ISSI No Profit

Within its nonprofit activities, ISSI is developing an Innovation Laboratory dedicated to research, experimentation and the creation of new solutions for water security and climate resilience.

The Laboratory will bring together researchers, technology developers, public officials, professionals, students and territorial stakeholders. Its role will be to transform emerging ideas into methodologies, pilot initiatives and practical tools capable of responding to real environmental and socioeconomic challenges.

Its activities will focus not only on producing research but also on ensuring that the resulting knowledge is returned to society. New indicators, analytical models, policy recommendations and technological applications will therefore be accompanied by dissemination, training and public-engagement initiatives designed to make their benefits understandable and accessible.

The Innovation Laboratory will also strengthen the connection between Italian territories and the Scandinavian research and innovation ecosystem. By combining experience developed in Lund and Sweden with the needs of Siena, Tuscany and Southern Europe, it will encourage the circulation of knowledge, interdisciplinary collaboration and the adaptation of international best practices to local contexts.

The ISSI Innovation Laboratory

ISSI No Profit represents the public-interest dimension of the Istituto Senese di Servizi Idro-strategici. Its purpose is to ensure that research, technological innovation and international cooperation in the water sector generate benefits that extend beyond individual projects and reach institutions, communities, professionals, students and civil society.

Water-related innovation produces meaningful results only when knowledge is made accessible, shared and translated into practical action. For this reason, dissemination is not considered a secondary communication activity within ISSI, but an essential part of its mission. Scientific findings, predictive methodologies and technological solutions must be communicated beyond specialist environments so that they can support public awareness, institutional capacity and more informed territorial decisions.

ISSI No Profit aims to connect research with society by creating opportunities for dialogue between universities, public administrations, water utilities, businesses, professional associations, schools and local communities. Through publications, public events, workshops, conferences and accessible educational materials, the Institute intends to explain both the causes of water vulnerability and the possibilities offered by prevention, innovation and predictive Water Intelligence.

Research with a Social Purpose

ISSI No Profit is supported by a multidisciplinary Board of Professionals that provides strategic guidance, scientific oversight and specialist expertise to its public-interest activities.

The Board brings together professionals from different fields, including water management, environmental science, climate resilience, technology, public policy, economics, law, communication and territorial planning. This multidisciplinary composition reflects the understanding that water crises are not exclusively environmental or technical problems, but complex challenges with institutional, social and economic consequences.

Board members contribute to defining the strategic priorities of ISSI No Profit, evaluating research and innovation initiatives, supporting the development of the Innovation Laboratory and ensuring that projects remain scientifically credible, ethically responsible and aligned with the needs of society.

The Board will also assist in selecting themes for conferences, workshops, educational initiatives and public-engagement activities. It may contribute to the evaluation of research proposals, pilot projects, competitions and awards promoted by ISSI No Profit, helping to ensure transparent and professionally informed decision-making.

Through its expertise and professional networks, the Board will strengthen cooperation between universities, public administrations, utilities, businesses, associations and civil society. Its role is not merely advisory: it helps transform knowledge into initiatives capable of producing measurable benefits for communities and territories.

The presence of this Board ensures that the nonprofit work of ISSI is guided by competence, independence and a clear commitment to the public interest.

A Multidisciplinary Board of Professionals

ISSI No Profit promotes an approach to research centred on public value. The objective is not merely to publish studies or develop technological prototypes, but to ensure that research contributes to safer territories, more prepared institutions and better-informed communities.

The Institute will encourage applied studies on water vulnerability, climate adaptation, socioeconomic impacts, infrastructure resilience and hydro-strategic planning. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which water crises affect agriculture, local businesses, vulnerable groups, public services and employment.

Whenever possible, the results will be made available through reports, policy briefs, public presentations, educational resources and open dissemination activities. This approach will help reduce the distance between scientific knowledge and the people responsible for managing territories or experiencing the consequences of water-related crises.