13 projects to change the way we think and act about water
Please note: This text was translated by AI and has not been reviewed. In case of any uncertainties, the Swedish version applies.
How do we get more people to understand the value of water - and act accordingly? This is one of the central questions in the call for proposals issued by Formas under the Water Wise Societies innovation program. Thirteen projects have now been granted funding to develop innovative methods that can help change attitudes, behaviors and create commitment to water issues.
The projects bring together researchers, municipalities, businesses and civil society in new collaborations. They range from a research-based game on aquatic environments and biodiversity for young people to artistic practices to activate the senses and create new ways of relating to water. Other examples include dialogue methods for blue-green infrastructure in urban environments and digital tools that visualize water flows and decision-making data.
- "We see a wide variety of methods and target groups as well as a strong innovative power in the projects that have now been granted support. They show how collaboration between need owners and method experts can create solutions that are both locally relevant and can be disseminated nationally," says Svante Guterstam, Research Secretary at Formas.
Water a crucial social issue
The call is part of the Water Wise Societies program within Impact Innovation - Sweden's joint innovation initiative to meet future societal challenges. Water Wise Societies is leading Sweden's transition towards sustainable water for all. To get there requires not only technical solutions, but also that people and organizations understand, accept and act for change.
In Sweden, water is often taken for granted and knowledge about groundwater, water abstraction and water quality is low. This makes the transition difficult. Therefore, the call has focused on methods that can create acceptance and behavioral change, and that are scalable and possible to use in different contexts.
- It will be incredibly exciting to follow the projects that now have the opportunity to contribute to a more water-wise future. To achieve the mission of sustainable water for all by 2050, we need new ways of thinking, feeling and acting - and that is exactly what this call wants to enable, says Fredrik Larsson, work package leader communication, Water Wise Societies.
Granted projects
Here is a brief overview of the projects that have been awarded funding:
- ShareWater Lab - Stockholm Environment Institute
Creates a learning and innovation lab for equitable water management in the Motala stream catchment. The project combines scientific analysis with local knowledge to promote collaboration and behavior change. - Recycled water in Kalmar - Linnaeus University
Investigates the acceptability and pricing of recycled water from a new recycling plant. The project provides decision support for sustainable pricing models and strengthens the resilience of water supply. - Methods for sustainable water use - Ecoloop
Combines behavioral analysis, smart meters and citizen science in Gotland and Norrtälje. The aim is to create scalable tools for reduced water use and increased engagement. - National gathering at the pump - RISE
Bringing together seven water companies to introduce a common standard for how water facilities are named and structured. Through workshops, storytelling and co-creation, the project will create understanding and commitment to a more coordinated, data-driven and sustainable water system throughout the country. - Finns i sjön - Azote
Develops a research-based game about aquatic environments and biodiversity for young people. The game is combined with lesson material and aims to create understanding and engagement. - Discovery Trail - Peace House
Creates a gamified outdoor exhibition on water, justice and sustainability. Through interactive stations at waterways, children, young people and the public are engaged. - Vattenväven - Skiftmakarna
Explores affective understanding and place-based learning in Säfsen and Gothenburg. The project weaves together body, story and system to create acceptance and change. - Reducing pharmaceuticals in circulation - Gästrike Vatten
Develops communication methods to reduce pharmaceutical emissions in water. The project is based on collaboration between the water sector and healthcare for sustainable drug management. - UPPLEV - Boråsregionen Sjuhärads kommunalförbund
Engages young people as water ambassadors in everyday environments. Through prototypes and co-creation, everyday choices are linked to critical infrastructure. - Place for people, place for water - Luleå University of Technology
Tests dialog methods for blue-green infrastructure in urban environments. The project explores co-creative methods to meet resistance and show how technology and citizen dialog can go hand in hand. - Dialogue and nature guidance for aquatic environments - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Develops a toolbox of methods that combine dialogue and nature guidance to increase understanding and commitment to the restoration of aquatic environments. - Dripwise - Small behavioral changes - big effect - RISE
The project develops locally adapted nudging interventions to reduce household water consumption and meet the challenge of water shortages in Swedish municipalities. Through behavioral science, digital tools and collaboration between researchers, water and wastewater organizations and municipalities, new ways of working are created that strengthen commitment and make water use more efficient. - BioBlitz Bolmen - Sydvatten
Combines citizen science and microscopic data for water monitoring. School classes learn about water quality and contribute to environmental monitoring with open technologies.
