Water experts will pour into Peterborough

Water Connect 2015, which will take place at the Future Business Centre at Peterborough United Football Club, will bring together key businesses, NGOs, academics and government experts to identify opportunities to collaborate and improve research, development and innovation in the water sector.

The event is hosted by Anglia Ruskin University's Global Sustainability Institute and Opportunity Peterborough, with support from the Enterprise Europe Network and the Water Innovation Network.

Water Connect 2015 is part of the Water Efficiency in European Urban Areas (WE@EU) project, which aims to provide a European platform for excellence in water efficiency and urban water management.

Anglia Ruskin and Opportunity Peterborough are leading the East of England network of the two million euro WE@EU project, which also includes experts from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in the South of France; Aragon in Spain; Eastern Galilee in Israel, and the Mediterranean island of Malta.

The East of England is the second most 'water stressed' area of Europe and is likely to face severe water shortages over the next 20 years due to significant changes in rainfall patterns and an increasing population.

The aim of the event is to open a dialogue on how best to address the challenges and opportunities the water sector faces both in the East of England and internationally.

Dr Aled Jones, Director of Anglia Ruskin's Global Sustainability Institute, said:

"Water Connect 2015 will cultivate an innovation-friendly ecosystem, where academia, businesses and local and national authorities can identify synergies and develop opportunities to work together.

"In doing so, this collaboration will transform knowledge and expertise into innovative products, services and skills in the urban water management sector across the region, the country and beyond."