The EIT Water Roadmap Session was held on 28 May 2026 at the Hyatt Zadar hotel and brought together around 60 representatives of European strategic partners from the fields of water, innovation and the blue economy. It was the first operational meeting of partners following the presentation of the regional CLC South centre, marking the project’s transition from strategic positioning to concrete implementation.

The working session focused on defining the future priorities of the EIT Water community, developing innovation capacities and preparing activities to be implemented in the coming years. Particular emphasis was placed on preparing the Business Creation Thematic Roadmap, a key document for the development of the operational and strategic agenda of the EIT Water community.

For the Ruđer Bošković Institute, this workshop represents an important step in implementing the coordination role that Croatia has assumed in one of the most significant European projects in the field of water, seas and the blue economy.

The aim of the process is to connect the scientific community, industry, startups and the public sector in order to create an operationally ready framework for future projects and European calls planned from 2027 onwards. Particular emphasis was placed on defining clear performance indicators, aligning activities with European standards and developing concrete innovation solutions for challenges related to water resources, climate change and the protection of marine ecosystems.

Dr. David Matthew Smith, Director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute, also addressed the participants, highlighting the importance of connecting the scientific community, the innovation sector and European partners in the development of concrete solutions for challenges related to water resources and the protection of marine ecosystems.

The workshop participants were also addressed by the Mayor of Zadar, Šime Erlić, who emphasised that through EIT Water, Zadar is confirming its increasingly strong position on the map of European development and innovation projects.

The opening session was chaired by Alison Cavey, a member of the interim management team of EIT Water. Following the introductory addresses, Thanos Papaioannou, interim functional director for business creation at EIT Water, led the first session dedicated to presenting the framework and objectives of the EIT Water Business Creation Track.

Croatia Hosts a Regional Seat of an EIT Community for the First Time

As a reminder, on 30 January 2026, the regional centre for the Adriatic and Ionian region, CLC South, was presented in Zadar. It was established within the EIT Water Knowledge and Innovation Community. This is one of the largest European Union projects implemented under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, with a total value of 150 million euros over six years. The consortium brings together 50 partners from 24 European countries and is led by Aarhus University from the Kingdom of Denmark.

For the first time, Croatia has assumed the role of a regional seat within an EIT community, representing one of the most significant European recognitions of the national scientific and innovation system. The regional centre is coordinated by the Ruđer Bošković Institute, DIH Innovamare and the University of Zadar, with its seat in Zadar and operational offices in Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik. CLC South covers 10 countries and 26 partners from the Adriatic and Ionian region.

Science, Innovation and Industry for the Future of Water

For the Ruđer Bošković Institute, participation in the operational phase of the EIT Water community confirms the Institute’s role as a scientific institution that connects research excellence, infrastructure and international partnerships with concrete solutions for social, environmental and economic challenges.

CLC South is designed as a living laboratory for pilot projects and as a space for cooperation among scientific institutions, ministries, local and regional authorities, entrepreneurs and innovators. Through this platform, solutions will be developed for challenges such as water scarcity, degradation of marine ecosystems, floods, droughts, biodiversity loss and the sustainable development of coastal communities.

The first operational workshop of the EIT Water community in Zadar showed that this European initiative is now moving towards implementation, programme development and the preparation of concrete projects.

In this process, the Ruđer Bošković Institute has an important role as a scientific and coordination partner contributing to the strengthening of Croatia’s and the region’s position within the European innovation area for water, the sea and the blue economy.