Great opportunities for businesses

European

Water

Technology

Hub

This Water Proof Special appears on the occasion of the Aqua Nederland Vakbeurs.

Great opportunities

for businesses

The choice of

Bucon Industries

From knowledge

to business

De voordelen:

rustig even met een collega, een relatie of een potentiële klant, bijpraten of zaken doornemen aanschuiven aan onze de ‘stamtafel’, waar u informatie krijgt over de activiteiten van bovengenoemde organisaties in één overzicht een beeld krijgen van de verschillende ‘waterorganisaties geïnformeerd worden over diverse initiatieven

zoals Human Capital, Waterlink, Watercampus Leeuwarden, Werk aan Waterwonderen, etcetera en deelnemen aan laagdrempelige workshops (25 personen).

Hieronder stellen wij de initiatiefnemers kort aan u voor!

Welkom op het

netwerkplein

!

NWP, Aqua Nederland, KWN, Aqua for All en Water Alliance slaan de handen ineen op de Aqua

Nederland Vakbeurs (19 t/m 21 maart 2013, Gorinchem). Net zoals vorig jaar hebben deze partijen

een netwerk- en workshopplein georganiseerd waar iedereen met een watertechnologiehart

datzelfde hart kan ophalen!

Aqua for All

Postbus 93218 2509 AE ’s-Gravenhage Contactpersoon Marcel Schreurs Telefoon 070-22196697 E-mail [email protected] Website www.aquaforall.nl

Stichting Aqua for All

heeft als doel zoveel mogelijk mensen in ontwikkelingslanden toegang te geven tot duurzame water-sanita-tievoorzieningen. Aqua for All is opgericht door de Nederlandse drink-watersector en treedt op als connector om geld, middelen en deskun-digheid te mobiliseren. Aqua for All treedt, met middelen vanuit Buiten-landse Zaken, ook op als co-financier voor investeringen in water en sanitatie.

www.aquaforall.nl

Het Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP)

is een publiek-private netwerkorganisatie die optreedt als onafhanke-lijk coördinatie- en informatiepunt voor de Nederlandse watersec-tor. Doel is het organise-ren van een stevig Ne-derlands waternetwerk. Al ruim 10 jaar stimuleert NWP samenwerking en afstemming tussen de verschillende partijen in de Nederlandse water-sector. Hierdoor kan Nederland een grotere bijdrage leveren aan oplossingen voor de internationale waterpro-blematiek en versterkt Nederland haar positie op de internationale watermarkt. www.nwp.nl Aqua Nederland is de branchevereniging voor de waterbehan-delingssector en richt zich op ‘waterzorg’. De vereniging is opgericht in 1990 en heeft circa 75 leden. Aqua Nederland is een platform voor en door de waterbehande-lingsbranche, dat zich sterk maakt voor hoog-waardige collectieve belangenbehartiging, informatie uitwisseling en contacten met markt-partijen en gebruikers. Dit alles ter versterking van de concurrentie-positie van haar leden.

www.aquanederland.nl

Water Alliance is samen met Topinstituut Wetsus (centre of excellence for sustainable water technology) en het Cen-tre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) de drijvende kracht achter de WaterCampus Leeu-warden. Wetenschap-pers en bedrijven uit alle delen van de wereld doen op de WaterCam-pus onderzoek naar op-lossingen op het gebied van o.a. drinkwaterpro-ductie en afvalwater-zuivering. Vanuit die inspirerende omgeving vormt de Water Alliance samen met publieke en private marktpartijen, overheden en kennisin-stellingen slagvaardig netwerk, met een unieke kennispositie op het ge-bied van duurzame en innovatieve watertech-nologie. Doel: onder-steuning bieden bij het vermarkten van ideeën en concepten.

www.wateralliance.nl

Koninklijk Nederlands Waternetwerk (KNW) is hét onafhankelijke ken-nisnetwerk voor en door leden. De organisatie staat voor het uitwis-selen van kennis en er-varing door middel van persoonlijke aandacht en ontmoetingen. De vereniging bestaat uit 4.000 professionals van-uit de gehele breedte van de watersector en biedt daarmee een uitgebreid netwerk over organisatie- en landsgrenzen heen. De bijeenkomsten zijn hoogwaardig, laagdrem-pelig, interactief, uit-dagend en prikkelend. KNW is per 1 januari 2009 ontstaan uit de Ko-ninklijke Vereniging voor Waterleidingbelangen (KVWN) en de Neder-landse Vereniging voor Waterbeheer (NVA).

