Digital Waters Flagship: Finnish Water Research and Innovation Ecosystem

Abstract

The Digital Waters Flagship, DIWA, a recently funded water research cluster and innovation hub in Finland, aims to generate impactful research, contribute to policy development, and drive the next industrial water revolution. Utilizing digital solutions, DIWA integrates natural and social processes, simulating reality to assess global changes in a region facing rapid climate change, especially in the North.
Establishing connections between Finnish water research and global scientific teams, DIWA collaborates with stakeholders and businesses to tackle complex challenges. With a mix of public and private partners, universities, and international collaborators, DIWA's value lies in connecting existing research lines and excellence at three Finnish universities (Universities of Oulu, Turku, and Aalto) and three research institutes (SYKE, FMI, NLS). Aligned with the Finnish Water Forum and the Oulu water ecosystem, DIWA fosters innovation and creates opportunities for the business sector, while also building strong links with national, regional, and local water and environmental administration in Finland.
DIWA's aim is to address major societal challenges by analyzing complex systems, co-developing solutions, and meeting society's decision support needs. Organized around five integrated research themes, DIWA anticipates bridging the "water cycle knowledge gap" by consolidating national research into a comprehensive "source-to-sea" concept. The initiative digitally represents real-world water systems through a Digital Twin, offering novel options for enhanced scenario analysis, planning, and governance. This integrated approach is crucial for developing sustainable solutions and averting severe cascading effects of global change on the hydrosphere, environment, and socio-economic systems.