Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System

What Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System does

SEMIDE (Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System, also known as EMWIS) is a non-profit intergovernmental technical cooperation initiative headquartered in Valbonne (Sophia-Antipolis), France. It was initiated at the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water Management in Marseille in May 1996 and formally approved by 27 Water Directors at the Naples Conference in December 1997, becoming operational in 1999. SEMIDE operates as a strategic knowledge-sharing platform for the water sector across 43 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership countries (27 EU member states plus 16 Mediterranean Partner Countries including the Balkans, Maghreb, Mashrek, and Turkey). Its core function is to facilitate the transfer of water sector know-how, information, and best practices between national water authorities, ministries, research institutions, and practitioners. The organization is structured as a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG/GEIE) under French law, jointly managed and financed by water operators from Spain (DGA), France (OiEau), Malta (EWA), and Italy (SOGESID) on behalf of their governments.

The core product is the Euro-Mediterranean Water Information Portal (emwis.org), a web-based platform providing free access to water sector documentation, training resources, research data, and institutional information across 43 countries. A notable technical asset is the Multilingual Water Thesaurus in 7 languages (Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish), integrated into the General Multilingual Environmental Thesaurus (GEMET) managed by the European Environment Agency. SEMIDE coordinates a portfolio of 6+ active EU-funded research and innovation projects (including SIRENA, NIAGARA, CARDIMED, OurMED, CRONUS, FutureLakes) with total consortium budgets exceeding €30M, plus completed projects (AGREEMed, SUPROMED, demEAUmed, SAFERS). The thematic focus spans nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, integrated water resources management, water digitalisation, biosensor monitoring, and carbon capture. Publications include regular eFlash newsletters and annual activity reports.

SEMIDE does not sell products or services and operates as a publicly funded multilateral cooperation initiative. Its revenue consists of EU Commission contracts (via the EEIG structure) and in-kind plus financial contributions from 43 partner countries under the subsidiarity principle. Distribution is regional through 20 National Focal Points operating as in-country coordination nodes, 16 of which operate dedicated national websites. The primary "customers" are government water ministries, national water authorities, and research institutions across the partner countries, with secondary free access available to researchers, practitioners, and the general public. The core team comprises 8 staff members led by Director Eric Mino, who has managed the Technical Unit since its launch in 1999.

Name

Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System

Legal name

Groupement européen d'intérêt économique (GEIE) UNITE TECHNIQUE DE SEMIDE (GEIE UT-SEMIDE)

Website

https://emwis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SEMIDE is an intergovernmental water knowledge platform serving 43 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership countries through a multilingual information portal, 20 National Focal Points, and a portfolio of EU-funded research projects on water management and climate adaptation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management Information Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Self-Service & Customer Portals (web/mobile, e-bill, notifications, consumption dashboards) (EUANAIAI)

Keywords

• Water information services
• Knowledge management platform
• Multilingual water thesaurus
• Intergovernmental cooperation
• Water resource management

Headquarters

HQ city

Valbonne (Sophia-Antipolis)

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. EU Contract Funding: Regional activities (meetings, working groups, standards development, training), the International Focal Point function, and technical assistance to non-EU countries are financed by contracts between SEMIDE's Technical Unit as a European Economic Interest Group (EEIG) and the European Commission.
2. National Partner Contributions (Subsidiarity Principle): Partner countries benefiting from subsidies are required to provide adequate resources for the development of their national systems and the operation of their National Focal Points. This represents in-kind and financial co-investment from the 43 member countries.
3. EU Research Project Grants: SEMIDE participates as a partner in EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, PRIMA, Interreg MED, LIFE, COST, etc.) contributing to project budgets for specific work packages on policy, dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. Examples include NIAGARA (€3.6M total), CARDIMED (€20.8M total), CRONUS, FutureLakes, AGREEMed, OurMED, SIRENA.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEMIDE operates a multilateral water information portal that aggregates and disseminates knowledge, documentation, training resources, research data, and best practices across 43 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership countries. It maintains a multilingual water thesaurus in 7 languages (integrated into the EEA's GEMET) and participates as a partner in EU-funded research projects on nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and water management. All resources are provided free of charge to public water-sector institutions across the region.