www.waternetwerk.nl

Netherlands Water Partnership

Postbus 82327 2508 EH Den Haag Contactpersoon Annemieke van Zuylen Telefoon 070-3043708 E-mail [email protected] Website www.nwp.nl Aqua Nederland Postbus 190 2700 AD Zoetermeer Contactpersoon Gertjan Eg Telefoon 088-4008534 E-mail [email protected] Website www.aquanederland.nl

Stichting Water Alliance

Agora 4 8934 CJ Leeuwarden Telefoon 058-2849044 E-mail [email protected] Website [email protected] Waternetwerk Binckhorstlaan 36-M417 2516 BE Den Haag Tel. 070 322 27 65 E-mail [email protected] Website www.waternetwerk.nl | WATERPROOF WATERPROOF | 2 3

Colofon

Water Proof is the magazine of the Water Alliance, a partnership between government, research institutions and industry in the field of innovative and sustainable water technology.

From its base in the Northern Netherlands, the Water Alliance builds on the ‘water technology innovation chain’; a process whereby new ideas are converted into worldwide marketable products.

Water Proof provides regional, national and global information on developments, results and background in the field of water technology.

Editor in chief:

Edited by:

Text contributor

Design

Gilbert Terpstra

Photography

Printer

An inspiring network from

knowledge to business

The water sector is an area in which the Netherlands excel. The Dutch Government has defined Maritime industry, Delta technology and Water technology as ‘Topsector Water’: it is to be expected that this sector can pay a considerable contribution to the growth of the Dutch economy. With regard to the stimulation of industry and employment in the field of water technology, the Water Alliance was founded several years ago. A cooperation between governmental organisations, knowledge institutes and industry in the field of innovative and sustainable water technology. On the theme: ‘from knowledge to business’ the Water Alliance is building and managing the ‘water technological chain of innovation’; a process in which new ideas are transformed into practical products to be marketed worldwide. Smart cooperation within this Chain of Innovation shortens the Time to Market. The aim is to let the Netherlands grow to a European Water Technology Hub with the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden as its physical core. Together with Wetsus and the Centre of Expertise Water technology (CEW) the Water Alliance is the heart of the WaterCampus, where research, education and business go side by side.

In this inspiring network the innovative technology of tomorrow is created and marketed by a growing concentration of top technology and knowledge industry, that cooperates closely with high-level manufacturing. This cooperation speeds up the realisation of the initiatives and increases the economic vitality in water technology.

Amongst others, the Water Application Centre and the five specialised Demo sites are important facilities with a view to realising this acceleration. They offer companies the opportunity to test and demonstrate their water technological product innovations in practice without having to make a huge investment or lose too much time with environmental permit procedures. A very attractive line of facilities that is perfectly complementary with our policy as a networking organisation: to inspire, stimulate, facilitate, motivate members and to create and market innovative water technologies. Nationally as well as internationally. The cooperation within the Water Alliance offers current companies (top technology, knowledge industry and high level manufacturing and process industry) the opportunity to grow. Technology start-ups are supported in such a way that they have a greater chance of being successful with their entrance into the market. I hope you will enjoy your reading!

Hein Molenkamp,

Drinking Water company Vitens won two international innovation prizes in Madrid. The Water and Energy Exchange crowned the “Champagne rinse’ and the Vitens Innovation Playground, also called the Testing-ground, with the Global Innovation Award. Manager Business Development of Vitens, Rik Thijssen, is very happy with this result: ‘Receiving such international credit is really great for our researchers and the partners we cooperate with!’ In the category Infra-structure’ Vitens Innovation Playground (VIP) in Noardburgum was the winner. In this testing ground, Vitens explores the possibilities of measuring the quality of and demand for water real-time in the pipeline network with the use of sensors, and thus working at an intelligent water supply system.

The scale of the testing area is unique: nowhere in the world 2000 km of

pipe-line is employed for the testing of new techniques. In the testing ground, Vitens co-operates with knowledge institutes and other drinking water companies and SME’s. The VIP is made possible by a subsidy of the province of Friesland and the joint venture Northern Nether-land (SNN). The ‘Champagne rinse’, an innovative and sustainable way to clean bio-waste from membranes with CO2 dissolved in water, won in the category process technology. The innovation is of great importance internationally because membrane filtration is neces-sary in processes concerning making drinking water from river- or seawater. This innovation was made possible by an innoWATOR subsidy of Agentschap NL and was established in co-operation with the Twente University, RWB waterser-vices and consult. Vitens and WE-consult share the rights on the patent of this new cleaning technique.

