THE CHALLENGE OF MAPPING AND STRENGTHEN THE WATER INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM IN THE REGION OF MURCIA

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND REGIONAL CLUSTERS: INNOVATION IN WATER EFFICIENCY

Brussels, May 18th 2016Lucía Huertas

Region of Murcia Brussels Office

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Region of Murcia: A water scarcity laboratory

Water demand management in Agriculture

Treatment and reuse of regenerated water in the region

Desalination of sea water in the region

Project Swam

RISMUR3 - Smart Specialization Strategy

7 Today and future challenges

8 Mapping the regional water innovation ecosystem

Inhabitants: 1.5mm (Spain: 45mm)

Municipalities: 45

Annual rainfall: 300/350mm/yr.

Natural Resources: 500 Hm3/yr.

Water Deficit: 400/500 Hm3/yr.

Region of Murcia: A water scarcity laboratory

High agricultural productivity

High efficiency of water use

Key figures

Principle: Sustainability and territorial solidarity

Our approach to water scarcity: semi‐arid climate

1

Water demand management in Agriculture

Highly productive sector, unsubsidized and devoted to export

Water consumption for irrigation

Fruits and vegetable exports

Irrigated land: 188k hectares (35%)

Low water use per hectare (3.500 m3/ha/yr.)

Highest profitability

Investment (last 15 years): €500mm

30% directly pay by users 

Accounts for 10% of the Regional economy

While 3% in Spain 

Well advanced irrigation systems and adapted fordrip irrigation

Specialized training on efficient watermanagement for thousands of farmers receive

2

Treatment and reuse of regenerated water in the region

Regeneration of all wastewater produced in the Region of Murcia not a desire buta fact

Reuse of regenerated water: agricultural uses and environment 

110 Hm3 of recycling water reused each year: 20% of regional water annualconsumption

Number of facilities: 100 (investment 635 M €)

3

Desalination of sea water in the region

The most advanced technologies:

Five great sea desalination plants

Production capacity of c.170hm3/yr

Treatments for different needs (drinking

or irrigation water)

An important number of farmers have their own desalination plant to produce water   from brackish underground water − Costs are covered by users 

4

Project Swam − Overview

Water scarcity: serious threat to economic growth, social wellbeing and conservation ofnatural resources

Development of critical knowledge based on rational use of water, treatment and reuse:key priority in Regional Strategies

Work together to turn a structural weakness into an opportunity to become pioneering,innovative regions in the use and management of water resources

Objective: To increase regional competitiveness through partnership in water technologies

5

Project Swam − Targets and Methodology

To enhance deeper understandingof the regional R&D and economic environment in each cluster

1To create a sharing environment of common priorities and strategies among regions2To promote collaboration among researchers and companies intra/inter clusters3

Competitiveness Analysis of research‐driven clusterWP2

JointActionPlanWP3

Collective Learning and Business Platform DevelopmentWP4

Specific Targets Work Packages

Objective: To increase regional competitiveness through partnership in water technologies

5

Project Swam − Joint Ac on Plan

Objective: To increase regional competitiveness through partnership in water technologies

Fields of mutual interestWater m

anagem

ent • Information 

Technologies for Water Management

• Public Health & Water Quality

• Water Uses & Environment

• Social and Policy Assessment of Water

• Surface and Groundwater Resources

Water & Agriculture

• Water Efficiency in Agriculture

• Use of recycled water in agriculture

Water Treatmen

t • Treatment for Drinking and Wastewater & Reuse

• Desalination Technologies

5

Project Swam − Achievements

Objective: To increase regional competitiveness through partnership in water technologies

5

Quantitative Qualitative

Increased knowledge of regional stakeholders and their interactions

Better understanding of policies specifically aimed at cluster development 

Interact and benefit from other European clusters

WaterTech companies’ international promotion

Contribution to regulation of sector–based problems

Identification of new regional actors: companies and researchers

Collaborative actions:

Agreements between the stakeholders of the three regions

Submission of new proposals to EU programmes (CIP Eco‐Innovation, FP7, ENPI, etc)

Contracts between companies and R&D centers for innovation

New business challenges for water related companies 

RISMUR3 ‐ Smart Specialization Strategy

Budget 2014 ‐ 2020 : €472M €225M public funding €228M private funding €18M external funding 

Main priorities:   Agro food: involving WATER/Environment, Logistics/Transport

Driven by: Energy, Marine and Maritime 

Underpinned by: Quality of life driven by Tourism, Health, Habitat

6

RISMUR3 ‐ Smart Specialization Strategy6

Capabilities & Target Markets Research areas

More efficient irrigation systems

Use of water alternative resources

Monitoring of floods

Optimisation of control systems

Energy saving

Water treatment processes 

Microbial biotechnology

Water supply, sewerage, waste management & remediation activities

Water collection, treatment & Supply

Priority: Environment and Water cycle

Today and future challenges7

The Region of Murcia is…

The Region of Murcia has…

Huge experience on water scarcity 

Made big efforts on water efficiency

To continue its efforts to guarantee the reliability of water supply for all needs

Promoting research and innovation to improve water use and reuse

Supporting cooperation/clusters to become stronger and more competitive               in the global market

Mapping the regional water innovation ecosystem

SPAIN: Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2013-2020

Interregional platform on Water (RDI Network)

Spanish Technology Platform for Water (PTEA)

EUROPEAN UNION

8

Strong commitment for cooperation in reserach and innovation to solvewater challenges

Mapping the regional innovation water ecosystem8

Strong commitment for cooperation in research and innovation to solvewater challenges

Regional policies

Academia

Innovative companies

Industry / Business

SME and large multinational companies with the highest specialization in water technologies operating in the global market (Latam, Chine, Magreb, etc) 

Universities & Academia

Universities (UMU) (UPCT) 

CEBAS. Research Institute for Applied Biology and Edaphology

IMIDA. Research Institute for Agriculture Development

Technological Centers (Food, Metal, Plastics, Energy&Environment)

Clusters

Public Administration

INFO. Regional Development Agency

Directorate General Innovation 

Directorate General Water

FIEA. Euro‐Mediterranean Institute for Water Public Foundation

Mapping the regional water innovation ecosystem8

Strong commitment for cooperation in research and innovation to solvewater challenges

Agricultural technology: AgritechMurcia platform

www.agritechmurcia.com

Civil engineering: Zivis – Civil Engineering Companies of the Region ofMurcia

www.zivispain.com

Cooperation schemes in the Region of Murcia: private, bottom‐up initiatives

Mapping the regional innovation ecosystem on water8

Strong commitment for cooperation in research and innovation to solvewater challenges

CITIZEM Cluster of Smart Cities of the Region of Murcia

Efficient use of water resources: Smart systems: real‐time monitoring, advancedprogrammes for assests management and tracking; Alternative water resources;  Promotion of water reuse

Water and energy nexus: Water‐energy footprint; Renewable energy in water utilities

Advanced ICT in water management: Advanced Cartography of resources.; Active management of distribution networks. (Smart piping…); Systems of advanced alarms(floods,…)

Cooperation schemes in the Region of Murcia: private, bottom‐up initiatives

Thank you very muchfor your attention