The meeting was attended by the rector of the UJI, Eva Alcón, the provincial deputy for Integrated Water Cycle, Iván Sánchez; the first deputy mayor and councilor of the Castellón City Council, Sergio Toledo; the president of Facsa, Enrique Gimeno; and the director of the Chair, Sergio Chiva, and served to recognize the trajectory of a pioneering project - the first water chair in the Valencian Community and the second in Spain - which in this decade has consolidated itself as a key space to connect research, business and society around the future of water.
During the opening, the authorities agreed on the value of the Chair as a model of collaboration between university and business, and as an initiative that has contributed to boosting applied research, strengthening the water culture and promoting innovation in a context marked by climate change and pressure on water resources.
Along these lines, the rector of the Test, Eva Alcón highlighted three strategic elements of the Chair, stating that "it has established itself as a new form of collaboration between the University and industry, understanding the unique characteristics of both and leveraging them as strengths; it has fostered an environment of innovation, and with it, competitiveness; and it has also promoted scientific dissemination." Enrique Gimeno, president of Facsa, noted that "collaboration between universities and industry becomes a tool at the service of society and sustainable development. It is the most effective way to transfer knowledge to the region, to transform research into real solutions, and to accelerate the innovation that our cities need.".
The day also included several dialogue sessions that addressed current challenges and innovation applied to urban water supply, sanitation and purification systems, with personalities such as Margarita Palau, head of the Water Quality and Environmental Risks Area of the Ministry of Health; Juan M. Lema, emeritus professor of Chemical Engineering and scientific coordinator of the Transdisciplinary Research Center in Environmental Technology; Pedro Simón, technical director of ESAMUR or Teodoro Estrela, assistant to the President of the Júcar River Basin Authority.
Since its creation in 2015, the Chair has fostered a knowledge ecosystem that has trained over a thousand professionals, brought together hundreds of participants in technical seminars, and organized conferences with nearly 130 national and international experts. Furthermore, it has facilitated technology transfer to businesses and public administrations, positioning itself as a key player in improving water management in the Valencian Community.
Boosting talent and social outreach
One of its cornerstones has been supporting young talent, with research initiation grants and awards for academic work related to challenges such as reuse, digitalization, and advanced treatments. At the same time, the Chair has promoted awareness initiatives on and off campus—installing filtered water fountains, distributing thousands of reusable bottles, and conducting educational activities for nearly 1,800 students—to strengthen water conservation and foster a more conscious citizenry.
A look to the future
The event also provided an opportunity to reflect on the emerging challenges of the next decade. The Chair is entering a new phase marked by complex challenges, but also by enormous opportunities, and its commitment is to continue promoting applied research, specialized training, and outreach initiatives that help advance towards more resilient, innovative, and climate-adapted water management.
“There have been many regulatory changes regarding water in the last five years, and for users, all these changes have caused a certain amount of uncertainty. They don't yet know exactly how to apply them or what the implications are, especially in small municipalities,” stated Sergio Chiva, director of the Chair. “From the Chair, we must be able to support institutions and municipalities by bringing research and technology closer to them.”
Ten years after its birth, the Chair FACSA-UJI reaffirms its commitment to continue growing, consolidating itself as a benchmark in promoting talent, innovation and water culture at the service of the territory and society.