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in short

The well-known Blue Tech Forum will be held in Europe for the first time on 14th May 2013. Wetsus, centre of excel-lence for sustainable water technology, co-organizes the event that is initiated by O2 Environmental. Blue Tech Forum, that has been organised since 2010 by O2 Environmental, has become an important event for industry and inves-tors to meet new watertechnology and marketing developments.

For the last three years, the Blue Tech Forum has taken place in San Francisco, but on behalf of Wetsus the location

of this year’s Forum will be the Okura Hotel in Amsterdam on the 14th of May. Wetsus supports O2 Environmental with the organisation of the event. This year’s theme is ‘Brave Blue World’ and the Forum will put special attention to the contribution of new water technology in a world that is challenged to become more and more efficient in its coping with water. With three showcases young innovative companies are invited to present their technology to industry and investors. Besides that, a panel will discuss the way investors are

approach-ing the water market. How to keep innovating is a question larger compa-nies are facing as well. Some have found a successful way and will demonstrate how they handle it.

More information and registration can be found at www.wetsus.nl.

Project Waterschoon

winner of the Water

Innovation price 2012

Wetsus brings Blue Tech

Forum to the Netherlands

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in short

Winning award for

Vitens!

The sustainable sanitation project ‘Waterschoon’ in Sneek has won the Water Innovation price 2012. The project is a cooperation between Wetterskip Fryslân, Housing association de Wieren, DeSaH bv, Municipality Súdwest-Fryslân and STOWA. According to the jury this project is about an important renewal for construction in the Netherlands. Report quote: ‘Waterschoon is an innovative, integral and small scale concept with a

large sustainability value which combines energy production, re-use of waste and water purification. Waterschoon has proven its worth in practice and set an example for other development. The parties are congratulated on the fact that they dared to choose a completely different concept, thus creating a new showcase in the Netherlands. Apart from that, Waterschoon is a magnificent export item.’

Canadian minister visits

WaterCampus

Last January the Canadian Minister Diana McQueen visited the WaterCam-pus in Leeuwarden, a joint initiative of Trade Commissioner Henk ten Wolde of the honoraria consult of the Netherlands in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) together with the Water Alliance. Canadians are particularly interested in the significance of companies in and around the Water-Campus concerning several problems and challenges that Alberta, Canada faces, such as the algae blooms in lakes. The algae can be a problem for the lei-sure use of the water. Besides that they are eager to learn more about all sorts of facilities of soil water and waste water management. The Minister attended presentations by companies like Bio-clear, Brightworks, Desah and Wetter-skip Fryslân. Mrs McQueen’s visit was concluded with a dinner in the presence of Leeuwarden’s mayor Ferd Crone.

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Technology Trade Show & Conference

19-21 March 2013, Montreal, Canada.

Water Technology Symposium WaterTech 2013

10-12 April 2013, Banff Alberta Canada

Wasser Berlin

23-26 April 2013, Berlin, Germany.

Masterclass drinking watertechnology / WaterCampus Business Café

29 May, WaterCampus

WaterCampus Business Café

19 September, WaterCampus

International congress Water & Sensors

9-10 September, Assen

Annual International Wetsus Congress

30 September – 1 October,

Leeuwarden, Stadsschouwburg de Harmonie

IFAT India

24-26 October 2013, Mumbai, India.

Aquatech / IWW Amsterdam

4-8 November

For more information or to register for participation, please visit: www.wateralliance.nl

On the agenda:

2013

With the participation of almost 300 representatives of companies, knowledge institutions and govern-mental organisations from all over the Netherlands and anW inspira-tional and enriching programme, the first edition the Symposium WaterLink turned out to be a great success! The overwhelming atten-tion for the ‘learn, meet and greet’- event organised by Water Alliance that took place on the 17th of January at the World Trade Centre in Leeuwarden showed that there is a great need for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of innovative and sustainable water technology.

Moderator Alex Berhitu (NOM) opened the symposium with a discussion plat-form consisting of Johannes Boonstra, managing director of Wetsus, Gerard Adema, director Centre of Expertise Water technology (CEW) and Hein Molenkamp, managing director of the Water Alliance. These three organisa-tions are the core of the WaterCampus. Together with industry and educational and governmental organisations they are an inspiring network for the devel-opment and marketing of innovative technologies. Their co-operation leads to realisation of initiatives and accel-eration of economic vitality in water technology.

