The SUNRISE project is delighted to share insights from the successful IHS Critical Infrastructures Event held in Vienna on November 4, 2024. The event brought together project partners and stakeholders to deepen discussions and collaborate on scientific contributions, with a focus on the pivotal role of critical infrastructures (CIs) in resilience and sustainability.

Key Goals of the Event

The workshop centred around:

• Refining and advancing ideas for scientific papers inspired by SUNRISE project insights.
• Strengthening partnerships to enhance collaboration and amplify the project’s scientific impact.
• Building on ongoing discussions to further develop several pre-existing research concepts.

Interactive Group Discussions

Participants were divided into three groups, each tackling distinct topics related to critical infrastructures and project advancements:

Group 1

• Progressed the development of a paper exploring the effects of droughts and water shortages on Spain’s economy.
• Initiated discussions on linking a macroeconomic agent-based model to a hydrological model.
• Conducted an in-depth review of data, model specifications, and planned modifications.

Group 2

• Discussed the preparation of a paper addressing the public good aspects of CIs services, using the impact assessment framework from the SUNRISE project.
• Examined the “public value” of service provision by critical infrastructures like utilities.
• Identified gaps in current perspectives and regulations on CI resilience and sustainability, generating inputs for policy development.

Group 3

• Focused on planning and detailing the upcoming validation event, refining methods for assessment.
• Expanded the project’s publication strategy to increase dissemination and impact.
• Explored integrating the epidemiological model with the cost of illness model developed in WP 2, assessing feasibility within and beyond the project.

Thank You for Joining Us!

The workshop’s collaborative spirit and productive discussions underscore the value of collective expertise in advancing the SUNRISE vision. Special thanks to all participants for their contributions.