NEWS IN BRIEF WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN FROM IDEA TO BUSINESS

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1 NUMBER 01, 2015

2 CONTENT of this WaterProof COLOFON 08 WATER AND WATERTECHNOLOGY We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one NEWS IN BRIEF 04 WaterProof 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, the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, the Water Alliance builds on the water technology innovation chain ; a process whereby new ideas from universities, laboratories and test sites are converted into worldwide marketable products. WaterProof provides regional, national and global information on developments, results and background in the field of water technology FROM MATCHSEEKING TO MATCHMAKING A strong idea should get the attention it deserves WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN FROM IDEA TO BUSINESS A remarkable piece of architecture by GEAR, a cooperative of four architectural firms from Friesland Editor in Chief Menno Bakker Journal Management Brenda de Jong, Narvic Media & Communicatie Text Contributors Henk Dilling, Casper Ferwerda, Jac van Tuin, Menno Bakker and many others Translation Context Talen, Matthijs Plijnaar Graphic Design Jan Robert Mink Photography Frans Fazzi, Nico Pakvis, Fotobureau Hoge Noorden and many others Printer Drukkerij Van der Eems VISIT TO AKRON WATER SUPPLY (U.S.A.) Blue-green algae found in surface water is a big problem for governments and water companies DEMO SITES a vital part of the innovation ecosystem TREASURES THEN AND NOW THANKS! FROM WATER ALLIANCE I am working to achieve a personal dream to all of our members AND: INTRO HEIN MOLENKAMP 03 INFOGRAPHIC 34 MEMBERS OF THE WATER ALIANCE 50 02

3 INTRO by Hein Molenkamp SOFA & SPRINGBOARD Worldwide, some 780 million people lack access to safe drinking water. Each year 3 million young children die from diseases that are caused by poor access to clean water, sanitary facilities and hygiene. Anyone who grasps the implications of these figures can only be glad that the water technology industry is growing fast worldwide, as this also means that more solutions will become available. It is also good to know that in all of these developments, ecology and economics go hand in hand. Because economics is ultimately the driving force for continuity, as numerous examples have demonstrated. direction of the objectives we have set. That is: continued development of the WaterCampus Leeuwarden and the entire water technology sector in the Netherlands in general and in the Northern Netherlands in particular, into a place that serves as a source of knowledge and inspiration. A place for working hard to address the water-related challenges that face the world. A place, moreover, that is fast becoming a hot-bed for job creation. John A. Jorritsma Chairman of the Water Alliance Supervisory Board, Royal Commissioner in the province of Friesland Hein Molenkamp Managing Director Water Alliance On that global playing field of water technology, both in terms of knowledge and business, WaterCampus Leeuwarden is starting to play an increasingly substantial role as a hub for water technology, where science, applied research, education and business all come together. The WaterCampus and all the facilities in its immediate vicinity, have now developed into a fully-fledged European Water Technology Hub. A place where new ideas are born. Where they are able to scale up and demostrate their product. A place, too, where entrepreneurs in the water technology sector get a firm helping hand, in search of new markets worldwide. Five years of the Water Alliance - the partnership that unites businesses, governments and knowledge institutes in water technology - is something to be proud of. In the back of this magazine, you will find a listing of all the partners who helped make this possible. This is also a fitting moment to take a look back, and reflect in retrospect on all the things we have accomplished together with all these partners. We do that with this Special Edition of WaterProof. The past must be a springboard, not a sofa, former British prime minister Harold Macmillan ( ) once said. We fully share that sentiment. Therefore, in the year 2015, we take a brief look back from our springboard. In part, too, to see if a clear line can be distinguished towards growth, in the 03