Johannes Boonstra quickly highlighted some of Wetsus’s ins and outs: ninety companies, among which multination-als like Shell, Unilever and Heineken,

and seventeen knowledge institutions from all over Europe have currently been involved in the Centre of Excel-lence. In the academic research lab at the WaterCampus, research focuses on technical solutions in the area of drinking water production, waste water purification, water distribution and sustainable water. With facilities for starting companies and research and production labs.

Gerard Adema, of CEW, the knowl-edge and innovation centre of applied research and product development in the field of water technology, stressed the importance of partnership: joined forces of education, research,

govern-ment and industry. ‘It means progress and profit for each party involved’. Hein Molenkamp of the initiating organisation Water Alliance, stressed the special character of the Water-Campus, joining scientific Wetsus, academically oriented CEW and Water Alliance as the link to the market and industry. In his closing the modera-tor addressed: ‘The WaterCampus is a unique combination of industry, research and education. The close co-operation of the several disciplines makes this campus the ideal place for development of new innovative water technologies for national and inter-national markets. It is a melting pot of ideas and products and a stepping stone to the market, with opportunities for current companies as well as for starters. And saying that I am think-ing of top technology, the knowledge

industry and high level industry and launching customers.

The informative start was followed by an comical act concerning a philoso-phy about thinking in possibilities and opportunities, in which the participants were actively involved which caused a lot of hilarity. After the break theme-sessions on a diversity of subjects, such as applied membrane technology for the sustainable filtering of (waste) water streams, the monitoring of water quality with sensor technology, energy production with the use of water Waddensea water and the production of green gas took place. The theme-sessions were guided by the NOM,

Wetterskip Fryslan and members of the Water Alliance such as Vitens, Wafilin, WLN, Water & Energy Solutions and Bareau.

The very successful afternoon closed with drinks and a walking dinner. According to Hein Molenkamp con-tacts made at Water Link could easily lead to a shorter ‘time to market’. ‘In the field of water technology, energy and sensor technology entrepreneurs and knowledge institutions have a great innovative power. WaterLink binds the different parties and offers them the opportunity to share know-ledge, experience and new views. Which can be enriching and inspir-ing, but can also be the start of new enterprising ideas and innovative plans. We are already looking forward to the second edition of WaterLink!

Full house at Leeuwarden WTC

Overwhelming attention

for

WaterLink

!

| WATERPROOF WATERPROOF |

All over the world progress is being made with concern to offering clean drinking water

to local citizens. But today, about 780 million people, mainly from Africa en parts of

Asia, still do not have access to save drinking water. However, from a deep-rooted

urge for innovation some companies bring forward inventions and concepts to improve

such a situation. Companies that are accustomed to ‘out of the box’ – thinking. Bucon

Industries is such a company.

WaterCampus

Leeuwarden:

the choice of

Bucon Industries

Based on the idea of ‘seeing is believ-ing’ they started looking for a location for their venture Dutch Water Partners that would be suitable to show inter-national customers how their renewing drinking water systems function. And so they have settled in Leeuwarden, where a completely new Water Application Centre (WAC) is provided for at the WaterCampus. ‘A wonderful place that provides us with all the cooperation we need. And where the presence of sev-eral knowledge institutions and other innovative companies offers us a lot of synergy benefits on the side, says CEO Peter Bulsing.

Let’s get back to the core of the prob-lem: over 10 percent of the world popu-lation consumes food that was irrigated with dirty water. The water is usually infected with chemicals or pathogenic organisms. Each year, 3 million young children die of diseases caused by bad

access to water, sanitation and hygiene. To be short: there is a lot that can be improved. Bucon Industries is working on it in a very innovative way. Bulsing: I don’t mean to brag, but we notice our ideas are leading. Often do we hear ‘the way you tackle things, we have never seen that before!’.

The core of Bucon Industries is formed by Peter Bulsing (CEO), Ferry Horváth (managing director water technology) and Lute Broens (manager Business development). The latter being one of the ‘founding fathers’ of Wetsus’s, ‘centre of excellence for sustainable water technology’ in Leeuwarden. Recently, Bucon established their company in Leeuwarden, where in the past years a high tech WaterCampus has arisen. From this location Bucon endeavours to market the products internationally through their venture ‘Dutch Water Partners (DWP).

