Key synergies between the WaterWise Hub project and the ReBORN (Revitalizing Buildings through Education, Optimization, and Renewable Norms)

The exchange in Bucharest highlighted several strategic intersections between the WaterWise Hub and the ReBORN project. Both initiatives operate within a circular economy framework and address complementary dimensions of sustainable transformation. Their combined expertise opens pathways for integrated solutions that connect water management, low-carbon construction, stakeholder capacity building, and policy development at regional level.

a) Circular Economy & Sustainable Resource Use

• WaterWise Hub applies circular economy principles to water systems, emphasizing reuse, regeneration, and waste minimization.
• ReBORN explores low-carbon, locally sourced natural materials (e.g., reed, hemp) for building construction — representing a circular approach to material life cycles and sustainability in the built environment.

Synergy: Both projects promote closed-loop thinking and resource optimization, enabling cross-fertilization of methodologies and frameworks for circular water systems and sustainable construction materials within integrated planning approaches.

b) Stakeholder Engagement & Knowledge Sharing

• WaterWise Hub engages a quadruple helix of academia, business, government, and civil society to co-create innovative solutions.
• ReBORN involves public authorities, local governments, NGOs, and construction professionals to foster the transition toward sustainable building practices.

Synergy: Both initiatives emphasize multi-stakeholder collaboration, creating opportunities for structured cross-sector dialogue (e.g., among urban planners, engineers, and policymakers) on integrated sustainability strategies.

c) Tools & Best Practices Development

• WaterWise Hub develops decision-support toolboxes, knowledge hubs, and investment planning instruments for circular water management.
• ReBORN produces guidelines and practical resources to support the transition to zero-emission buildings and sustainable construction standards.

Synergy: There is clear potential to cross-reference toolkits and guidance documents, supporting practitioners in adopting holistic approaches that combine water sustainability with energy-efficient building design.

Future joint opportunities within the emerging Bucharest Think Tank Hub may include:

• Integrated training modules on circular economy principles spanning both the water and building sectors.
• Joint policy recommendations for local authorities on sustainable infrastructure planning.
• Shared stakeholder workshops bringing together water and built environment professionals.

Building on Proven Project Experience

WWH partner Business Development Group SRL presented two successfully completed projects whose expertise directly informs and strengthens the development of the WaterWise Hub initiative:

1. NextGenWater
   This project focused on testing innovative circular water solutions, particularly in the field of sustainable sludge management. In demonstration cases such as Timișoara (Romania), thermochemical conversion processes (e.g., pyrolysis) were applied to transform sewage sludge into energy and valuable by-products, including biochar, oil, and gas. These outputs can be reused as fuel or soil enhancers, offering a resource-efficient alternative to conventional landfilling and contributing to circular resource recovery models.
2. AquaSpice
   AquaSpice developed and validated advanced water-efficiency management methodologies, technologies, and optimization tools for industrial water treatment, reuse, and closed-loop systems. The Romanian pilot case at Agricola Bacău focused on sustainable water reuse within the poultry meat processing industry. The project demonstrated that technical innovation must be accompanied by administrative and regulatory adaptation, as permitting procedures and authorization requirements significantly influenced the practical implementation of proposed solutions.

ReBORN likewise builds on the successful EUKI-funded project EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube. That initiative focused on enhancing carbon sequestration in soils and promoting climate-friendly agricultural practices in the Danube region. Through demonstration activities, stakeholder engagement, and transnational knowledge transfer, EDAPHIC-BLOOM Danube strengthened cooperation between research institutions, practitioners, and policymakers. It showcased practical solutions for improving soil management and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while embedding results into regional dialogue and policy processes.

The methodological experience gained — particularly in capacity building, cross-border cooperation, and the integration of scientific results into practical applications — now directly informs ReBORN’s approach to advancing low-carbon construction materials and supporting the transition toward Zero Emission Buildings.

Together, these project experiences underline the importance of combining technological innovation with governance capacity, regulatory alignment, and stakeholder engagement — a shared principle that connects WaterWise Hub and ReBORN in their pursuit of scalable, circular transformation pathways.