European regions and cities face important challenges related to water management: storage and discharge after (heavy) rainfall, quality, periodic water stress, etc. To address these challenges, it is evident that water must become an integral part of spatial development policies and their implementation.However, until now, water management issues are often secondary. Water issues compete with other public concerns resulting in insufficient public and political support. The general thinking is that incorporating water in spatial development costs money. Aqua-add partners observe that stakeholders in the public area are often not aware of the added value that efficient water management can bring to spatial developments. While it may bring added cost, it also allows areas to be better protected against flooding and becoming more attractive. It brings economic benefits and contributes to quality of life.Aim/objectives:Partners aim to better deploy the potentialof water (economically, socially and environmentally) in urbanised landscapes and to improve the incorporation of water in spatial development. They will exchange experiences and good practices, including soft testing on:1 stakeholder involvement2 added value of blue space in urbanised landscapes, achieving better informed decision making3 successful business models for water-projectsActivities:Ad 1) In planning processes, all relevant stakeholders (spatial planners, real estate developers, traffic department, politicians etc.) should be made aware of the impact that spatial plans have on water management and should become convinced of the added value of water. To achieve this, water experts (and public authorities in general) have to take a pro-active role. Aqua-add will exchange strategies for fruitful cooperation.Ad 2) The added value of water is still underestimated. Aqua-add will collect, analyse and promote the specific functions, services and values of water. Partnerswill use a Decision Support Tool – computer model that shows the (potential) social, environmental and economic impact of water and can facilitate decision making processes with several stakeholders.Ad 3)Realisation of plans is often difficult due to lack of funding or uneven distribution of costs and benefits. Aqua-add will exchange suitable business models, such as public-private arrangements and cost management of investments and maintenance.Partnership: a smart combination of public authorities and knowledge institutions: Eindhoven (NL); Copenhagen(DK); Aveiro Region Intermunicipal Community & Univ. of Aveiro(PT); Univ. of Debrecen, Centre Environmental Management&Policy, Trans-Tisza region Environmental & water inspectorate(HU); Bremerhaven(DE); Univ. of Genoa, Imperia(IT); Grand Lyon(FR); Sofia(BU). Knowledge institutions are carefully selected on their expertise on applying science in practice, they make state of the art methodologies available for the cities and regions. Achievements: AQUA-ADD - standing for Deploying the added value of water in local and regional development - is a 3-year co-operation of 11 partners from 8 EU regions aiming to share knowledge and experience between the project partners, to better deploy the potential of 'water' (economically, socially and environmentally) in urbanised landscapes and to improve the implementation of water measures in local and regional spatial development. The project consists of three main elements: 1. stakeholder involvement: exchange of strategies for solid and fruitful cooperation 2. added value of "blue space" in urbanised landscapes, achieving better informed decision making; 3. practical and successful business models for 'water-projects'. A fourth element is the creation of a Decision Support Tool: a computer model that can show the added value and impact of water, to be used in policy making processes with multiple stakeholders, based on a scientific model. The model will be piloted in partner regions and the approach will be disseminated to other regions, with a demonstration version and e-learning module . For this, all 8 cities/regions (Trans-Tisza region (HU), Greater Lyon (FR), Aveiro region (PT), Bremerhaven (D), Copenhagen (DK), Eindhoven (NL), Imperia (IT), Sofia (BG)) have a case study to be used in the model. The case studies are also used to bring useful strategies and instruments from the first three main elements (adde value, stakeholder involvement, business models) into practice. The 8 cities/regions are supported by 3 knowledge institutions with expertise on these themes (University of Debrecen (HU), Genova (IT) and Aveiro (PT)). In March, the first partner meeting took place, organised by the Lead Partner, in Eindhoven. This three day meeting tackled all aspects of the project. All eleven partners presented themselves. All 8 cities/regions presented their case study of the project. One day was fully dedicated to active involvement of all partners and external experts from consultants, knowledge institutions and (local, regional, national) authorities on the Eindhoven case study. With on-site visits all guests were invited to share knowledge and experiences on the case study presented, Three workshops were part of the tour and brought the main projects' themes on the table: - stakeholder involvement (using the example of how to convince local citizens' of the benefits of re-opening a river in their street), - business models (how to gain the collaboration of six real estate owners in an area of re-development by introducing the same river as a (economical) binding element) - added value (what is the added value of re-opening this river in the city centre). Besides, the working groups on these three themes had a first session as well, to define the scope of their work. The first meeting on the Decision Support Tool was held, by presenting possible outcomes of this model. After the meeting all case studies have been defined in a report that also describes the inventory of needs and approach for the development of the support tool. Two case studies (Eindhoven, Aveiro) have been examined further, they serve as 'frontrunner cases'.