to the stakeholder consultations, the European Commission established a number of Advisory groups to support the development of the H2020 work programmes. Those groups are formed from the representatives of the Member States. The EC services and the Advisory groups are working together in elaborating new work programmes via debates and discussion. Vlakwa is also establishing possible links relevant to water thematic areas in Flanders to work together to support the process. The list of advisory groups is available to download from here.

In the second part of 2016 further consultations with the Member States on this new work programme will take part. The draft programme strategic priorities are planned to be ready by the end of 2016.

The first quarter of 2017 will be devoted to the finalisation of the Commission proposal followed by the process of the debate between the Commission and the Member States. It is foreseen that the new work programme 2018-2020 of Horizon 2020 will be officially adopted and published in October 2017.

5. Our common goal:

As the process is very complex, and water-related R&I is a transversal issue, Vlakwa - as an active member of WssTP and EIP Water and via these networks and links to the other European partner- is encouraging you to communicate your ideas to us. Alternatively, you or your organisation can also separately respond to the above-mentioned open consultations.

6. Currently available open H2020 calls:

The updated list of water-related H2020 calls from WP2016-2017 is available to download from Vlakwa website - http://www.vlakwa.be/initiatieven/eu-initiatieven/horizon2020/


Vlakwa team is ready to support you in your project ideas and reflecting your needs. If you have more questions, concerns, ideas – do not hesitate to contact us! Violeta Kuzmickaite.