MEDWAYCAP: an accomplishment in water innovation for the Mediterranean
The MEDWAYCAP project has recently concluded its transformative journey, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of water innovation in the Mediterranean. This ambitious project, whose roots are deeply embedded in key policies, has not only achieved its immediate objectives, but has also laid the foundations for a sustainable and collaborative future.
Our project unlocked the hidden potential of the valorisation of the emerging non-conventional water (NCW) sources for both urban and rural applications, and created a Mediterranean Alliance for infusing new life to the capitalized best practices (BPs) and putting NCW – an alternative resource for our society, economy and environment – at the heart of the water strategy in the Mediterranean region.
With a focus on promoting NCW practices in line with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Water Agenda, the project aimed to strengthen and amplify the potential of the projects capitalized by the project (AQUACYCLE, MAIA-TAQA, MEDISS, MENAWARA, NAWAMED, PROSIM). The establishment of a Mediterranean Alliance, involving a multitude of stakeholders such as researchers, practitioners, public bodies, institutions, and the private sector, is a key achievement. This alliance aims to ensure the continued success and dissemination of project results and BPs across the Mediterranean and beyond.
Engaging consortium, associated partners and stakeholders in focused discussions during the two international Innovation Camps held in Tunisia and Jordan, the project identified crucial challenges on the road to change in the Mediterranean region.
The MEDWAYCAP project took an entrepreneurial approach to the strategic and operational management of economic, social, technological, cultural, and environmental challenges. The engagement of four key actor categories - Science, Policy, Industry, and Society - resulted in the successful realization of 17 prototypes/solutions during the two Innovation Camps, which involved 200 stakeholders from 10 Mediterranean countries.
The MEDWAYCAP BPs’ Inventory Platform (https://bpinventory.com/), an open and dynamic resource played a crucial role in sharing know-how and supporting decision-making processes. With 23 BPs submitted from 9 Mediterranean countries, with 2 BPs under evaluation, the platform has proven its effectiveness in analysing trends and gaps to guide policy and funding.
The MEDWAYCAP Itinerant Exhibition, which crossed Italy, Tunisia and Jordan, brought technical solutions directly to the people. With 10 display modules, 18 solutions, 3 scale models, 1 media module, and 1000 visitors, the exhibition combined knowledge, creativity, and handcrafted materials to promote accessibility.
As the project concludes, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Mediterranean Alliance becomes a cornerstone for further cooperation. It raises critical questions about improving coordination and networking between individuals and institutions, promoting planned initiatives in the region, and setting measurable milestones for joint initiatives.
The success of the MEDWAYCAP project is not only a conclusion, but also a beginning, a call to sustainably promote innovation, collaboration, and environmental stewardship in the Mediterranean region and beyond.
The achievements of the project set the stage for a future where water challenges are met with creativity, collaboration and a commitment to a sustainable future
Watch the full interview here with Latifa Bousselmi in which she talks in more detail about the reasons behind the project and the urgency of continuing to talk about water .