4 UVIDIS TAKES PRIZE The UV LifeShower by Uvidis, a specialist in legionella detection from Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, recently won the FGNoviteiten award. The award was founded to stimulate development in the fields of facility and building management. Uvidis s innovation is a revolutionary and easy to install shower unit which minimizes the risk of infection by microorganisms (such as Legionella). JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN MANNEN VAN STAAL AND WATER TECHNOLOGY COMPANY DWP The Uvidis Team FINGERPRINTING Drinking water company Vitens operates over one hundred groundwater extraction sites and, together with research institute TNO, has now mapped out the DNA profile of 32 of these sites. In doing so, they have mapped the microbiological composition from the source to the tap. Vitens expects the implementation of DNA Fingerprinting to make lab work cheaper and more adventurous. We are confident that if the technology exists and the rules allow it, a large portion of the current tests can be replaced by DNA readings, according to Bendert de Graaf at Vitens. By mapping the DNA profiles, so-called DNA Fingerprinting, Vitens is working on a method to be able to measure microbiological groundwater quality in real time. The technology is used in collaboration with 3M, Wavin, research institute TNO, KWR and drinking water company Oasen 04 (source: Waterforum online). CHECK OUR VIDEO UPDATES AT: WWW. YOUTUBE.COM/ WATERALLIANCENL Dutch Water Partners (DWP) and Mannen van Staal, both from Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, have established a joint venture (JV) Dutch Steel Profiles. The JV has been created to meet the need for prefabricated water tanks and drinking water purification systems. An initial pilot has already been scheduled in Ghana, where the Ghanaian company Kingdom Waters has expressed an interest. In January, DWP and the organisation Aqua for All signed a letter of intent, aimed at obtaining funding for the production and delivery of prefabricated drinking water purification systems to Ghana. The signing took place during the WaterLink event in the WTC in Leeuwarden, which was organized by the Water Alliance in celebration of its fifth anniversary in January The request for prefabricated systems recently arose from the Ghanaian company Kingdom Waters. The company sells water and needs reliable storage tanks combined with a reliable purification technique. Dutch Steel Profiles is able to meet that request, aided by the expertise and facilities at Mannen van Staal. Specifically, Dutch Steel Profiles will be building flexible corrugated tanks that are particularly useful in developing countries for getting drinking water to places where it is otherwise unavailable, in a safe and versatile manner. They will be doing so under the name Water Guard. The tanks have a lot of other applications too, says Theunis Bakker, director at Mannen van Staal. We ve noticed a broad demand in the market, and it s not limited to Africa; NPI from Tzummarum, the Netherlands, who we already have a good relationship with, has also asked us to produce the tanks. In total, Dutch Steel Profiles ambitions require an investment of approximately 1.6 million euro. The company expects to produce several hundred to a thousand tanks per year. The funding has not yet been fully secured, but given the growing demand, the founders are optimistic regarding the project s feasibility. We are currently building a pilot system, says DWP s Peter Bulsing. The demand exists and the Aqua for All letter of intent is really important to us, because they understand these kind of projects and have a large network, which can help procure the necessary funding. Dick Bouman from Aqua for All is pleased with the partnership. The involvement of a reliable Ghanaian entrepreneur, someone who has already earned his stripes and who knows the market, ensures further continuity.

