IMPREX · Project

Better Flood and Drought Forecasts to Protect Water-Dependent Industries

environmentTestedTRL 6

Imagine you could check a weather app — but instead of tomorrow's rain, it tells you months ahead whether rivers will flood or dry up. That's what IMPREX built for Europe. They combined better weather models with on-the-ground water data to warn farmers, power companies, and shipping operators about extreme water events before they happen. Think of it as an early-warning system that gives businesses weeks or months of lead time instead of days.

By the numbers

EUR 7,996,848

EU funding invested in development

Partner organizations in the consortium

European countries covered

Total project deliverables produced

Demonstrated sector-specific tools

Industry partners including SMEs

The business problem

What needed solving

Floods, droughts, and unpredictable water levels cost European industries billions every year — stranding cargo ships, drying up hydropower reservoirs, and leaving cities scrambling for drinking water. Current forecasting gives days of warning at best, which is not enough time for businesses to reroute supply chains, adjust energy production, or activate contingency plans. Companies need months of reliable lead time to make smart decisions about water-dependent operations.

The solution

What was built

The project built a semi-operational forecasting system for Rhine waterway transport planning, a pan-European monthly-to-seasonal hydro-meteorological risk outlook tool with training materials, a prototype drought decision support system that was demonstrated and evaluated, and a climate-aware basin water accounting system. In total, 63 deliverables were produced across 6 demonstrated sector applications.

Audience

Who needs this

Inland waterway shipping and river freight operatorsHydropower producers and energy trading companiesMunicipal water utilities and regional water authoritiesAgricultural water management companies and irrigation districtsInsurance companies underwriting flood and drought risk

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Inland Waterway Transport & Logistics

mid-size

Target: River shipping and freight logistics operators

If you are a river transport company dealing with unpredictable water levels disrupting your shipping schedules — this project developed a semi-operational forecasting system specifically for the Rhine and Central Europe that predicts water levels weeks to months ahead. With 25 partners across 9 countries feeding data into the models, the forecasts cover major European waterways. This means you can plan cargo loads, reroute shipments, and adjust schedules before low-water or flood events strand your fleet.

Water Utilities & Municipal Water Supply

enterprise

Target: Regional water authorities and drinking water utilities

If you are a water utility struggling to balance supply during droughts and manage flood risks to infrastructure — this project built a prototype drought decision support system that was demonstrated and evaluated with real users. They also created a basin water accounting system that factors in climate variability. For utilities serving large populations, getting months of advance warning on water scarcity lets you activate conservation measures and secure alternative supplies before a crisis hits.

Hydropower & Energy Production

enterprise

Target: Hydroelectric power producers and energy traders

If you are a hydropower operator whose revenue swings wildly with river flows — this project produced a pan-European hydro-meteorological risk outlook tool with monthly to seasonal forecasts. The system was developed with 5 industry partners and tested across 9 countries. Better seasonal flow predictions let you optimize turbine scheduling, negotiate smarter energy trading contracts, and reduce the financial shock of unexpected droughts or floods.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement these forecasting tools?

The project received EUR 7,996,848 in EU funding to develop these systems across 25 partner organizations. The tools were built as prototypes and semi-operational systems. Licensing or integration costs would need to be negotiated directly with the consortium lead (KNMI, the Dutch national weather institute).

Can these forecasts work at industrial scale across different regions?

Yes — the project was specifically designed for pan-European coverage. The semi-operational forecasting system was tested for the Rhine corridor and Central Europe, and the risk outlook tool covers the entire European continent. With partners in 9 countries, the models have been validated across diverse hydrological conditions.

Who owns the intellectual property, and can we license these tools?

The project was coordinated by KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute), a public research institution. IP from EU-funded RIA projects is typically retained by the consortium partners. Licensing arrangements would need to be discussed with KNMI and the relevant tool developers within the 25-partner consortium.

How far ahead can these systems actually predict?

The hydro-meteorological risk outlook tool provides monthly to seasonal forecasts — meaning weeks to several months of lead time. This goes well beyond standard short-term weather forecasts. The system uses dynamic model ensembles and high-resolution modeling to maintain forecast reliability at these longer time horizons.

Can this integrate with our existing water management or logistics systems?

The project delivered 63 total deliverables including a generic integrative modeling approach designed for cross-sector use. The drought decision support system and transport cost planning tools were built as prototypes that connect forecast data to sector-specific decisions. Integration would require technical collaboration with the original development teams.

Does this meet regulatory requirements for flood risk reporting?

The project aligns with EU water and flood risk management directives by improving the evidence base for risk assessments. The pan-European risk outlook was designed to support public organizations in their risk management and adaptation planning. Specific regulatory compliance would depend on your jurisdiction and reporting requirements.

Is there training available for using these tools?

Yes — the project explicitly produced training material alongside the semi-operational risk outlook tool. The deliverables include user-friendly assessment summaries designed for non-specialist users in business and public sector organizations.

Consortium

Who built it

The IMPREX consortium brings serious credibility with 25 partners across 9 European countries, led by KNMI — the Dutch national meteorological institute and one of Europe's most respected weather agencies. The mix is research-heavy (12 research organizations, 5 universities) but includes 5 industry partners and 5 SMEs (20% industry ratio), meaning the tools were shaped by real business needs, not just academic curiosity. With partners in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the UK, Belgium, Sweden, and Greece, the forecasting systems have been validated across diverse European climates and river systems. For a business buyer, having KNMI as the coordinating institution means you are dealing with a national-level authority, not a startup that might disappear.

KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMICoordinator · NL
FUTUREWATER BVthirdparty · NL
CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE IN MONITORAGGIO AMBIENTALE - FONDAZIONE CIMAparticipant · IT
Bundesanstalt fuer Gewaesserkundeparticipant · DE
AQUATEC SOLUCIONES MEDIOAMBIENTALES, S.A.thirdparty · ES
ADELPHI RESEARCH GEMEINNÜTZIGE GMBHparticipant · DE
STICHTING VUparticipant · NL
THE UNIVERSITY OF READINGparticipant · UK
POLYTECHNEIO KRITISparticipant · EL
MET OFFICEparticipant · UK
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM HEREON GMBHparticipant · DE
SVERIGES METEOROLOGISKA OCH HYDROLOGISKA INSTITUTparticipant · SE
POTSDAM-INSTITUT FUR KLIMAFOLGENFORSCHUNG EVparticipant · DE
GFZ HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR GEOFORSCHUNGparticipant · DE
FUTUREWATER SLparticipant · ES
HKV LIJN IN WATER BVparticipant · NL
STICHTING DELTARESparticipant · NL
EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MEDIUM-RANGE WEATHER FORECASTSparticipant · UK
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
CETAQUA, CENTRO TECNOLOGICO DEL AGUA, FUNDACION PRIVADAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIAparticipant · ES
ARCTIK SRLparticipant · BE
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENTparticipant · FR
BARCELONA SUPERCOMPUTING CENTER CENTRO NACIONAL DE SUPERCOMPUTACIONparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) in the Netherlands coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the right technical contact.

Order a report on this consortium See KONINKLIJK NEDERLANDS METEOROLOGISCH INSTITUUT-KNMI profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how IMPREX forecasting tools could reduce weather risk for your operations? SciTransfer connects you directly with the research team — contact us for a tailored briefing.

Order a report on this topic More in Environment & Climate