About us

DIWA FORMS, FACILITATES, and FOSTERS a new generation of the water sector. We enable the transition towards digital representations of real-world water systems (Digital Twins), reproducing hydrological storages, states, fluxes, and processes, as well as ecosystem responses. These capabilities provide new opportunities for improved scenario analysis, planning and governance.

A leading innovation ecosystem

DIWA Flagship is a leading water research cluster and innovation ecosystem that generates high-impact research, supports policy and management, and drives innovation for the digital transformation of the water sector.
DIWA Flagship ecosystem

Building an ecosystem for digital innovations

DIWA Flagship innovation ecosystem gathers together research partners, public stakeholders, and business actors to advance digitalization in the water sector.   


DIWA is committed to establish a robust value chain within the Finnish water know-how, creating a unique ecosystem for development of smart, justified, intelligent and sustainable water solutions.

DIWA Research

Hydrosphere processes

Understanding process and changes within hydrosphere across space and time.

New observational systems

New observation networks and platforms for monitoring natural and built environments.

Integrated analysis and modelling

Near real time simulation and impact assessments through analysis tools and simulation models.

Digital services, platforms, and business applications

Digital solutions for sharing and exploring data, and co-creation of services.

Transformative water management

New avenues to improve water management and to create business innovations through digital solutions.

DIWA Flagship is structured around five interdisciplinary research themes.

Theme 1: Hydrosphere processes

Theme 1 is re-evaluating past, present and future hydrosphere processes and launches targeted development of new observational systems as well as modelling and analysis platforms.


Theme 1 interlinks all hydrosphere processes through adaptation of conceptual approaches, such as “Source-to-Sea” and “critical zone” concepts.

Theme 2: New observational systems

Digitalisation in connection with  hydrosphere processes is advanced through developing new systems for automated data collection with various mobile and stationary platforms in fluvial, subsurface, coastal, maritime, including pristine, rural and urban environments.


Theme 2 defines the overall system architecture and interface definitions for the new observational systems and allows the development of novel sensor systems for digital twin data gathering.

Theme 3: Integrated analysis and modelling

Theme 3 builds on emerging and most promising tools and models for the analysis and simulation of hydrosphere processes.

These models range in complexity from data-driven AI approaches to physics-based simulations, and they will integrate with DIWA data storage for efficient model execution and distribution of results according to the digital twin concept.

Theme 4: Digital services, platforms, and business applications

We establish forward-looking digital solutions for different water-related services, research and private-sector innovation and public-sector uptake.

The services will be linked to knowledge needs by stakeholders and connecting data and models in Digital Twins.

Theme 4 explores synergies with HYDRO-RI-Platform, AquaInfra, JERICO, and Geoportti-RI among other projects and research infrastructure.

Theme 5: Transformative water management

We will consider new water management practices that promote sustainability transformation in the water field with the help of DIWA’s digital solutions. Our work focuses on existing and emerging policies, management practices and business opportunities across three institutional levels: basin, national and international.   

We will link the DIWA Ecosystem to European knowledge hubs and living labs, facilitating both societal impact and new business opportunities.

Discover DIWA’s latest research, publications and other outputs advancing the digital transformation of the water sector

Explore our latest achievements