Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - POWER (Political and sOcial awareness on Water EnviRonmental challenges)

Teaser

The Project “Political and sOcial awareness on Water EnviRonmental challenges” (POWER) is a user-driven project to share knowledge and experience of water related issues in different EU local authorities to create a tool for EU water policy. It addresses four of the eight...

Summary

The Project “Political and sOcial awareness on Water EnviRonmental challenges” (POWER) is a user-driven project to share knowledge and experience of water related issues in different EU local authorities to create a tool for EU water policy.

It addresses four of the eight European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Water Action Group priorities: 1. Water consumption reduction; 2. Water quality; 3. Extreme weather events (surface water flood risk); 4. Variables related to water conservation. The project will develop a common Digital Social Platform (DSP) system prototype to be demonstrated in Milton Keynes, Sabadell, Leicester and Jerusalem. It will combine the experience of these Key Demonstration Cities with follower Cities.
The followers are members of EIP Water Action Group City Blueprints, NetwercH2O and cities that have already produced a CITY BLUEPRINT.

The overall objectives are:
1. Set up a user-driven Digital Social Platform (DSP);
2. Ensure the involvement of a wide society and knowledge community;
3. Ensure social, technological, environmental and political uptake;
4. Transfer the POWER model environment to other communities;
5. Create new collaborative business models.

Work performed

The project aim is to achieve action on water challenges through widespread involvement at political, professional and community levels via the POWER Digital Social Platforms (DSP); activities carried out so far are in line with the work plan described in Annex 1 (Part A) of the Grant Agreement. The project objectives have not changed, and the project remains on track to achieving them.

During the interim period reported upon in the report M19-M36 there has been significant progress made by the POWER project, not only towards the due deliverables and milestones for this period but also in terms of preparing for the third project reporting period.

WP 1 – Project management and Quality Assurance has been progressing as planned. There have been regular project meetings and teleconferences and interaction with the EAB set up. The project has followed the quality assurance framework established through the Executive Board to ensure good quality deliverables are prepared and submitted.

The project has had some key changes in staff both within the co-ordinator organisation and project partner organisations. A significant change has been Fundació CTM Centre Tecnològic (CTM) merging into EURECAT Centre Tecologic de Catalunya (EURECAT). Despite this organisational merger the staff remain the same, working on POWER and EURECAT remain committed to all of their project obligations.

Other key issues to report under work package 1 is that a grant amendment is being prepared for submission to extend work package 3 to M48, the addition of a new deliverable under work package 3 (D3.5) and an additional 9 person months for DMU under work package 3.

The work under work package 2 has made huge progress. The project is using open source and the PUB, HUB and MOB are all fully operational. The best practice repository is being used and there is a wide and interesting range of material uploaded to the repository. In addition the lead partner Baseform, have improved and resubmitted D2.1 and D2.4.

In WP3, all the due deliverables have been submitted and the techniques and strategies explored in them (engagement and gamification) have been implemented across the key demonstrator cities (KDCs). More and more people are engaging with the POWER DSP. There has been a good analysis of best practices in water management and indepth work into appreciating the soci-technical aspects have been explored by the project. The KDCs have promoted the DSP to different user groups and engaged in innovative ways to engage with users.

In WP4, there has equally been huge progress made. ConCensus and Follower Cities have been welcomed by municipalities across the EU and indeed beyond as municipalities are realising the value and transferability of the POWER approach. A great deal of preparatory work for the deliverables due in reporting period three has been undertaken and the first series of workshops in the KDCs have also taken place.

Actions under work package 5 have continued to raise the profile of POWER and the POWER DSP and best practice repository. One of the key success has been the creation of the POWER video which has been shown at the Vienna ICT4WATER event. POWER has continued to make good use of social media to engage with a range of users and addressed issues raised by GDPR, Cambridge analytics etc. POWER has continued to be represented at events and has participated in 85 events during this period.

During the interim reporting period from M19 to M36 a lot of activity has taken place in the project. There has
In terms of WP1 there have been regular project meetings and teleconferences to ensure that the POWER project is on track to deliver against outcomes. Deliverables have been submitted as planned following a robust Quality Assurance procedure. Most project partners have attended all meetings and provided updates as required. The project has also worked on he implementation of GDPR. The project has also experienced several changes in personn

Final results

Progress to date has been within the remit of the project and the expectations of the grant agreement. The engagement of users with the DSP and the appetite demonstrated by Follower Cities shows that there is a need and demand for the POWER tools. POWER can really engage citizens with the decision making powers at a municipal level and allow participatory decision and policy designing.

In the Grant Agreement, potential impacts were identified at three levels – innovation, scientific, and social innovation with eight measures identified to help maximise impacts. Some of these are already met (dissemination material, website, social media) many are ongoing (networking and liaisons, external events, dissemination to raise awareness, press releases) and one is due later (final event). The communications and disseminations tab will illustrate the variety of engagement that has taken place. There have been an impressive number of scientific publications submitted and published too.

The four key demonstration cities (KDCs) have identified who the DSP will assist them to engage with directly, listing citizens, volunteer groups, professionals both within and outside of their organisations, politicians, as well as follower cities and broader networks. The KDCs have had workshops, ideas contests etc to really support people to engage with the DSP and mobilise local and social action related to water issues.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.power-h2020.eu.