2.2 Critical Review: framework and context analysis
The remit of this activity was to assess both the importance and urgency of all the previously
identified RDI needs in order to determine water RDI priorities. To this end, the views of the
Advisory Boards of the Water JPI and national experts in water RDI were taken into account
through the organisation of a consultative workshop.
Impor tance is an indication of the extent to which RDI a particular domain will contribute to
responding to societal needs at the socio-economic/environmental or policy levels (societal im-
portance) and to answering scientifically relevant questions (scientific importance).
Urgency refers to the time scale at which an action should be taken – short, medium or long
term – on the basis of its societal and scientific importance (i.e. ‘when’ RDI activities should
be funded).
• Short-term priorities refer to RDI needs for which, according to the views of stakeholders
and society at large, funding is recommended between 2014 and 2016;
• Medium-term priorities refer to RDI needs for which funding should be provided between 2016
and 2020;
• Long-term priorities are those for which funding should be provided beyond 2020
Since the development of this SRIA was based on a participatory approach, the organisation of
a consultative workshop represents one of the milestones of the Water JPI. The workshop was
held in Lyon on 3 and 4 April 2014. The specific aims were to:
1. Gather information on scientific/technological outputs, trends, ruptures, gaps and priorities;
2. Obtain participants’ feedback on the content of the SRIA 1.0 draft document available at
that time (themes and subthemes, needs, objectives, most appropriate instruments for the
implementation); and
3. Prioritise RDI needs according to their importance and urgency.
This two-day workshop was structured around a number of plenary and working group parallel
sessions (five working groups; one for each of the Water JPI themes). A total of 54 stakeholders
attended the workshop. This figure included members of the Water JPI Governance Board (19),
national experts (18), members of the Water JPI Advisory Boards (16), and a representative
of the European Commission.
Workshop results are available in its Proceedings document (Deliverable 3.2, 30 April 2014).
The members of the Water JPI Advisory Boards were further consulted on the proceedings.
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