Not only the first Project Partner Meeting for Polders2C’s was held on the 22nd till the 24th of January in Antwerp. Also, the First Steering Committee Meeting and the official Interreg Initiation Meeting took place. Representatives of thirteen partners were present to start with the implementation of the project. A group of 35 people worked on detailing the work packages and project planning.

Three-in-one

Ludolph Wentholt, Lead Partner STOWA: “We wanted to be as efficient as possible by having the first Project Partner Meeting, Steering Committee Meeting and Initiation Meeting in three days’ time. It had to be accurately orchestrated. We all had the same goal: a jump start for Polder2C’s. And I must say that we have achieved tremendous results and also had fun getting there.”

Research

“On the second day a field trip to the Hedwige-Prosperpolder was organised. The location where the living lab will take place. Having all representatives of our partners in the field was a valuable part of our programme.”: Patrik Peeters, Lead Partner Department of Mobility and Public Works/Flanders Hydraulics Research.

A cross border collaboration

The Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020, accepted the project proposal Polder2C’s on the 25th of November. In this project 13 project partners from Belgium, France, England and the Netherlands and a number of 32 observer partners are closely cooperating. A total sum of 6,5 million euros is invested, of which 60 percent is funded by Interreg.  Between 2019 and 2022 flood defence and emergency response are tested. This is necessary since climate change is affecting us faster and to a greater extent than previously expected. These tests are taking place in the Hedwige-Prosperpolder, on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium.

Partners

A total of thirteen partners are involved in the Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020 subsidy application: Department of Mobility and Public Works/Flanders Hydraulics Research and Catholic University Leuven (KU Leuven) from Belgium, Environment Agency and South West Water from England, Cerema, ISL Engineering and University of Lille from France and Delft University of Technology, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management (RWS), Province of Zeeland, HZ University Of Applied Sciences, Ministry of Defence and the Foundation of Applied Water Research (STOWA) from the Netherlands.