The WaterCampus Leeuwarden offers relevant research and office facilities, unites knowledge with entrepreneur-ship so as to stimulate innovation and business devel-opment. An inspiring environment with great added value, which offers existing companies (top technology, knowledge industry and the high-grade production and supplying industry) the possibility to expand, while new enterprises increase their chance of succeeding. The WaterCampus Leeuwarden is a forum for coopera-tion between approximately 130 internacoopera-tional companies, 18 universities (from nine European countries) and local higher and intermediate vocational education institutions. The many cooperation projects resulted in appealing innovations and new market introductions. The regional, national and European governments support the develop-ments concerning the WaterCampus Leeuwarden, which is increasingly often mentioned as the shining example for the new EU smart specialisation policy: WaterCampus Leeuwarden fulfils the role of EU Water Technology Hub with increasing prominence.

In this special, you will learn more about the three organisations that form the heart of the WaterCampus: Wetsus, the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) and the Water Alliance. They offer relevant facilities and programmes and have an extensive network in the field of science, research, marketing and education, on the basis of which they provide entrepreneurs with advice and assis-tance in the development, testing, realisation and marketing of their innovative ideas and products.

The basis for the WaterCampus Leeuwarden was already established in the nineties of the previous century. Research projects of that time showed that the Dutch water market was becoming stagnant. The possibilities for growth were mainly found on the international market, by enhancements in respect of these four areas: combining of the excellent but very fragmented knowledge present in the Netherlands; strengthening of international relationships; early entry into foreign markets and the realisation of reference projects. In 1998, the province of Friesland took the initiative to implement these recommenda-tions, with the ambition to grow into a global player in the field of water technology. The most important businesses, knowledge institutions, utility compa-nies and authorities united. This broad cooperation allowed for an integral approach of the water issues. The participating companies jointly contributed the necessary technology and expertise and created a sound commercial driving force. In the preceding years, WaterCampus saw a significant growth. Exten-sion works are in the pipeline in order to accommo-date this expansion. In 2014, an iconic building with all the facilities for innovative entrepreneurship will be built in the heart of Leeuwarden.

WaterCampus Leeuwarden

assists

entrepreneurs in the development

and marketing of innovative ideas

and products

The top industry sector Water offers great

opportunities for businesses

The Top Industry Sector Water is on the rise. According to the CBS Statistics Netherlands, the Dutch water industry already counts approximately 3000 companies, which together employ 90,000 people. This is approximately two per cent of the people in employment in the Netherlands. In 2011, the export grew with 6.4% (compared to 5.7% growth in 2010, source: Water Sector Export Index). To create new break-through technologies and to seize opportunities (and thus strengthening the international competitiveness of Dutch companies in the water industry), it is crucial to synergistically combine research, education, innovation, valorisation and market strategy in an effective innovation system. WaterCampus Leeuwarden is primarily focussed on the facilitation of this innovative cooperation.

One of their attention areas is drink-ing water. DWP’s so-called ‘PUREleau’ drinking water systems is based on Pentair membrane technology. These products find their way especially in developing countries and upcoming markets. Innovative are the drinking water boats, with which in cooperation with Damen Shipyards, villages on the coast of Africa are supplied with clean drinking water. The water is stored in another innovation of the company: BUCOtank drinking water storage tanks. This product is being used in

over 120 countries. ‘In fact the basis of all our products is quite simple, Bulsing explains: We can help with purification, storage and distribution of drinking water, clearing of waste water and sup-ply of sanitation units. And while doing so we count in that the products should be payable and safe, but also flexible. In many cases the products can be detached, moved and up scaled. The recent choice for settling in in Leeuwarden is a logical one according to Peter Bulsing: ‘ For us this region has

a lot of added value. One operates from the water technology centre. Above that, Leeuwarden has the vision and ambition to grow out to be the Euro-pean Water technology hub. It is very nice for us to be able to instantly set up a demo-installation with which we can show potential interna-tional customers how our drinking water systems function. This installation will be placed at the Water Application Centrum, right next to Wetsus, our neighbour!

‘ The way you tackle things, we

have never seen that before!’

