As Project Coordinator of the RETOUCH NEXUS project, TUM (Technical University of Munich) participated in the Nexus Regional Forum of Stakeholders – From nexus thinking to nexus implementation in South Europe and beyond – Mutual learning between practitioners and policy makers on the 27th – 29th September 2023, hosted by the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, in Croatia.

Organised by NEXUSNET COST Action, NEXOGENESIS, EJWP, iMERMAID, and with the participation of BIONEXT, RETOUCH NEXUS, Rexus, MAGO and ARSINOE, the event brought together the WEFE nexus community of practitioners to discuss challenges and opportunities to support the implementation of WEFE nexus approaches, to exchange experiences and to support mutual learning between practitioners and policymakers.

A great opportunity for Maria Vrachioli, RETOUCH NEXUS project manager and head of the NexusNet monitoring and modeling working group, to point out that, despite the considerable progress made in the scientific modeling of the WEFE interface, we are still faced with challenges concerning data availability and the transmission of unified messages in a language common to all disciplines. She also raised the challenge of actively involving stakeholders, without “burning them out”.

This multi-event took place over 3 days as follows:

  • Day 1: Pre-forum – Implementation and use of innovative WEFE nexus related tools organised with NEXOGENESIS
  • Day 2: Nexus Regional Forum of Stakeholders – From nexus thinking to nexus implementation in South Europe and beyond – Mutual learning between practitioners and policy makers organised by NexusNet Cost Action
  • Day 3: Mentoring event and workshops organised with EJWP and iMERMAID