IPM-Net

Sector-crossing strategy meeting in Oxford

In February 2007 Seeconsult moderated the strategy meeting of the IPM-Net network (Integrated Pollution Management Knowledge Transfer Network) in Oxford. IPM-Net is a knowledge transfer network, which is supported by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and the Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Its aim is to develop national and sector overlapping strategies, which will maximise Great Britain's economic potential on the global market for environmental engineering and environmental services. During the strategy meeting experts from the economy, sciences and administration/legislation were able to work in small groups identifying challenges within the three sectors of "land", "water" and "waste". Moreover, they were able to identify influences and bottle-necks behind those challenges and formulate consequential research and development requirements. As a result, various sector-overlapping approaches were identified and classified by means of a multi-criteria approach. The results of the workshop form the basis of a national integrated strategy for the remediation and management of environmental resources.