Thüringer Wasser-InnovationsCluster (ThWIC)

© ThWIC

The supply of clean water is one of the greatest societal challenges of the future. The next generation innovation network ThWIC focuses on technological and social innovations that enable a sustainable, safe and affordable water supply.

Overarching future topic of water

ThWIC is dedicated to the interdisciplinary innovation fields of "analysing water", "purifying water", "evaluating water" and "understanding and explaining water". The cluster aims to develop solutions for the analysis and energy-efficient treatment of water as well as technologies for closing water cycles. This contributes to sustainable development and climate protection, as does an expansion of society's knowledge of water. Innovations to minimise pollution in the water cycle (e.g. by pharmaceuticals) or to generate (health-relevant) water data contribute to the issue of health and services of public general interest. Projects for the digitalisation and networking of water systems contribute to security (water systems as critical infrastructures) and Economy 4.0 (smart, data-driven resource management).

Networking for a better flow

The project partners from the natural and engineering sciences of water research, data sciences and sociology develop integrated solutions for the sustainable use of water resources in cooperation with industrial partners, associations and civil society actors. In 2030, ThWIC aims to be the centre for new technologies to provide clean water.

Clusters4Future – ThWIC selected as next generation innovation network

The course for the emergence of ThWIC was set in November 2020 in the second round of the Clusters4Future competition called by the BMBF. In September 2021, after a multi-stage selection process, ThWIC made it into the funded conception phase and was selected in July 2022 as one of seven clusters in the second round of the competition. Since 2023, ThWIC is funded within a first three-year implementation phase.