The foremost goal of this competence network is to support our business partners in the development of research competence in order to:

1. make use of Austria’s rich water resources both from an economic standpoint and with a mind to ensuring long-term resource sustainability

• increase international competitiveness in water-related industries and services by means of a strategic alignment of research and business activities

To this end, centralised projects are being developed that place great emphasis on a research-oriented economy. 

Invitations to collaborate are therefore extended to commercial partners who would like to augment their existing professional competence, or who would like to establish themselves in new fields. Research teams are called on not only to press ahead with scientific development in collaboration with business partners, but also demonstrably to implement expertise gained at the level of the other commercial partners. As with the simplistic application of routine know-how in solving regional problems, conservative collaboration between research and the business sector marked by conventional task allocation, would not satisfy the conditions for receipt of funding. Joint ventures are striven for in non-KNET projects outside the funding track. It is also the common goal of all network partners to generate added value through intensive research collaboration accruing to the benefit of all those involved; in this way, the competence network represents a "win-win" situation. It is planned to establish the competence network on the international scene as a (virtual) R&D network during the lifetime of the KNET programme, and to continue strengthening Austria as a business location for research and technology in the water sector.