ICARDA to Convene High-Level Event on Climate-Resilient Water Innovation

As climate variability intensifies and water scarcity threatens agricultural systems across dryland regions, the need to move research beyond laboratories and into scalable, market-ready solutions has never been more urgent.

On March 12, 2026, ICARDA will host a high-level strategic workshop in St. Regis Hotel, New Capital titled:

“Bridging Research and Scalable Impact: Strengthening Collaboration Between Water Related Research Institutions and the Private Sector for Climate-Resilient Innovation.”

Organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in Egypt, the National, Water Research Center (NWRC), and UNESCO, the event reflects ICARDA’s commitment to transforming science into practical, scalable solutions that enhance water-use efficiency, promote climate-smart agriculture, drive scalable non-conventional, smart water solutions relevant to dryland contexts, strengthen food security, and build climate resilience across dryland agriculture systems.

However, scaling these innovations requires structured partnerships with the private sector, stronger financing mechanisms, and enabling policy environments.

This workshop, therefore, represents a strategic step in ICARDA’s broader agenda to build innovation ecosystems that connect research excellence with investment, entrepreneurship, and regional cooperation.

Participants will include senior representatives from water and agricultural research institutions, selected private-sector companies operating in irrigation technologies, agri-tech, digital water systems, wastewater reuse, and groundwater services, as well as representatives from financial institutions, innovation accelerators, and relevant government bodies.

Strategic Dialogue with Actionable Outcomes

Key objectives include:

• Aligning research outputs with market demand

• Defining effective public–private partnership models

• Addressing financial and regulatory barriers

• Designing pilot initiatives for joint implementation

• Establishing coordination mechanisms for sustained follow-up

The event will feature strategic framing by ICARDA leadership, including remarks from the ICARDA Country Director for Egypt, and will conclude with consolidated outcomes presented by the Director General of ICARDA.

Reinforcing Regional Leadership in Water Governance

The day will also mark the official signing ceremony of the UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance, highlighting Egypt’s and ICARDA’s shared commitment to advancing science-based water diplomacy and regional cooperation.

By convening key actors across research, policy, and business, ICARDA is reaffirming its role as a catalyst for science-driven, climate-resilient development—ensuring that innovation does not remain theoretical but translates into measurable impact for farmers and water-stressed communities.