Maltese SME Paragon Europe is collaborating with local and European entities in the Water Efficiency in European Urban Areas project. Project manager Sara Meli speaks about the formation of this very first Malta cluster and the potential benefits derived from it.
Addressing water efficiency-related challenges on a regional basis is a challenging task that requires joint actions at a European level.
This is why Paragon Europe has joined this platform, the aim of which is to enable participating clusters and regions to bring together knowledge and innovation potential by collaborating and mutually learning on a trans-national basis.
Malta has a lot to learn from other European countries but over the years it has acquired expertise and knowledge it can transfer to other countries.
The Water Efficiency in European Urban Areas project (WE@EU) aims to improve high-level trans-national cooperation between four regions with a dominant research-driven cluster, namely Aragon (Spain), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (France), East of England (UK), Eastern Galilee (Israel) and Malta, which is currently developing its own cluster.
Clusters engage regional authorities, public and private R&I actors, the business sector and other stakeholders, both at regional and trans-national level.
Malta has a lot to learn from other European countries but over the years it has acquired expertise and knowledge it can transfer to other countries
Besides addressing specific regional water efficiency challenges on urban water management, this cooperation adds European value to the actions by the participating research-driven clusters.
Paragon Europe has been delegated to bring together the research-driven cluster for Malta, which will be composed of public and private stakeholders, NGOs and entities from the business sector.
Clusters contribute to a cohesive approach to the subject they address and gain from the expertise and experience of other participants. They explore research and technological potential, seek to enhance competitiveness of local stakeholders and support regional development in this sector.
There are, of course, numerous benefits too, such as the facilitation of exchange of ideas for the creation of new opportunities among members and international visibility of local water technology initiatives.
We all stand to gain from local and foreign expertise and besides the opportunity to provide input and identify technology transfer needs in Malta to help shape best practice, we can contribute to the development of collaborative R&I and pilot projects and collaborate in the design of new products and services for specific challenges of the urban water cycle. Most importantly, through clusters we can access European networks, events and project funding opportunities.
Paragon Europe is being mentored by a partner from the French cluster, Éa éco-entreprises (www.ea-ecoentreprises.com), and has the task of transferring the knowledge to Malta and providing the tools to help it improve the management of water efficiency problem in urban areas.
Paragon Europe recently hosted Éa éco-entreprises international development manager Christelle Maffre and Global Sustainability Institute project manager Katie Hiscock from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.
The French cluster’s role is to support Malta in the development of a successful research-driven cluster in water efficiency in urban areas through the organisation of training activities.
The first of these activities, entitled ‘Cluster creation and management’, to take place on March 26 as part of Malta Water Week (www.maltawaterweek.eu), will be based on the cluster activation process.
To start up a research-driven cluster means to create an adequate structure of management to increase competitiveness of its members. This training will aim to explore management strategies and activities within participating clusters to identify the best options.
The second training, entitled ‘Exchange of best practices on water management’, will take place on the same day and will aim to present best practices on water shortage, water conservation tips, water re-use and water harvesting, while also exploring regulations and funding schemes in the represented countries.
During the visit, a number of meetings were set up with a number of public and private stakeholders, including representatives from the Malta Resources Authority, Water Services Corporation, Sustainable Energy and Water Conservation Unit, Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, Malta Council for Science and Technology – Life Sciences Park, HSBC’s Catch the Drop Campaign, Malta Water Association, Inspectra Ltd and the Malta Business Bureau.
The needs for Malta were discussed from the perspectives of the different entities and their members.
A very salient point that emerged was the much-needed support for the creation of a Maltese cluster to bring like-minded people together to discuss opportunities and exchange ideas and visibility of local water technology initiatives internationally.
These meetings also confirmed the need for more collaboration and training of local entities, to give them the exposure and know-how in terms of participation in opportunities and projects funded by the EU.
More information on the WE@EU project may be found at www.weateu.eu. To find out more about Malta Water Week, visit www.maltawaterweek.eu or e-mail sara.meli@paragoneurope.eu.