To mark its official start, a Kick-off Meeting (KoM) was held in Paris on February 27 and 28.
It was inaugurated with a welcome address by Mr. Eric Tardieu, Director General of the International Office for Water, setting the tone for the collaborative efforts ahead.
Distinguished speakers from both European and national levels shared their insights and perspectives, emphasizing the importance of innovative water resource management in the face of a changing climate:
• Ms. Jimena ARANGO-MONTANEZ, AWARD Project Officer, European Commission
• Mr. Bertrand VALLET, Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
• Ms. Marie-Laure METAYER, Water and Biodiversity Directorate, French Ministry of Ecological Transition
A dedicated session on "Implementation-related Challenges Synergy Group” featured presentations from sister projects under the same Horizon Europe call, providing an overview of collaborative efforts and insights into shared challenges and solutions.
The AWARD project represented a collective commitment to sustainable water practices, bringing together expertise from various sectors to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time.