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On 14 November, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri spoke at a special event hosted by the Hellenic Army Academy, where the discussions centred on the strategic importance of water, the need for resilience planning, and the challenges facing critical infrastructure in the context of a rapidly changing climate.
In her intervention, Prof. Koundouri focused on the Economics of Water, highlighting the investment requirements for the coming decade and the importance of aligning national priorities with the EU’s emerging Water Resilience Strategy. She emphasized that water is not merely a natural resource but a strategic asset—fundamental to economic stability, climate adaptation, and national security.
She also presented the extensive work undertaken at AE4RIA – Alliance of Excellence for Research and Innovation on Aephoria, through research and innovation projects that design systemic tools, digital platforms, and policy pathways to strengthen water governance, enhance climate resilience, and support sustainable blue–green transitions. Furthermore, she introduced the European Research Council (ERC) Water-Futures Project, a €10 million initiative developing the next generation of urban drinking water systems. Through this project, her team develops advanced modelling, foresight, and governance tools that enable cities to navigate deep uncertainty and reinforce the resilience of critical water infrastructures, ensuring secure, sustainable, and adaptive urban water services.
Warm thanks were extended to the organisers and all participants for a productive and forward-looking exchange.
Prof. Christos Makropoulos (National Technical University of Athens)
Prof. Konstantinos Grivas (Hellenic National Defence College)
Prof. Nektarios Nasikas (Hellenic Army Academy)
On 12 November, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, ERC Grantee and ERC Ambassador, participated in the joint event organised by the European Research Council and the Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA), entitled “From Science to Policy: Shaping a Sustainable and Competitive Europe”.
During the panel on “Water Resilience”, introduced by Helder Sousa Silva (Member of the STOA Panel, European Parliament) and Joachim Maes (Team Leader, Sustainable Freshwater Unit, DG Environment), Prof. Koundouri contributed to the discussion on how ERC-funded research can promote more resilient, equitable, and sustainable water systems, and explored strategies to strengthen the interface between science and policy.
Prof. Koundouri shared insights from the Water Futures ERC-funded project alongside fellow speakers Jelena Radjenovic (Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies) and Michelle van Vliet (Utrecht University), under the facilitation of Eleni Zika, PhD, Head of Sector for Scientific Impact and Feedback to Policy at the ERC.
Earlier that day, Prof. Koundouri also engaged in a productive discussion with MEP Hélder Sousa Silva regarding the role of scientific evidence and innovative solutions in shaping effective policies for Europe’s Water Resilience Strategy. Bridging the gap between science and policy is essential to accelerate the green and digital transitions while ensuring sustainable prosperity for all.
The full recording of the event is available here
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