PCP-WISE: Water Management from Space
Innovation in Water Management for Climate Resilience
The PCP WISE initiative was created to tackle major challenges related to water management, such as floods, wildfires, water quality deterioration, and infrastructure impacts. These challenges require immediate, coordinated responses based on innovative technology.
The European project PCP WISE (Pre-Commercial Procurement of Water Management Innovations from Space for European Climate Resilience) aims to develop smart solutions for sustainable water management and climate resilience through tools such as artificial intelligence, satellite observation, and early warning systems. The project in wich the IEEC collaborates with 25 organizations from 9 countries forming a consortium, will work on different use cases to address public administration needs through pre-commercial procurement (PCP). This mechanism enables private companies to develop innovative solutions to tackle water management challenges within public administration.
These innovative solutions will be available to a wide range of public buyers, offering practical and scalable responses to water crises caused by climate change.
The project began in January 2025 and is expected to run until the end of 2027. The total budget is €19 million, of which €12 million will be allocated to the research and innovation (R&I) phases outlined in the public call.
Once PCP WISE is completed, public administrations will have the option to acquire the developed solutions through innovative public procurement, further promoting digitalization and efficient water resource management.
THE IEEC CONTRIBUTION
The IEEC, together with the ICGC (Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya) and i2Cat, is participating in the project by defining a use case to address current water management challenges in Catalonia. The objective is to provide advanced solutions to improve water resource efficiency, particularly in response to drought challenges. This use case includes drought analysis and its impact on agricultural production, as well as a system for monitoring soil moisture at two depths (surface and root level) to optimize irrigation and ensure a more sustainable use of water.
The IEEC will also support the definition of the call’s requirements, ensuring that the needs of the public administration are considered when selecting solutions. Additionally, it will contribute to the different phases of prototype development, ensuring that the developed technologies address the specific needs of the region.
The PCP WISE initiative represents a great opportunity for Catalonia’s business ecosystem, opening doors for local companies to become technology providers, fostering innovation, talent attraction, and the growth of the country’s industrial sector.