Preliminary decision (only decision notification via Prisma guarantees the grant awarded. It may take up to a few days before individual decisions are published in Prisma. Errors in the project database and the list below may exist).
| File number | Title of the decision | Organizations | Project leader | Amount granted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01727 | ShareWater Lab: Learning and innovation lab as a collaborative model for fair and sustainable water management | The Stockholm Environment Institute Foundation, Östergötland County Administrative Board | Gerger Swartling, Åsa | 980 147 |
| 2025-01723 | Recycled water for the Kalmar region - acceptance and pricing | Linnaeus University, Kalmar Vatten AB | König, Tobias | 1 000 000 |
| 2025-01722 | Methods to achieve sustainable water use | Ecoloop AB, Royal Institute of Technology, Norrtälje Vatten och Avfall, Region Gotland | Albinsson, Marie | 611 883 |
| 2025-01720 | National gathering at the pump - the road to sustainable asset management in water and wastewater | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Borås Energi och Miljö, Gästrike Vatten AB, Karlstad Municipality, Roslagsvatten Aktiebolag, Uppsala Vatten och Avfall, Vivab (Vatten och Miljö i Väst AB), Västervik Miljö och Energi AB | Stattin, Eva | 998 999 |
| 2025-01717 | Finns i sjön - A research-based game about biodiversity in water | Azote AB, Biology Teachers' Association, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Löf, Marie | 996 387 |
| 2025-01716 | Discovery Trail - an educational gamified exhibition about water in your city | Fredens Hus, Sydvatten AB, Uppsala Vatten och Avfall AB | Magnusson, Jesper | 862 406 |
| 2025-01715 | The water web - from relationship to change | Skiftmakarna, Algblomman AB, City of Gothenburg / Styrsöskolan, University of Gothenburg, Håenförbundet, Göteborg International Science Festival (Göteborg & Co), Swedish Civil Defense Association | Emtestam, Petra | 784 520 |
| 2025-01714 | Reducing pharmaceuticals in circulation - Behavior change for health and water protection | Gästrike Vatten AB, Region Gävleborg, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Svenskt Vatten AB, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala University | Wik, Stina | 1 000 000 |
| 2025-01713 | UPPLEV - experience-based learning for sustainable water | Borås Region Sjuhärads kommunalförbund, Borås Energi och Miljö AB, Borås Stad, University of Borås, University of Borås | Belfrage, Lisa | 1 000 000 |
| 2025-01711 | Place for people, place for water - From resistance to participation and dialog for multifunctional blue-green infrastructure in the urban environment | Luleå University of Technology, Luleå municipality, Lumire, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences | Blecken, Godecke-Tobias | 1 000 000 |
| 2025-01710 | Dialogue and nature guidance for aquatic environments | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Blekinge County Administrative Board, Mälarens vattenvårdsförbund, Nyköpingsåarnas Vattenvårdsförbund | Sonnvik, Per | 997 677 |
| 2025-01709 | Drop by drop - Small changes in behavior - big effect | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Chalmers University of Technology Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Norrtälje Vatten och Avfall AB, Norrvatten, Nudgd AB | Dahlberg, Kristina | 929 948 |
| 2025-01708 | BioBlitz Bolmen - microscopic citizen science for sustainable water | Sydvatten AB, PKI Utveckling AB | Vollert, Victoria | 1 000 000 |
Mer information
Announcement:
Water Wise Societies
Water Wise Societies is an innovation program within Impact Innovation. The program drives Sweden's transition towards sustainable water for all. Clean water must be available in the right quantities for people, the environment, business and society at large to flourish, even in a time of climate change.
Impact Innovation
The call for proposals is part of the Impact Innovation initiative backed by the Swedish Energy Agency, Formas and Vinnova. Impact Innovation is a stakeholder-driven and long-term effort to contribute to global competitiveness through transition for sustainable development.
impactinnovation.se External link.