How can innovative water solutions continue creating value long after a project comes to an end?
This question was at the heart of the discussion “From Pilots to Lasting Impact: Just Transition and Sustainable Business Models Across Territories” during the Med Innovation Summit, held in Barcelona as part of the MedWaves Together for Impact Conference.
Representing ANETEL, the Lead Partner of Share.MedWATER, we shared lessons from our pilot in Athienou, Cyprus, where greywater reuse is being promoted as a sustainable response to water scarcity and as a practical pathway towards strengthening local water resilience.
Our experience highlights that successful pilots are not only about testing innovative technologies. To generate lasting impact, solutions must address the real needs of each territory, build trust and change behaviours in unconventional water resources, and create the conditions for long-term implementation beyond project funding.
A just transition in water management means ensuring that innovative solutions are practical, accessible, and beneficial for local communities, while supporting the behavioural changes needed for wider adoption. Lasting impact is achieved when pilots become part of local development pathways, informing policies, encouraging replication, and supporting more resilient water systems across the Mediterranean.
At Share.MedWATER, we believe that success is not measured only by the results of a pilot, but by its ability to be scaled up, replicated, and embedded in local strategies long after the project has ended.
We thank MedWaves and all fellow panellists for the inspiring exchange of experiences and perspectives from across the Mediterranean region.
