A serious and increasing risk for freshwater and marine ecosystems and ultimately also human health is derived from emerging contaminants and pathogens, especially antibiotic resistant bacteria, in the environment.
To address this challenge in a comprehensive way and to generate multidisciplinary solutions for safe and clean aquatic ecosystems (freshwater, groundwater, marine), the three Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) are joining forces. They aim to jointly strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) in the field of clean and healthy aquatic ecosystems and to leverage untapped potential in the collaboration between the freshwater, marine and health research areas. The three JPIs expect to launch a co-funded transnational and multi-disciplinary call for research and innovation proposals in early 2020.
For the upcoming World Water Week in late August in Stockholm, the three JPIs, along with the Swedish Research Council, are gathering experts to discuss the area of emerging contaminants and pathogens. The showcase will enable stakeholders and end-users to present their respective challenges, inform the development of the objectives and strategies of the upcoming joint call and thus pave the way for the implementation of more efficient water policies.
World Water Week is the annual focal point for the globe's water issues and will take place in Stockholm from 25 to 30 August 2019. This year it will address the theme "water, ecosystems and human development".