144 |2020 Sustainability Report |A decade for us to transform Research today to know tomorrow In 2020 six new projects were initiated to put innovation and technology at the service of quality, eco-efficiency, smart management and sustainability. Investment in R&D has increased more than 19% compared to 2019. €5,124,362 47 R D i 19%compared to 2019 Sponsorship and investment 9.1 2 Goal Strategic line Aqualia's innovation activity is in line with EuropeanThe projects developed in 2020 strengthen Aqualia's policies for transition to a circular economy with a zero technological commitment, which increased the carbon footprint, seeking the development of new smartamount dedicated to R&D47 by 19.4%compared to management tools and new proposals for sustainable the previous business year, which represents 0.43% of services and smart management tools. In this way, the turnover. Department of Innovation and Technology is supporting the company in meeting the United Nations SustainableAs a result of the knowledge obtained in innovation, Development Goals (SDGs) in different points, clients can obtain better services for more efficient water guaranteeing an affordable and high quality water andcycle management. This year Aqualia's commitment sanitation service (SDG 6), optimising its energy balancehas been strengthened with a new tool to generate (SDG 7) and avoiding its impact on climate (SDG 13)more sustainable products, activities and processes. through responsible consumption (SDG 12). 47 The total invested in 2020 is the sum of the R&D&I grants (€2,346,093 in 2019 and €2,892,722 in 2020) + net investment made by Aqualia (€1,945,386 in 2019 and €2,231,640 in 2020).