The arrival of 2023 coincided with the beginning of the RETOUCH NEXUS project. With funding from the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, the project’s main objective is introducing the WEFE Nexus approach to design and foster integrated, innovative, inclusive Nexus-smart water governance schemes, and institutional settings to promote a secure water future in the EU.  TUM’s Chair Group of Production and Resource Economics (PuR) is coordinating the project and working in close partnership with the Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management and twelve additional partners from nine different European States.  Hosted by PuR, the project’s kick-off meeting took place in Weihenstephan from February 6^th to February 7^th (2023). The meeting included representatives from the following partner institutions: Valencia Polytechnic University (Spain), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), adelphi (Germany), Slovak University of Agriculture (Slovakia), Euroquality (France), Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Belgium), De Watergroep (Belgium), Energy and Water Agency (Malta), Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (Netherlands), Greening the Islands (Italy), Regierung von Oberfranken (Germany), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Slovakia).