EAU Programme

Programme contact(s)


Summary of the Programme

Duration: 2000 - 2007
Total Budget: EUR 5,000,000
Total Expenses: EUR 4,634,205
Total Projects Funded: 9

Water, a natural resource essential to life, has become a highly coveted economic good and its management constitutes a major global problem. Moreover, water technologies represent a growing market for economic activity and employment.

The programme’s general objective was to establish a pool of excellence in the field of water in Luxembourg, capable of grasping the complex mechanisms of the natural water cycle, of evaluating the means to protect water resources and water quality, of developing the most appropriate and the least expensive innovative technologies for control and water purification, and of fighting against water wasting.

The programme presented five priority areas:

  • quality of surface waters and aquatic ecosystems
  • hydrological functioning of rivers
  • protection of ground water
  • advanced technologies for water management
  • socio-economic aspects of water resource management, in view of a sustainable development

The final evaluation of the EAU programme was performed by the Technopolis Group with the help of renowned water experts. It is concluded that the main goal of the programme was to a large extent realised. All participants have contributed very substantially and paved the way for the success of the programme but it is too early to talk about a ‘Water Centre of Excellence’ (CoE) in Luxembourg.

Both research institutes involved (CRP-Gabriel Lippmann and CRP-Henri Tudor) can be characterised as "excellent centres" and have increased significantly in size (in the water area) since the start of the programme. The overall result was the strengthening of existing competence/knowledge and the creation of new ones. Scientific publications and cooperations with end users in Luxembourg are an important outcome on project level.

The continuation of the activities started around the EAU programme is now guaranteed within the CORE programme.

Closed Projects