Water Wise Societies: Impact Innovation Report

During the first year of the program, Water Wise Societies has laid the foundation for a long-term change effort that will lead to a sustainable and resilient water system in Sweden. With a broad mission that encompasses the entire system from source to coast, the program has mobilized a growing commitment and initiated Sweden's largest effort to date on water-related research and innovation.

In this first Impact Innovation Report, Water Wise Societies summarizes the period 2024-2025. How is the work towards the mission going, what has the program focused on and what is happening going forward?

Collaborations between actors who have not previously met

The report presents lessons and insights from the program's initial period, based on interviews with members, project manager, advisory groups and program offices, and an analysis of the first 20 projects in the portfolio.

Together, the interviews show how the program has built new networks, strengthened existing structures and opened doors for collaborations between actors who had not previously met.

Focus forward

Going forward, Water Wise Societies faces the challenge of both maintaining and broadening commitment, mobilizing more actors, and developing working methods to create real movement towards the mission.

System change throughout the water sector

By continuing to develop calls for proposals, activities and collaboration areas, the program will create the conditions for solving the interim goals and driving system change within the entire water sector.

The program in numbers

• 10 missions – sets the direction for the mission.
• 80 members – drive direction and efforts and learn together about the transition.
• 52 project – within all ten missions and five system dimensions.
• 202 participants – have participated in the program's physical meetings in the transition arena on one or more occasions.
• 55% women – of all those who are part of the program office, the steering group and the advisory groups, have participated in the transition arena or lead project funded by the program.
  
  

Curious about the other programs in Impact Innovation?

Explore the reports from the other programs and learn from their results and lessons learned.

• Net Zero Industry
• Shift Sweden
• SustainGov
• Swedish Metals and Minerals

About Impact Reports

Impact Reports is produced by the programs and summarizes results, learning and insights. The reports show how the work develops over time and how the programs move towards their missions. During the ten years of the initiative, each programme publishes five reports that together provide an overall picture of the transition.

About Impact Innovation

Impact Innovation is Sweden's major innovation initiative that tackles the challenges of our time and the future with groundbreaking innovations. In collaborations between actors in the private, public and non-profit organisations, the programs within Impact Innovation meet real technical and societal needs with groundbreaking solutions - and show the way to a sustainable and continuously competitive Sweden, rich to live in for all.

Impact Innovation is a joint effort between the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova. The initiative is based on Agenda 2030, the EU's mission and social policy objective.

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Water Wise Societies website

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