The Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) was established in 1971 and has about 17000 students which permanently employ about 700 academics and 650 technical/administration staff. UNIVPM is very active and performant in the European R&D&I and is currently coordinating 3 and managing further 18 Horizon2020 projects, mainly in the area of engineering, agriculture and life science. Three Doctoral Schools (Engineering, Agriculture and Economics) support doctoral students during their research training at UNIVPM. UNIVPM fosters internationalisation as one of the top priorities of the university strategic development plan and has several international partners. Within the Mediterranean basin, UNIVPM has key coordinating roles being the seat of the UniAdrion Secretariat (www.uniadrion.net), which is a “Network of Universities” established with the purpose to create a permanent connection among Universities and Research centres from the Adriatic-Ionian Region.

The interdepartmental UNIVPM cluster for water science and engineering includes R&D&I experts about advanced wastewater treatment, valorisation and reuse, circular economy in the water cycle, hydrology and hydrogeology, hydraulics and hydraulic construction, maritime and coastal engineering, water-energy-carbon-food nexus. As coordinator of the Horizon2020 SMART-Plant innovation action (www.smart-plant.eu) UNIVPM is member of the steering committee of the first signed Innovation Deal concerning water reuse.