03/07/2026
BGEO at Novatech: Advancing OPRA for Urban Water Innovation 💧
This week, BGEO had the opportunity to take part in Novatech, held at the Saint-Paul campus of the Université Catholique de Lyon, a remarkable urban and architectural transformation of the former Lyon penitentiary.
Over four inspiring days, the event brought together innovation, research and knowledge exchange in urban water management, while also providing valuable insights and a clearer roadmap for the next steps of the OPRA project, supported under the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership (DUT) programme, with national funding support from CDTI – Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (Spain).
On Monday, 29 June, Xavier Torret and Cláudia Rodrigues participated in the OPRA project workshop, a valuable opportunity to meet several consortium partners in person, share the project context, align perspectives and strengthen the collaborative foundations for the work ahead.
Tuesday and Wednesday were dedicated to technical presentations and poster sessions, offering a broad overview of current research, practical approaches and emerging solutions in stormwater management, urban resilience and sustainable water systems.
The programme also included a Gala Dinner at Les Subsistances - formerly a 17th-century convent that later became a military barracks - where participants had the chance to connect in a different setting. The evening also included the Thierry Maytraud Awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions across 3 categories: Regional strategies, Urban renewal projects and Multi-stakeholder engagement and support.
We return from Lyon with valuable insights, a stronger sense of direction and a clearer roadmap for the next steps of the OPRA project, as well as renewed motivation to keep contributing to innovative and sustainable solutions for urban water challenges.
Thank you to the Novatech 2026 organization (graie, OTHU and the Metropole of Lyon), the OPRA project coordinator, Katharina Tondera, our consortium partners and everyone who contributed to making these days such a valuable experience.