The most important SDG-tool to get ’things’ running is SDG 17 Creating partnerships for the goals. Collaborations/ partnerships between our governments, knowledge-institutes, company’s and more are in practice already for many years. Below we mention three relevant, recent running consortia agenda’s.
1. COLLABORATION AGENDA between INDIA & THE NETHERLANDS
This Collaboration Agenda concerns public and private partners and knowledge institutions within sectors as water and waste management. It paves the way for new partnerships and growth opportunities for both India and the Netherlands. It is mentioned, among other things, to create Centres of Excellence for training and education, to reduce trade and investment barriers, to increase the cooperation on water related research and development projects.
Quote: “Research consortia are expected to make optimal use of the Indian – Dutch research strengths in different disciplines and build on existing knowledge and ongoing relevant initiatives as much as possible. The consortia should be knowledge-chain wide, meaning they should crosscut scientific disciplinary boundaries and integrate scientific and practitioners knowledge in joint research.”
2. THE WAH! AGENDA
The Water-Agri-Health Agenda of September 2023, reports the results of partnerships between Indian – Dutch Ministries, agencies, universities, research institutes, industry and commercial partners.
Quote: “…connect the brightest minds of our countries in various research and innovation projects…” and “…scale up from a project-approach to more systematic long term programmatic approach.”
3. COLLABORATION RESEARCH PROGRAMME BETWEEN NWO & DST
Since 2018, NWO (the Dutch Research Institute) and DST (the Indian Department of Science and Technology) have been programming joint calls on the topic of water management. They aim to stimulate strong, sustainable research collaboration between their two countries, in projects that work on scientific knowledge and sustainable, innovative solutions with high scientific and societal impact. In January 2024, three Indian – Dutch research projects on Water Disaster Management have been awarded. The projects focus on challenges in flood and drought management in India and the Netherlands. The consortia are interdisciplinary and include partners from the private sector and civil society, next to researchers from India and the Netherlands.
2025, THE INDIAN – DUTCH CENTRE OF EXPERTISE & ENTREPRENEURSHIP at UTTARAKHAND
This ‘physical’ Centre, near the towns Rishikesh – Roorkee – Haridwar, will become the fundament for knowledge, research, management & control, long-term impact and facilitation of opportunities. It will be the gathering place for all. Its approach offers a home environment as well for Dutch partners to reduce international trade- and investment barriers.
These partnerships will accelerate rejuvenation of the Ganga-river and surroundings for her first 225 km, as the start of a ‘clean water front’ moving downstream the Ganga. The partnerships offers oppertunities for all people involved.
The partners are all committed to tackle water and waste challenges and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), specifically SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 13 Climate Action. SDG 17 Partnerships for the goals will facilitate all.
