The kickoff meeting of the Forever Water Project, 15^th & 16^th of September 2025, marked the official start of an ambitious initiative dedicated to developing next-generation electrochemical technologies for the removal of PFAS and other persistent contaminants from water. Forever Water is funded under the prestigious EIC Transition scheme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). This highly competitive program supports projects that build on promising research results and advance them toward market-ready innovations. EIC Transition bridges the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and real-world application, providing both financial support and business-oriented guidance to help deep-tech projects achieve real societal impact.

At the heart of Forever Water are four main pillars:

1.Material enhancement – advancing novel graphene-based anodes with improved efficiency and reproducibility.

2.Iterative prototype construction – developing a series of prototypes, each building on lessons learned from the previous generation.

3.System integration and field testing – scaling prototypes into complete systems and validating them in real-world contaminated sites treating groundwater, landfill leachate and semiconductor industry wastewater.

4.Spin-off creation – establishing GRAPHEC, the company that will ensure these innovations reach the market and deliver long-term impact for society.

The meeting opened with an overview of the project vision: to pioneer sustainable, graphene-based electrochemical systems capable of tackling one of today’s most pressing environmental challenges; forever chemicals in water. The urgency of the issue was highlighted, as PFAS contamination continues to affect ecosystems, human health, and the security of drinking water supplies worldwide. Each partner institution presented their role, expertise, and contributions to the project. From advanced material development (Fraunhofer IKTS) to pilot testing and stakeholder engagement (Amphos21 & CEA-Leti). The diversity of knowledge and skills is one of the project’s multidisciplinary strengths. The team also reviewed the three-year project timeline, deliverables, and milestones, outlining a clear roadmap in which the first year will concentrate on advanced material development, followed by years two and three dedicated to iterative prototype construction, system integration, and on-site testing in real-world conditions, ensuring a smooth progression from laboratory innovations toward scalable solutions.

With a shared sense of enthusiasm and commitment among all partners the kick-off meeting was concluded. Forever Water goes beyond scientific advancement: it represents a concrete step toward transforming cutting-edge research into practical solutions that will protect water resources and generate lasting benefits for society.