WATERPROOF | 11 | WATERPROOF

Hein Molenkamp, managing director of the Water Alliance, explains how entrepreneurs are accommodated in their innovation projects from within the WaterCampus. “We use, amongst other tools, demo sites - an important link in the innovation chain for the advancement of new innovations. These facilities are located in the vicinity of the WaterCampus, where companies can test, up-scale and demonstrate their technologies to potential clients. Examples? Desalination technology and Blue Energy at Wetsalt in Harlingen, wastewater technology at the Wetterskip WWTP in Leeuwarden, drinking water technology at Vitens in Noardburgum, sensor technology in drinking water at

Sentec WLN in Glimmen and hospital wastewater treatment at the source in Sneek. Moreover, various showcase projects have emerged in the past years, where new technologies are tested, further developed and implemented. For example, the industrial salt waste-water treatment plant in Delfzijl and the Puurwaterfabriek water purification plant in front of the NAM in Emmen.” The regional government also plays an important role in facilitating innovations. Molenkamp: “Friesland province and Leeuwarden municipality are doing just that in the form of innovation and dem-onstration subsidies and also through co-financing of Wetsus and the Water-Campus. A good example is the regional

Water Alliance

From knowledge

to business

The organisations and entrepreneurs who are active in and around the WaterCampus will find common ground in the Water Alliance. This partnership between entrepreneurs, knowledge and educational institutions and governments has the task of facilitating and promoting the clustering, profiling, burning and valorisation of the activities at the WaterCampus and its inland regions. Besides the business community, the Northern provinces, municipalities, Wetsus, CEW, the Chamber of Commerce and the NOM are actively involved in Water Alliance’s activities.

innovation programme Fryslân Fernijt, in which approximately 40 small-to-medium-sized companies have been involved in 15 innovation projects over the past years. This has resulted in 9 new products and 4 new companies. Special attention will be given to cross-sector innovations, whereby connections are sought with, for example, developments in relation to energy, sensor technology, agriculture/agrifood and healthy ageing.” The question of valorisation: Capitalisation of knowledge and technology?

“We know of a number of tools for marketing innovations. One of them is the Waterplein (WaterSquare). In valorisation a transition from technology-push to market-pull takes place. The WaterSquare concept, which has been developed within the Water Alliance, seems to succeed, also internationally. At the WaterSquare, entrepreneurs collectively address actual market questions asked by end users who were selected on business cases.

A consortium including an end user is more powerful in entering the market. Through the WaterSquare small and medium sized entrepreneurs and suppliers are involved who formerly were not. The NOM employs its network to connect not only par-ties within but especially those outside the water sector to the WaterSquare. In the vein of export stimulation, the WaterSquare also caters to current international (export) market demands and collaboration between national and international technol-ogy partners. From within the Water Alliance, the NOM and the Chamber of Commerce (in cooperation with NWP and Agen-schap. NL) are strongly involved in the international acquisi-tion and promoacquisi-tion of the WaterSquare. By focussing more on potential business cases, trade missions will more easily pique the interest of potential participants from the small to medium-sized companies. This is one of the concrete activities for the further shaping and implementation of our ambition, to be the European Water Technology Hub.”

“We kill two birds with one stone”, states Gerard Adema. “We contribute to the development of talent as well as to business innovations. Students, professors and other knowledge workers conduct research together with, or on behalf of companies, in advanced laboratories, application centres and at various pilot & demo sites.” The research concerns a number of themes: water saving and water recycling, water and energy, nutrients and agriculture, water systems, industrial water and sensor technology. The CEW enables entrepreneurs to accelerate the innovation cycle and to shorten the time to market. Gerard Adema: “Entrepreneurs who don’t have the personnel, facilities or the time needed to conduct applied research can rely on our organisation. We possess the required expertise, experience, capacity and research facilities.”

A prime example of CEW’s practice-oriented approach is the development of a new filtering method, which uses seaweed for the extraction of heavy metals from water. This project, to which four companies contribute, is financed by the Regional Innovation Programme ‘Fryslân Fernijt III’ of the province Frisia. The project meets the regulations of the European Framework Directive Water (FDW), which contain requirements for the ecological and

chemical quality of surface water. The FDW establishes guidelines for, amongst others, concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium, mercury, lead and nickel. Gerard Adema: “In the Netherlands, virtually all river basins have concentrations of metal that are still a problem for achieving good water quality. The methods for the removal of heavy metals at places with a low concentration are often very costly and rather inefficient. This project wants to contribute to the solution of this problem.”

