Partners of the new Baltic Blue Resilience (BBR) project met in Kuopio, Finland, for a three-day kick-off meeting. Klaipeda Science and Technology Park was represented by Karolina Jasaitytė and Audronė Liesytė.
The project addresses a challenge that is becoming increasingly important for cities across the Baltic Sea Region: how to manage stormwater in a more coordinated, sustainable and climate-resilient way. More extreme rainfall increases the risk of urban flooding, while stormwater can also carry nutrients, heavy metals and microplastics into the environment. At the same time, responsibilities for water management are often divided between several organisations, making effective coordination essential.
Over the next two years, BBR partners will examine how stormwater is currently managed in different regions, analyse existing practices, challenges and gaps, and bring together municipalities, infrastructure providers, experts and other relevant stakeholders. The findings will feed into joint regional action plans and, ultimately, a replicable methodology supported by a practical guidebook that can help other regions address their own stormwater challenges.
The kick-off meeting also created an opportunity to learn from projects and initiatives that have already accumulated experience in water management and climate resilience. Lessons from NOAH, WaterMan, Symbioter, CityBlues, ReCircWater, Circular Ocean-bound Plastic, Water Smart Territories Connect and Baltic Smart Water Hub were among those shared during the programme. Participants also visited the WaterLAB at Savonia University of Applied Sciences and spent time at the Savonia campus. The programme included a visit to Kuopio’s Puijo Tower, offering a different perspective on the city and the surrounding Finnish lake landscape.
Baltic Blue Resilience brings together five project partners:
- Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Finland – Lead Partner;
- Sustainable Business Hub, Sweden;
- Klaipeda Science and Technology Park, Lithuania;
- Gdańsk–Gdynia–Sopot Metropolitan Area Association, Poland;
- Clean – Denmark’s Water & Environment Cluster, Denmark.
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021–2027.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Interreg Baltic Sea Region. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
