“The idea is to create, in Lisbon, Portugal, an international centre focused on water matters, the Lisbon International Centre for Water, with the aim of developing, in an extensive international network, the best existing knowledge in the sector of water resources and water services and pass it on,” to various components of society, the project’s coordinator told Lusa News Agency.
Jaime Melo Baptista, the coordinating researcher for the National Civil engineering Laboratory (LNEC), noted the importance of supporting new technological solutions, products or services, which allow for greater efficiency in the use of a key resource in reducing poverty, improving health and development.
The project secured European financing, through the Teaming programme, which supports the creation of centres of excellence and is part of Horizon 2020, and “it will be ready to start operating,” at the end of the year, said the specialist.
With an initial investment of €400,000, the centre has a budget of €15 million over seven years, and will include 40 partners, which Melo Baptista expects will increase.