The filtering method is being developed by the companies Feyecon, Algae Biotech CleanWater, Hortimare and Afmitech, in cooperation with the CEW. Feyecon and Algae Biotech Clean Water have experience in the extraction of valuable components from natural materials, such as algae. Hortimare is specialised in the selection, multiplication and cultivation of seaweed. Afmitech is active in the development of equipment and systems for the processing of wastewater and related by-products and residues. The method is being tested in a number of experimental set-ups. At a later stage, there will be a demonstration set-up at the sewage water treatment plant (RWZI) in Leeuwarden. Depending on the results, a large-scale test will subsequently be conducted in Spain.

Centre of Expertise Water Technology

“ We want to be a

partner for the

business community”

The Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) is the knowledge and innovation centre for applied research and product development in the field of water technology. The organisation combines the different strengths of education, research, authorities and businesses. Gerard Adema states: “We want to be a partner for the business community”. Together with Wetsus and the Water Alliance, the CEW is the heart of the Watercampus in the Frisian capital.

The state emphasises appreciation

for Wetsus by injecting millions

“ Wetsus represents a

European dream to me”

Wetsus will be granted an amount of 19 million Euros -at least until 2017- from the ministry of Economic Affairs. The financial injection represents a deserved reward for the innovative work of scientific director Cees Buisman and business leader Johannes Boonstra, who both have been involved with Wetsus from the beginning in 2004. Water Proof spoke with the scientist.

Wetsus has evolved into a leading European “centre of excel-lence”. Their added value manifests itself in the multidiscipli-nary collaboration, according to Buisman. This collaboration has resulted in a heightened level of mutual respect amongst researchers, entrepreneurs and government agencies for each other’s field of work, and a realisation that they depend on each other to be able to market new ideas and innovations. The institute has effectively created a hotspot in the area of water knowledge around the academic research laboratory in the form of facilities for start-up businesses, research and production laboratories, special locations for practically demonstrating new technologies and a concentration of industriousness and educa-tion. This is also an international issue – a network of universities both from within Europe and outside is consistently being built up, with Wetsus as the meeting place for international research into water technology.

An example of an international (funded by the European Union) research project is the CapMix project, in which 4 European knowledge institutes and 2 private companies co-operate. 90 companies and 17 knowledge institutes from all over Europe are currently involved with Wetsus. Also multinationals – including Shell, Unilever and Heineken – are partners of Wetsus and are active in the field of innovative water technology. They consider research and collaboration with knowledge institutes essential to the development of this technology.

For his university work and his efforts with Wetsus, Cees Buis-man received Wageningen University’s Entrepreneur Award in 2011. ‘Buisman has a special gift for building networks and marrying science with commercial applications’, said the jury. “You need a connection”, he said. “It’s about the link between commerce and the sciences. This is the role we play with Wetsus. We are not a company, or a university, but instead we stand between these two major elements.” When asked about his driving motives, he commented: “Wetsus represents a European dream to me. I believe strongly in European cooperation. I think that the various cultures in Europe must influence each other far more. You can learn a lot from one another. At the end of the day, more things unite us than divide us. And I also want to cooperate in resolving or reducing environmental problems. I’ve been involved with this my entire life. I think it’s great that we can address global problems via an international institute like Wetsus – that you can use the link between commerce and science to create something out of nothing.”

| WATERPROOF WATERPROOF |

Conducting research studies, testing and

demonstrating without making big investments

Demo sites a great

asset to innovative

businesses

To start with an innovative idea and end up with a commercial product, market shares and profits – that’s what it’s all about. But the road to success begins with testing, testing and then some more testing. Unfortunately, however, entrepreneurs do not always have the resources and opportunities to test and demonstrate their innovative ideas in practice. That’s why a number of demo sites have been created at various locations in the northern Netherlands.

WETSALT – Harlingen

The Wetsalt demo site, an initiative by Wetsus and Frisia Zout, is an interesting development for businesses that want to test out and demonstrate a sustainable technology in the area of (sea)water desalination, the generation of electricity through the mixing of freshwater and saltwater (Blue Energy) and other innovative technologies for generating energy from water. Pro-ject manager Heleen Sombekke from Wetsus: “There is room for four businesses. At all of the locations there are four water types available: seawater, condensate, purge and canal water from the nearby canals.” One of the companies making use of Wetsalt is Redstack from Sneek. By mixing freshwater from the Rhine and Maas rivers with seawater, the Frisian company believes enough energy can be generated to supply 4 million Dutch households with electricity. In Harlingen, Redstack is now investigating the option of constructing a Blue Energy plant in the Afsluitdijk.

www.wetsalt.nl

[email protected]

WETTERSKIP FRYSLÂN (Friesland Water Board) – Leeuwarden

The demo site at the wastewater treatment installation in Leeuwarden is being used by the local water authority and other companies in the region. Here they research and test new techniques for the treatment of wastewater. The Friesland Water Authority extended pipelines from various sections of the treat-ment plant for the sake of the demo site. Wastewater, sludge and effluent (purified water) will be directly available in the prox-imity of the demo site, allowing research equipment to easily and conveniently be connected to the pipeline. “The demo site serves as an ideal venue for testing a newly developed tech-nique under practical conditions, affording prompt insight into the potential of the technique”, says Yede van der Kooij from the Friesland Water Authority.

