EIB invests €50 million in smarter and more resilient Italian water infrastructure

Investment in digital water infrastructure reinforces momentum towards predictive maintenance

Digitalisation and predictive maintenance are increasingly becoming part of major investment programmes for European water infrastructure.

In July 2026, the European Investment Bank and AIMAG announced a €50 million financing agreement supporting more than 200 upgrades to water, sewerage and wastewater-treatment infrastructure in the province of Modena, Italy, benefiting around 200,000 people.

Alongside network and treatment-plant upgrades, the programme will introduce advanced monitoring and remote-control technologies designed to support predictive maintenance, service continuity and greater infrastructure resilience.

This type of investment illustrates the growing operational importance of technologies being researched within PIPEON.

PIPEON aims to improve sewer network monitoring by combining autonomous robotic inspection with sensors, AI and digital twins. Its research is designed to provide more detailed infrastructure information and help utilities anticipate deterioration and target maintenance more effectively.

Developing innovative technology is only one part of the transition towards smarter wastewater systems. Ultimately, solutions also need pathways towards implementation and investment at utility scale.

The AIMAG programme provides another indication that digital monitoring and predictive asset management are becoming tangible priorities for the European water sector — creating an increasingly relevant environment for innovations such as those being developed through PIPEON.