Research Networks and Novel Partnerships for Sustainable Development – How an EU Research Project on Innovative Wastewater Technology Developed to an International Network for Nature-Based Solutions

One of the objectives of EU’s Science Diplomacy is to develop scientific partnerships between the EU and the Global South to promote cooperation in the field of sustainable development with particular focus on the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Horizon 2020 has been a major component of EU’s Science Diplomacy toolbox. This paper describes a Horizon 2020 funded research project that contributes to global efforts towards SDG6: “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” by developing modular, sustainable, affordable and innovative wastewater treatment solutions for both rural and urban contexts. It responds to the need for inclusive research frameworks with locally driven approaches to development and innovation, by involving research, demonstration and testing expertise from countries in four continents (Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe) and multiple stakeholders from 12 countries. The project’s international scientific collaboration on technological innovations was strongly dependent on the personal commitment of the involved stakeholder teams and has now created a new alliance for nature-based solutions.