Cleveland, OH - Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) is proud to announce the signing of a formal Memorandum of Action (MOA) with the French Water Clusters, known as Pôles EAU. The Pôles EAU network, which includes the Aqua-Valley and Aquanova clusters, is based in the south of France. Notably, the region houses a globally recognized water research and education hub in Montpellier, home to the UNESCO International Center for Water (ICIREWARD)—an internationally supported center that serves as a hub for research, education, and cooperation on water management. This strategic agreement reinforces a strong commitment to fostering innovation, accelerating business development, and facilitating market entry for water technology companies in both the Great Lakes region and France.

Advancing Global Water Technology Through Strategic Collaboration

This MOA formalizes a commitment between CWA and the French Water Clusters to strengthen collaboration in water-related innovation and sustainable technology, building on the organizations' existing framework of cooperation. This partnership will focus on driving success for our respective water sectors by facilitating a critical exchange of advanced water technologies and expertise.

The core goals of this cooperation aim to:

Facilitate Collaboration and Exchange: Promote the sharing of ideas, innovations, and business opportunities between our respective networks.

Enable Market Access: Provide members of each organization with the resources and connections necessary to access new markets in the U.S. (Great Lakes region) and France.

Support Sustainable Advancement: Collectively support the global advancement and deployment of sustainable water technology solutions.

A major component of this partnership will be providing market entry support, which includes offering "soft landing" services for members of CWA looking to establish a presence in France, and for Pôles EAU members seeking to enter the U.S. Great Lakes market. This support includes facilitating B2B meetings and connecting companies with potential pilot partners, and leveraging CWA's robust testbed infrastructure for technology validation.

Bryan Stubbs, President and Executive Director of Cleveland Water Alliance, emphasized the strategic value of the agreement, stating,

“This relationship with the French Water Clusters provides expanded access to global markets for Ohio-based technologies and innovations. The French Water Clusters are driving innovation across the French and European water sectors, and this partnership creates a direct, two-way channel for cutting-edge technology to be trialed and commercialized in new markets. By leveraging our robust testbed infrastructure and the comprehensive expertise of the French Water Clusters, we are laying the groundwork for market-ready, innovative water solutions that will benefit both our regions and the world.”

A Unified Approach to Global Water Challenges

This formal Memorandum of Action will directly benefit water technology companies and the communities they serve. By unifying CWA's unique capacity for real-world technology validation with the French Water Clusters extensive network and market reach, this partnership creates a streamlined pipeline for global water innovation. We look forward to driving economic growth and delivering impactful global water solutions through this collaboration.

About Cleveland Water Alliance:

Established in 2014, Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) is a world-renowned water cluster, establishing the Great Lakes region as a global destination for freshwater innovation. Supported by robust testbed infrastructure and world-class industry expertise, CWA leverages multi-sector partnerships to support market-driven innovation, economic impact, and sustainable solutions for regional and global water challenges.

About the “Pôles EAU” (French Water Clusters):

Under their common banner, the “Pôles EAU” (French Water Clusters), namely Aqua-Valley (AV) and Aquanova (AN) Clusters, gather over 550 members—companies, research institutions, and higher education organizations. Their mission is to foster innovation and support growth in the French water sector, assisting their members in bringing innovative products, technologies, and services to market to address critical challenges. 

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