What is Integration4Water?

Integration4Water is a Specific Support Action under the 6 Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development of the European Commission (EU FP6). The project aims at contributing to the creation of the European Research Area through stimulating the participation of research teams from the New Member States (NMS) and Accession Candidate Countries (ACC) in project consortia of the EU FP7 in the area of water and soil research.
As FP7 project partners, teams and organisations from the New Member States and the Associated Candidate Countries offer a valuable potential and research expertise in the area of water and soil related research. Integration4Water wants to promote and further explore this potential for the benefit of establishing European consortia to address ambitious research topics that especially reflect the research needs of NMS/ACC.

What do we offer?

• Database of NMS/ACC organisations and research teams active in the area of water and soil research:
  • structured for the FP7project proposal development needs,
  • providing specific information on the expertise of research teams in the priority issues of FP7 including contribution to research topics, experience in relevant FP as well as other projects, available infrastructure etc.,
  • ensuring a direct contact with research teams within organisations,
  • supported by a dedicated partner search engine accessible through the web page service.
• Multifunctional, internet-based service available via the project web page for promotion and dissemination of information on water and soil related research including:
  • I4W Instant Messenger facility for a quick dissemination and exchange of information on water related research conducted by research organisations and teams from the New Member States, Accession Candidate Countries and the Old Member States especially for the FP7 needs.
  • I4W Forum as an Internet-based communication platform to be used for maintaining and promoting the contacts among researchers including members of the Topical Expert Groups towards a successful establishing of FP7 consortia.
• A set of research needs presented as project ideas proposed to the Commission for consideration as potential FP7 call lines concerning water and soil related research in the 3 areas:
  1. Climate change and water resources
  2. Water resources management
  3. Environmental technologies related to water and soil
• Topical Expert Groups (TEG) – teams of NMS/ACC researchers centred around the mentioned project ideas, providing expertise and interested in forming potential project consortia

Who should be interested?

Research teams and organisations including SMEs from the New Member States and Associated Candidate Countries interested in:

• getting into contact with researchers from the enlarged European Union interested in performing research on water and soil,
• participation in research projects of the 7. Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) in the area of water and soil research,
• getting support for establishing or becoming members of project consortia in the FP7.

The target group of NMS/ACC countries comprises Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, Malta, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Research teams and organisations from the Old Member States interested in:

• establishing working relationships for the FP7 project proposal needs with NMS/ACC research partners with specific expertise in water and soil research,
• promoting their activities in water research among NMS/ACC researchers,
• getting updates on water research initiatives carried out by or with the involvement of NMS/ACC. Project partners from the third countries interested in:
• finding NMS/ACC partners for building networking relationships under the research cooperation schemes available for them in European research programmes, specially FP7,
• presenting their scientific initiatives and accomplishments to other organizations with a view to utilize them as contribution in building collaboration in the area of water and soil research.