INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSOCIATION LBG

Their core work

The International Water Association (IWA) is the global professional network for the water sector, connecting water professionals, utilities, regulators, and researchers across 130+ countries. In H2020, IWA contributed its deep expertise in water utility management, performance benchmarking, and knowledge dissemination — acting as the bridge between research outputs and the global water industry. Their role typically involves translating scientific advances in water quality monitoring, nature-based solutions, and predictive modelling into practical tools and standards that water utilities can adopt. They also run major training and technology transfer programs that help move lab-stage water innovations into real-world operations.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IWA's early H2020 involvement (2015-2016) centred on training and capacity building — the ABWET and SuPER-W projects were both Marie Curie doctoral networks focused on wastewater treatment and resource recovery, while WIDEST focused on disseminating smart water technologies. From 2016 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward operational digital tools: satellite-based water quality forecasting (SPACE-O), nature-based flood risk solutions (RECONECT), and seasonal predictive services for water-dependent industries (PrimeWater). The trajectory shows a clear move from academic training and dissemination toward applied, data-driven decision support for water utilities.

IWA is moving toward earth observation and predictive analytics for operational water management — future partners should expect a strong focus on Copernicus-based services and climate adaptation tools.

How they like to work

IWA never coordinates H2020 projects — they join as a participant or third party, consistent with their role as an industry association rather than a research performer. With 84 unique partners across 27 countries, they operate as a high-connectivity hub, plugging into diverse consortia rather than returning to the same partners. This makes them an excellent network amplifier: partnering with IWA gives you access to their global membership of water utilities, regulators, and practitioners who can validate and adopt project results.

IWA has worked with 84 different partners across 27 countries in just 6 projects, reflecting their role as a global connector in the water sector. Their network spans nearly all EU member states and extends well beyond Europe through their worldwide membership base.

What sets them apart

IWA is not a research lab — it is THE global professional association for the water industry, with a membership spanning utilities, regulators, and researchers worldwide. This makes them uniquely valuable as a dissemination and adoption partner: they can push project results directly to the practitioners who will use them. No university or SME can match their reach into the operational water sector across 130+ countries.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPACE-O
  Largest IWA funding (EUR 286K) — combined Copernicus satellite data with hydrological modelling to build a real-time water quality forecasting platform for utilities.
• PrimeWater
  Most recent and longest-running project (2019-2023, EUR 232K) — delivered medium-to-seasonal range predictive tools for water-dependent industries, signalling IWA's strategic direction.
• RECONECT
  Large-scale demonstration project on nature-based solutions for flood risk — positions IWA at the intersection of climate adaptation and urban water management.