Product overview

The Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (SEMIDE/EMWIS) is a strategic knowledge-sharing portal that facilitates information and know-how exchange in the water sector across 43 Euro-Mediterranean partnership countries. The core product is a web-based information portal providing access to documentation, training resources, research data, and water management information. Supporting offerings include a multilingual water thesaurus in 7 languages for cross-lingual document indexing and search. The organization manages a portfolio of over 20 EU-funded research and innovation projects focused on water management themes including nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, integrated water resources management, and water digitalisation. Key projects include SIRENA, NIAGARA, CARDIMED, OurMED, CRONUS, FutureLakes, AGREEMed, and SUPROMED. Publications include regular eFlash newsletters and annual activity reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEMIDE/EMWIS Water Information Portal Strategic web portal for exchanging information and knowledge in the water sector between and within the 43 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership countries. Provides free access to documentation, training resources, research programmes, data administration resources, and databases in English, French, and Arabic.
• Multilingual Water Thesaurus A multilingual water thesaurus in 7 languages (Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Turkish) used to index documents and enable cross-lingual searches across the Euro-Mediterranean water knowledge base. Integrated into the General Multilingual Environmental Thesaurus (GEMET) managed by the European Environment Agency.
• SIRENA Project Nature-Based Solutions project for resilient and sustainable water management in the Mediterranean region, contributing to the European Water Resilience Strategy. Creates digital platforms and AI-supported decision-support tools.
• NIAGARA Project Horizon Europe project developing real-time monitoring and innovative remediation techniques for drinking water, including biosensors for detecting synthetic fungicides, chemical compounds, and pharmaceuticals.
• CARDIMED Project Climate adaptation and resilience project demonstrating 47 types of Nature-based Solutions through 83 interventions across 10 Mediterranean regions.
• OurMED Project Integrated water resources management project focusing on water storage and distribution in the Mediterranean through participatory approaches, nature-based solutions, and stakeholder engagement.
• CRONUS Project Horizon Europe project developing carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) techniques for sustainable biofuels production, contributing to UN SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13.
• FutureLakes Project EU Mission project demonstrating innovative lake restoration solutions through nature-based approaches, circular blue economy practices, and biodiversity-focused approaches across six major European lakes.
• AGREEMed Project PRIMA-funded project improving integrated aquifer management in the Mediterranean through demonstration sites in Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan Valley.
• SUPROMED Project PRIMA-funded project developing an end-user IT platform for smart water management advice to Mediterranean farmers, integrating models and tools for efficient water, energy, and fertilizer use.
• eFlash Newsletter Regular electronic newsletter disseminated to subscribers covering news, events, project milestones, and calls for projects in the water sector across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
• Annual Activity Reports Annual activity reports documenting SEMIDE's progress, achievements, and financial summaries for stakeholders and partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43 countries reached through multilateral water cooperation framework
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City of NiceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2022SEMIDE and the City of Nice signed a partnership on June 3, 2022, to collaborate on urban agriculture under the EdiCitNet project, including a study creating comparative sheets on urban agriculture in Nice and developing climate change projects. SEMIDE promotes Nice's activities in water and agriculture through its platforms.
• Institut Méditerranéen de l'Eau (IME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2012The Mediterranean Water Institute (IME) is a French association created in Rabat, Morocco, in 1982, bringing together water stakeholders at all levels. IME provides a forum for exchanging information and know-how on climate, irrigation, hydrology, water supply, wastewater purification, and aquatic environment development across the Mediterranean.
• International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2012INBO is a non-profit association created in 1994 and based in Paris, with 192 members from 88 countries organized into regional networks. It promotes sound water management in cooperation programmes, facilitates institutional and financial management tools, promotes information and training programmes, and evaluates ongoing actions. The International Office for Water (OiEau) serves as its Permanent Technical Secretariat.
• La Goutte d'ÔminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2012La Goutte d'Ô Association supports equitable access to water and preservation of water resources, conducting projects on treated wastewater reuse and biodiversity. SEMIDE and La Goutte d'Ô signed a partnership agreement on January 13, 2012, to enhance collaboration in sustainable water management.
• Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2012MEDRC is an international organization established in 1996 as part of the Middle East Peace Process, dedicated to finding solutions to fresh water scarcity through research, training, development cooperation, and transboundary water projects. SEMIDE and MEDRC signed a cooperation agreement on January 13, 2012.
• Global Water Partnership (GWP) / GWP-MedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012GWP, founded in 1996, fosters integrated water resources management through a network of over 3,000 partners in 183 countries. GWP-Med (established 2002, based in Athens) facilitates a multi-stakeholder platform with ~100 water institutions. SEMIDE and GWP signed a cooperation agreement in 2012 to enhance water management practices and knowledge sharing in the Mediterranean.
• European Environment Agency (EEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2007SEMIDE and EEA signed a joint action plan on October 16, 2007, to enhance water data sharing and create a Mediterranean water observatory. The EEA provides independent information on the environment and has addressed climate risks and promoted a circular economy. SEMIDE's multilingual water thesaurus has been integrated into GEMET managed by EEA.
• Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACWUA is an NGO founded in 2006, bringing together water sector representatives from Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, UAE, Palestine, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman) with support from UN-ESCWA and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).
• World Water CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Water Council is an international multi-stakeholder organization created in 1996 and based in Marseille, with 260 member organisations from 52 countries across 5 continents. Its mission is to mobilise political action for water security and organise the World Water Forum. SEMIDE has a partnership agreement with the Council.
• International Office for Water (OiEau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOiEau is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing water management worldwide since 1991. It focuses on developing professional skills, providing technical support, and promoting sustainable water policies through training and international cooperation. OiEau is one of the four managing entities of SEMIDE's Technical Unit (on behalf of France) and serves as the Permanent Technical Secretariat for INBO.
• Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEMIDE is an initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Barcelona Process/Union for the Mediterranean). The UfM was officially launched in 2008 to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. SEMIDE's partner countries correspond to the 43 countries involved in the UfM (27 EU + 16 non-EU Mediterranean partners).
• UNEP/MAP – Barcelona ConventioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNEP/MAP is a regional cooperation platform established in 1975, instrumental in the negotiation of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (21 Mediterranean countries + EU). SEMIDE collaborates on water information sharing within this framework.
• Technical Unit Sponsors (Spain DGA, France OiEau, Malta EWA, Italy SOGESID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Technical Unit is permanently managed and financed by four water operators acting on behalf of their governments: Spain (Dirección General del Agua), France (Office International de l'Eau/OiEau), Malta (Energy and Water Agency/EWA), and Italy (SOGESID). These four entities coordinate and provide assistance to National Focal Points, support Steering and Coordination Committees, and act as the International Focal Point.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Global Water Partnership (GWP): GWP is a global network of 3,000+ partners in 183 countries dedicated to integrated water resources management. It is directly comparable to SEMIDE as a multilateral water knowledge and cooperation platform, and the two organisations signed a formal cooperation agreement in 2012.
• GWP-Med: The Mediterranean arm of the Global Water Partnership, established in 2002 and based in Athens. GWP-Med operates as a multi-stakeholder platform with ~100 water institutions in the Mediterranean — directly overlapping SEMIDE's geographic mandate and stakeholder base.
• International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO): A Paris-based non-profit with 192 members from 88 countries that promotes sound water management, institutional and financial tools, and information/training programmes. INBO is a cooperation partner of SEMIDE (agreement signed 2012) and shares the multilateral water governance mission.
• International Office for Water (OiEau): A French non-profit dedicated to enhancing water management worldwide since 1991, providing training, technical support, and policy work. OiEau is one of the four managing entities of SEMIDE's Technical Unit and serves as the Permanent Technical Secretariat for INBO — making it a co-operator and direct functional peer.

