Final conference “The Future of Water in the Changing World”

Project: EMPEREST
Physical Meeting
The key regional discussion on the future of water in our changing world will take place in Berlin!

Description

Welcome to the international conference “The Future of Water in the Changing World: Innovative solutions against PFAS and micropollutants”, which will take place in Berlin, Germany, on 19-20 November 2025! This key Baltic Sea Region event is dedicated to exploring innovative solutions for addressing organic micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in the context of the evolving regulatory landscape in Europe.

The conference will bring together European, national and local policymakers and experts to discuss:

  • Linking new EU policies with their implementation in the Baltic Sea region
  • Latest data and recommendations for monitoring PFAS in the aquatic environment
  • Risk-based assessments of the state of play and useful frameworks and tools for this
  • Tested innovative wastewater treatment technologies to remove organic micropollutants
  • Capacity building tools and upstream measures to reduce hazardous substances
  • Opportunities for cross-sectoral partnerships to enhance water quality and sustainability

The impressive lineup of high-level speakers features the European Commission, ministries and environmental agencies from Germany, local authorities pioneering the PFAS awareness field, forerunning water utilities that tested technologies for micropollutant removal, and leading researchers in the field, as well as EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, HELCOM Secretariat, and UBC Sustainable Cities Commission.

Programme documents for general public

Programme documents for EMPEREST project partners

The call for posters is open!

We are happy to announce an important part of the conference – the session "Networking, exhibition, and the market of solutions" (19 November 15.15-16.45). This will be a great opportunity to establish new cooperations, get to know about other European projects, and enjoy interactive activities and games!

🔔 We warmly welcome to the exhibition interested international projects addressing the reduction of hazardous substances from the water cycle. You can express your interest of having a stand when filling the registration form, or contact EMPEREST coordinator Lotta Lehti (lotta.lehti@turku.fi) with any related questions.

The table stand will have space for project publications, promotional materials, or prototypes/samples of products produced within the project. You can also set up a project roll-up. The number of available stands is limited, so be sure to request it soon!

 

Participation in the conference is free, but all participants are expected to arrange own travels and accommodations.

 

This conference is co-organised by the teams of two transnational projects – EMPEREST and APRIORA, funded by Interreg BSR Programme, so it will offer a unique platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

We look forward to your participation in this important event!

 

Agenda

  •  
    Time
    Item
  •  
    EU policy, PFAS monitoring and advanced wastewater treatment

    Day 1: 19 November 2025

    • 08.30–09.30 Registration, coffee and networking
    • 09.30–10.00 Welcoming words
    • 10.00–12.00 SESSION: NAVIGATING WATER STRATEGIES AND REALITIES
    • 12.00–13.15 Lunch
    • 13.15–15.15 SESSION: ADAPTING TO TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES
    • 15.15–16.45 SESSION: NETWORKING, EXHIBITION, AND THE MARKET OF SOLUTIONS
    • 19.00–21.00 Networking dinner
  •  
    Local perspectives, capacity building and cooperation, with study visits

    Day 2: 20 November 2025

    • 09.00–09.30 Registration and coffee
    • 09.30–12.30 SESSION: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES’ MANAGEMENT
    • 12.30–13.30 Lunch
    • 13.30–17.00 STUDY VISITS AND APRIORA WORKSHOP (Further details about the study visits and registration for them will be announced in September)

Events

Upcoming events

01-03
October
EMPEREST workshop at UBC Sustainable Cities Commission meeting 2025
Project: EMPEREST
Physical Meeting
01. - 03. October 2025

    Past events

    27-29
    August
    Europe Forum in Turku featuring an EMPEREST session
    Project: EMPEREST
    Virtual Meeting & Physical Meeting
    27. - 29. August 2025
    26
    August
    EMPEREST stakeholder event in Helsinki (in English)
    Project: EMPEREST
    Virtual Meeting & Physical Meeting
    26. August 2025
    10
    June
    EMPEREST stakeholder event in Turku (in Finnish)
    Project: EMPEREST
    Physical Meeting
    10. June 2025
    10:45 - 16:00 (EEST)
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