Due to increasing crowds, new challenges arise around water in urban areas all over Europe. Many (port) cities are faced with the task of finding innovative ways to ensure safety, accessibility and quality of life around the water in urban areas. All kinds of users play a role in this; private, public and industrial stakeholders.

In 6 pilot areas (located in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Denmark and Germany) we are building ecosystems and innovative solutions to enable smart (port) cities. Below you will find a short introduction to the pilot areas. The aim is to further develop the Flow Forward innovation method.

The roles within the Connected River consortium are:

• Knowledge partners: Parties with expertise in the field of research and/or the Flow Forward innovation method. To increase the innovative power of these cities in a European context.
• Host partners: Parties that participate in one or more pilot areas in Connected River.
• Pilot areas: Waterway or waterfront regions where challenges arise. This group puts the Flow Forward innovation method into practice.
• Innovation partners: Innovation partners who can help think of and develop solutions.