Broad incumbents

• European Environment Agency (EEA): An EU agency providing independent environmental information across Europe. EEA signed a joint action plan with SEMIDE in 2007 to enhance water data sharing, and has integrated SEMIDE's multilingual thesaurus into GEMET — making it a closely linked environmental information platform with broader geographic scope.
• World Water Council: An international multi-stakeholder organisation based in Marseille with 260 members from 52 countries, mobilising political action for water security via the World Water Forum. SEMIDE holds a formal partnership with the Council and serves overlapping institutional stakeholders globally.
• Union for the Mediterranean (UfM): The intergovernmental Euro-Mediterranean cooperation body launched in 2008 across 43 countries. SEMIDE is itself an initiative of the UfM framework, making UfM the overarching political/coordination body under which SEMIDE operates — comparable in mission though broader in scope.
• UNEP/MAP – Barcelona Convention Secretariat: The regional cooperation platform under UNEP for the protection of the marine environment and coastal region of the Mediterranean, covering 21 countries plus the EU. SEMIDE collaborates with UNEP/MAP on water information sharing, and the two share overlapping Mediterranean governance scope.

Regional players

• Institut Méditerranéen de l'Eau (IME): A French association created in 1982 in Rabat, bringing together water stakeholders at all levels across the Mediterranean. IME and SEMIDE signed a partnership agreement in 2012 and serve overlapping institutional audiences focused on Mediterranean water information exchange.
• Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC): An international research and training centre established in 1996 as part of the Middle East Peace Process, focused on fresh water scarcity solutions. MEDRC signed a cooperation agreement with SEMIDE in 2012 and shares the transboundary water cooperation mission, though focused on the Middle East rather than the wider Mediterranean.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UT_SEMIDE
• YouTubevimeo.com/user53871782
• Facebookfacebook.com/UTSEMIDE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ut-semide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System