At the end of 2025, the European Commission released a set of independent expert reports analysing how EU-funded research and innovation are contributing to the implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy (EWRS). The second report, dedicated to building a more efficient, circular and participatory water economy, includes several references to the work of the CIRSEAU cluster and, after, of the CIRSEAU project.
The document acknowledges CIRSEAU’s role as a coordination space connecting some of the EU’s most relevant projects on circular water management. In a field as diverse as Europe’s water transition, this recognition is notable: the report positions CIRSEAU as a mechanism that helps create coherence, encourage mutual learning and amplify shared visibility across different initiatives tackling common challenges.
CIRSEAU’s role according to the European Commission
Except for REWAISE, all projects within the CIRSEAU cluster (formed before it was funded as a project) had ended when the report was released. And CIRSEAU was still on an early stage of development to have an in-depth analysis. Nevertheless, the project’s ambitions and contributions are explained.
The report describes CIRSEAU as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) designed to accelerate the adoption of circular water approaches in Europe. It is mentioned alongside REWAISE, ULTIMATE, WATER‑MINING, B‑WaterSmart and WIDER UPTAKE, noting that these projects — previously grouped under the cluster — have collectively advanced integrated, multisectoral and circular solutions for water management.
According to the document, the cluster projects have demonstrated, in real-life settings, models that link cities, industry, agriculture and ecosystems, combining digital tools, resource recovery and participatory governance. This cross‑sectoral vision aligns closely with EWRS Objective 2: “building a water‑smart economy together with citizens and economic actors.”
The report also highlights the contribution of Communities of Practice, Living Labs and co‑creation activities, which CIRSEAU actively supports across the cluster. These mechanisms are presented as tools for reducing institutional fragmentation, encouraging knowledge exchange and offering evidence-based recommendations to policy processes.
At the same time, while recognising the potential of a “water‑smart society,” it notes that the concept is not yet fully operationalised and that future work will require ensuring long‑term scalability, regulatory integration and stronger institutional adoption.
What the report says about the five CIRSEAU cluster projects
1. B‑WaterSmart
The report presents B‑WaterSmart as a project which developed Living Labs and digital solutions to support a “water‑smart society.” It acknowledges its work on digitalisation, integrated planning and innovative services for leak reduction, water optimisation and informed decision‑making. It also notes that, although promising, the concept has not yet been fully embedded in governance structures.
2. REWAISE
REWAISE is described as a project with strong emphasis on technological pilots and new service models, including resource recovery, digital tools and leakage reduction. The document notes that some technologies were still under validation during the assessment and that their applicability depends on local governance and regulatory conditions. If you want more information on REWAISE’s mentions, you can read this article on the website.
3. WIDER UPTAKE
WIDER UPTAKE is highlighted for its work on governance, stakeholder participation and socio‑technical aspects of circular water practice. The report explains that its outputs are mainly qualitative, focusing on engagement, acceptance and policy insights rather than technological readiness.
4. ULTIMATE
ULTIMATE is portrayed as a project contributing significantly to industrial symbiosis, resource recovery and integrated planning. It is mentioned for its demonstrations across several sectors and for providing policy inputs, including contributions to the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive. The report notes that, at the time of analysis, some operational validations were still ongoing.
5. WATER‑MINING
WATER‑MINING is presented as one of the projects with the most advanced large‑scale demonstrations, particularly in desalination, brine valorisation and material recovery. While the report recognises strong industrial potential, it also points out ongoing challenges related to cost optimisation and technical fine‑tuning.
A collective contribution to Europe’s water transition
The visibility of the cluster across this European Commission report underlines an important message: while each project has its own scope, their combined value becomes more evident when viewed together. The report explicitly notes that the cluster’s cross‑sectoral work has been essential to advancing a more circular, efficient and resilient water economy.
For CIRSEAU, this recognition validates its mission as a connector and facilitator — ensuring that lessons, evidence and tools developed across projects can inform broader transitions, always with realism and awareness of the barriers that remain: regulatory alignment, institutional uptake, data standards and long‑term investment.
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