Examples of research studies include post-treatment of algae and the generation of extra energy from sludge. The compa-nies Brightwork from Sneek and BWA from Purmerend have conducted research here for developing new pre-treatment methods. The company Sustec has also made use of the site’s facilities. In collaboration with the Friesland Water Authority, Sustec recently concluded a study of a new sludge treatment technology, involving the thermal hydrolysis of sludge in

combi-nation with fermentation at a high temperature. The subsequent fermentation step in the process will as a result produce more biogas and the sludge can also be dewatered more efficiently. This technology will result in significant savings on processing costs for the treatment of sludge (these now amount to circa. 10 % of Friesland Water Authoity’s annual operating budget, ed.). Contacts have already been initiated with a Swiss firm for research into wastewater treatment.

www.wetterskipfryslan.nl

[email protected]

VITENS – Noardburgum

The Vitens Innovation Centre (VIC) for process technology in Noardburgum is equipped with facilities for its own pilot studies, but the centre also leases its space and resources to industrial suppliers and other companies for short-term or extended periods. “The VIC is a research location where companies and techno-starters (start-up businesses in the technological sec-tor) can develop, test and demonstrate new technologies”, says Johan Driessen, Technology Centre manager. “There are connection points for different types of water: fresh ground water from two different extraction zones, surface water from the Burgumermeer (Lake Burgum), brackish groundwater, rinse water from the production company Noardburgum as well as the drinking water produced by the company. Furthermore, there are connections for electricity (including three-phase), a compressed air circuit, broadband internet connections and delivery and removal resources for clean and dirty water. With this demo site we want to facilitate the development of cutting-edge technology and offer the physical space to companies and researchers outside of Vitens to participate in advancing technologies. The goal is to create an ‘open innovation platform’ through collaboration with partners and knowledge sharing.”

www.vitens.nl

Innovations Manager, Erik Driessen: [email protected]

ANTONIUS HOSPITAL - Sneek

The demonstration site at the Antonius Hospital in Sneek is cur-rently being adapted for the development of new purification technologies for the treatment of wastewater from hospitals at the source. The testing site has been set up by Wetsus, in col-laboration with the water technology firm Desah from Sneek, the Antonius Hospital and the municipality of South-West Friesland. Wastewater from hospitals receives special attention due to the presence of residues of medicinal drugs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are not always removed by conventional treatment methods.

Heleen Sombekke from Wetsus: “The initial projects will be aimed at the disinfection of hospital wastewater; in particular the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be present in the urine and faeces of patients receiving antibiotics and may end up in the hospital wastewater. Besides Wetsus, several companies like Biotrack, Pure Green and Water Waves will also conduct research into this area. This will especially involve the development of new and unique break-through technologies, as opposed to existing technologies”.

www.wetsus.nl

[email protected]

[email protected]

SENTEC – Glimmen

At the testing centre for sensors (SenTec) at Waterlaboratorium Noord (WLN) in Glimmen, a great variation in water quality types and cutting-edge laboratory facilities are available. Participants have a realistic experimental palate at their disposal for their experiments, with instruments for measuring the full range of water quality parameters. The SAWA (Sensors and Water) innovation project is a good example of the research and testing possibilities in Glimmen. WLN director Hilde Prummel: “Fifteen companies (including suppliers of sensors) and knowledge insti-tutes are collaborating on the development of advanced sensors for applications in the area of drinking water quality. Within SAWA there are three sub-projects: Drentsche Aa, Distribution and After Growth.” Interline, Capilix, MicroLAN, Aqua Explorer and KWR/2M Sensors have tested their sensors on the water of the Drentsche Aa river. Bright Spark, Interline and Aqua Explorer have conducted tests in the distribution network of water company Waterbedrijf Groningen. Bright Spark and Capilix have scheduled sensor technology for an after growth phase.

www.wln.nl

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