The Autonomous Region of Madeira has been honored as one of the first 'champions' of the European Water Academy 2026, during its launch event in Brussels. Regional Government President Miguel Albuquerque highlighted the distinction as both an honor and an increased responsibility, representing Madeira's work and an opportunity to contribute to Europe's future in water resilience, public health, and innovation.
Albuquerque emphasized Madeira's historical relationship with water resources, deemed relevant amidst climate change and public health challenges. The region aims to provide a "real-world ecosystem" to the academy, where knowledge, technology, governance, and citizen participation can be tested. Madeira is the first GigaSite established within the European Union's Wastewater Sentinel System (EU4S), serving as a living laboratory.
Madeira's contribution to the European Water Academy centers on four skills development areas. These include the 'GEMS of Water – Levadas of Madeira' project, utilizing citizen science to characterize the historical levada water system, and applied intelligence to water usage through advanced bioanalytics and sensors. Wastewater surveillance for public health is another key area, with plans for a practical training environment in surveillance systems and demonstration projects in new hospital facilities.
