Hydro Nation programme launches net zero research and innovation collaboration

The Scottish government’s Hydro Nation initiative has launched a research and innovation programme that aims to bring research, industry and communities together to harness new technologies and build the infrastructures necessary for a just transition to net zero in Scotland.

The programme is hosted by the University of Stirling and funded by Scottish Water through the Scottish Funding Council.

Scotland Hydro Nation chair, Professor Andrew Tyler of the University of Stirling, will lead a team of six fellows who will find and lead collaborative opportunities throughout the water sector:

• research leader fellows from Heriot-Watt University, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology will build research programmes around four areas – eliminating emissions from infrastructure, driving down process emissions, enhancing the natural environment and embracing the circular economy; and

• two innovation fellows based at the University of Stirling will link research and industry to develop commercially viable solutions to water challenges, and work with communities on place-based innovation within water catchments;

A series of online events will kick off the collaborative work, beginning on April 18 with process emissions.

The Hydro Nation Chair R & I programme is part of Scotland: The Hydro Nation - a Scottish Government initiative that aims to develop the value of water resources to bring the maximum benefit to the Scottish economy and society.

Other Hydro Nation programmes include: the Hydro Nation Scholars, researchers across Scottish institutions supported by the Centre of Expertise for Waters at the James Hutton Institute; the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, which seeks to create an active community of water researchers across Scotland; and the Hydro Nation International Centre also based at the James Hutton Institute, which collaborates globally to grow the international water economy.