Sustainable Co-management of Water Resources and Aquatic Environments (WATER)

UEF water research brings together researchers and research groups from various fields of science. UEF water research conducts research on a high international level and educates water experts. We provide interdisciplinary solutions for sustainable, responsible and integrated utilization of the aquatic resources by combining expertise from various scientific disciplines.

We develop trailblazing technologies for water monitoring and treatment as well as recognition of aquatic pollutants. We provide interdisciplinary solutions for protecting aquatic biodiversity and for managing the resilience of freshwater aquatic ecosystems effectively. In addition, we aim to create sustainable well-being from water resources and nature tourism and develop adaptive and transformative governance tools for a science-based, effective and equitable management of waters. Furthermore, we are building an open innovation ecosystem, where stakeholders from universities, national research institutes, and water related businesses can meet and establish collaborative networks.

UEF Water research community aims to be the most internationally recognized Finnish water research organization in ten years (goal). The strategy for reaching this goal research community has interdisciplinary missions for three pillars:

• Research: Practical innovative solutions stemming from internationally high-level research.
• Education: Provide high-quality and timely information for future and existing experts in the water rated fields.
• Impact: To be a trusted source of information and a provider of science-based knowledge to support decision making.

These pillars create the basis for an open innovation ecosystem that collects key stakeholders and collaborating institutes for collaborative water-related activities (vision). The strategy is based on integrity, high-quality & open research, and equality (values). The open innovation ecosystem will create a solid basis for high-impact research. The ecosystem is coordinated by the UEF water research.

All the activities of the multidisciplinary water research community will be reflected on the functioning of the new innovation ecosystem. Also, a new problem-based multidisciplinary training program to support continuous learning of professionals in water-related fields will be developed in collaboration with Savonia University of Applied Sciences and the Finnish sector research institutes (eg., LUKE, SYKE, GTK, THL, VTT) as well as with the private and public authorities.