MISSION

The EA Innovation Hub is a collaborative think tank that brings together athletes, coaches, technical experts, and leaders across European Aquatics community to identify common challenges, explore innovative solutions, and generate evidence-based recommendations.

Our mission is to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, support experimentation, and provide actionable insights that empower European Aquatics leadership to make informed decisions, ensuring the sustainable growth and excellence of aquatic sports.

VISION

To become the leading platform in aquatic sports where athletes, coaches, officials, technical experts, and decision-makers collaborate to shape the future of European Aquatics.

Through creativity, shared expertise, and evidence innovation, the Innovation Hub aspires
to enhance athlete experie

nce, support cutting-edge and evidence-informed coaching, officiating excellence, empower national federations with actionable insights, and ensure
the sport thrives in a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive way.

AIMS

• Promote innovation in aquatic sports

• Produce and deliver evidence-based recommendations

• Facilitate cross-stakeholder cooperation

• Support high-quality coaching and officiating

• Enhance athlete performance and wellbeing through evidence-informed decisions and holistic support

• Create a platform for pilot projects and knowledge sharing

STRUCTURE

INNOVATION FRAMEWORK

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

PRIMARY MODES OF WORK

Think Tank Sessions

• Forums bringing together athletes, coaches, officials, experts, and decision-makers.

• Focus on identifying shared challenges and exploring innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions.

Commissioned Studies

• Evidence-based problem-solving on priority topics identified by the Hub.

• Provides EA leadership with data-driven insights and recommendations.

Pilot Projects

• Small-scale trials to test innovative ideas in real-world settings.

• Designed to generate practical lessons, proof of concept, and scalable solutions for the aquatic’s community.

Hackathons

• Short, intensive workshops where mixed teams co-create practical solutions to specific challenges.

• Encourages creativity, and cross-disciplinary exchange.

POTENTIAL INNOVATION AREAS

Athlete welfare

• Safe sport, dual careers, mental health, wellbeing support systems.

Education and development

• Continuous learning pathways for coaches, officials, athletes, and federation managers.

• Modernised certification and training programmes.

Fan engagement

• Enhancing the spectator experience, both live and digital.

• Building stronger connections with audiences of different demographics.

Training and competition innovation

• Evidence-based methods, new assessment tools, and improved competition formats.

• Data-driven performance monitoring.

Digital transition and technology

• Smart platforms for data, analytics, and communication.

• Integration of wearable tech, AI, and virtual tools.

Community engagement and grassroots development

• Programmes to grow participation at the grassroots level.

• Strengthening connections between EA, NFs and local clubs.