- The project will mobilise €356 million and bring together 50 partners from 24 countries around water sustainability
Málaga is consolidating its position as a European benchmark in innovation and sustainability with its selection as the location of one of the eight Co-Location Centres (CLCs) of EIT Water, the new European Innovation and Knowledge Community promoted by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
The initiative, led on the Iberian Peninsula by the Ricardo Valle Institute of Innovation Foundation (Innova IRV)with the support of the City Council of Málaga, is part of the international consortium Allwaters, headed by Aarhus University (Denmark) and initially composed of 50 partners from 24 countries, including industrial leaders, universities, ports, SMEs, and non-governmental organisations.
The project will have a total budget of €356 million, of which €5 million will be allocated to its launch during the first year. In addition, it is expected to attract €192 million in additional private investment, bringing its overall budget to €548 million. For the Iberian node, headquartered in Málaga, the initiative estimates €44.5 million in direct support and €68.5 million in induced investment.
EIT Water is being created with the aim of promoting innovative solutions to the main environmental, economic, and social challenges linked to water management. Through its eight regional centres, located in Aarhus (Denmark), Leeds (United Kingdom), Berlin (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), Vienna (Austria), Šibenik (Croatia), Málaga (Spain), and Varna (Bulgaria), the initiative seeks to foster collaboration across the academic, business, and public sectors to build a more sustainable and resilient future around water resources.
Penélope Gómez, Málaga City Council’s Deputy Councillor for Environmental Sustainability, who has been part of the Consortium’s Steering Committee during the design and configuration phase of the CLCs and the partner recruitment process, celebrated the establishment of one of the EIT Water centres in Málaga as “further proof of the strategic role the city is taking on in the transition towards a green and digital economy, one that prioritises efficient water management.”
Gómez also highlighted that “the presence of EIT Water will strengthen the city’s innovation ecosystem, create qualified employment, and attract investment, placing Málaga firmly on the European map of technological innovation applied to water sustainability.”
Additionally, Ezequiel Navarro, President of Innova IRV, highlighted “the collaborative and cross-cutting work carried out by the City Council’s environment and innovation departments together with Innova IRV on this initiative aimed at driving projects that promote efficient water use and the digitalisation of the sector.” He emphasised that “this is an extraordinary opportunity for Spain and Portugal, as well as for Málaga, to position themselves as a leading European hub for the blue economy.”
From its central headquarters in Aarhus, EIT Water will coordinate the joint work of its more than 50 partners, which include major organisations such as Grundfos, Danfoss, PepsiCo, FCC Aqualia, Wageningen University, the University of Leeds, the University of Coimbra, the Stockholm International Water Institute, the Institute for Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) and the Innova IRV Foundation itself.
According to the EIT, the programme aims to support more than 1,300 startups and scaleups linked to the water sector, prevent up to €1.2 billion in economic losses resulting from ecosystem degradation, and develop more than 200 innovations, as well as create at least 50 new companies by 2033.
The establishment of the EIT Water centre in Málaga further strengthens the city’s position as one of the major technology and innovation hubs in Southern Europe. Its mission, shared by all participating entities, is clear: to turn water-related challenges into opportunities for sustainable development, knowledge generation, and economic growth.