5 SCIENCE AND PASSION NEW METHODS FOR FAST DETECTION OF FECAL CONTAMINATION Waterlaboratorium Noord (WLN) has developed new Molecular Methods for the detection of indicators of pathogenic microorganisms such as E.coli and Enterococci. The new methods reduce the time from sampling to result to 4 hours. The methods are based on the detection of certain parts of specific genes, present in these bacteria. The methods are validated according ISO-validation standards and at this moment the methods are implemented within the Dutch drinking water laboratories. Eventually the aim is to make new ISO standards for fast detection of Fecal parameters in drinking water. Source: This is Hans Matthijs, of the University of Amsterdam, talking passionately with representatives of Akron Water Supply in Akron, Ohio, about the method he developed to selectively target and combat cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) using a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It took place during the WaterSquare organized by the Water Alliance. Matthijs applied the method in various Dutch lakes in collaboration with ARCADIS-Netherlands. Results from that research were very positive. Now, together with the University of Akron, studies are being conducted to determine whether the successful Dutch approach to combating blue-green algae can also be introduced in the USA and applied in partnership with ARCADIS-US. It turns out that blue-green algae, more than other algae species, are sensitive to low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild oxidizing agent that Too much phosphate in the surface water is considered to be one of the main causes of cyanobacterial contamination. It was therefore all the more remarkable that in the Dutch study simulations showed the phosphate load to have no influence on the duration of the effect. Apparently, other, still unknown factors are more decisive in preventing the blue-green algae from reasserting itself immediately. We know that the hydrogen peroxide itself is completely broken down after a day, and that the water in the lake remains perfectly suitable for algae growth, because singlecelled green algae actually increased in number after the blue-green algae disappeared. We have a number of ideas and are working hard at the University of Amsterdam to provide a more in-depth explanation for this interesting finding, which could improve water quality in the long term. TOO MUCH PHOSPHATE IN THE SURFACE WATER IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF CYANOBACTERIAL CONTAMINATION AMERICAN WATER AND DUTCH COMPANY LG SONIC SIGN PARTNERSHIP In April, Dutch manufacturer of algae control systems LG Sonic and American Water announced a partnership to perform ultrasonic algae control in water treatment plants. LG Sonic (also known as LG Sounds) is the first European company that succeeded to become a certified innovation partner of American Water. America s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, American Water, successfully tested LG Sonic s MPC-Buoys that monitors and controls harmful algae bloom using ultrasonic technology. In 2014, American Water installed four buoys in a drinking water reservoir at the Canoe Brook water treatment plant in Short Hills, New Jersey. Extensive testing conducted during 2014 showed that the installed buoys had a significant impact on the algae, allowing the treatment plant to reduce chemical consumption by more than 20% and reducing the concentration of compounds that can cause undesirable tastes and odors. Source: interferes with the photosynthetic apparatus of bluegreen algae, killing the algae. An additional advantage is that hydrogen peroxide, in combination with heterotrophic bacteria, also breaks down the microcystin toxins leaked by blue-green algae. The advantage of that is just a few days after treatment the water in a lake or reservoir is free of this dangerous toxin and again suitable for recreation or, as in the case of Akron, for production of drinking water. Matthijs presented his study during the US Algal Toxin Conference 2015 of the Water Alliance. A day later, the scientist was a member of a consortium that held talks with Akron Water Supply. These resulted in a number of concrete opportunities for the participating companies (see elsewhere in this magazine, ed.). LG Sonic Manager Lisa Brand, attending the U.S. Algal Toxin Conference 2015, Akron, Ohio, april

6 SAMPLING DRINKING WATER IS EXTREMELY TIME-CONSUMING Sybrand Metz, CTO of Metalmembranes REGIONAL FRYSLÂN FERNIJT GRANT FOR WATER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS BlueLeg Monitor and Metalmembranes have received a grant from the Fryslân Fernijt innovation program for their breakthrough innovations in water technology, respectively EcoWatch and Better Wetter. Both companies - together with three others - were successfully assisted by the Water Alliance. In total, the five projects will receive 765,576 euro. Another five projects on innovative water technology are running for a grant. The EcoWatch is being developed by BlueLeg Monitor in association with Water Insight BV, the INCAS3 foundation, and Waterschap Noorderzijlvest. The tool provides water boards such as water authorities a way to continuously monitor surface water quality. This is an important step towards a comprehensive water management system, enabling water managers to act faster and more focused in order to ensure the quality of water. With the development of the EcoWatch, we plan to continuously monitor the surface water quality, in order to allow management measures to take place faster and more cost efficiently, explains Hans Wouters, owner of BlueLeg Monitor. Among other things, this could result in less bathing areas being closed to the public. The EcoWatch is scheduled to be tested at the Paterswoldse Lake this year. The Better Wetter project, carried out by Metalmembranes in association with Vitens, Biotrack, and Microdish, also received support. Metalmembranes metal membranes with ceramic inner layer can be implemented directly into Biotrack s Aquascope and Microdish s microchips. This allows biological contaminants to be detected faster, more precisely, and more efficiently. Sampling drinking water and then analysing it in the lab is extremely time-consuming. It can take anywhere from two days to two weeks to get results back. Using our membranes, we expect to bring that down to a couple of hours, explains Sybrand Metz, CTO of Metalmembranes. IT PROVIDES A WAY TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR SURFACE WATER QUALITY The next WaterProof Magazine will provide an overview of all innovative water technology projects supported by the regional innovation program Fryslân Fernijt. Companies interested in these innovative watertechnologies and/or looking for partnerships with Dutch water technology companies are welcome to contact the Water Alliance. 06

7 WE WILL TEST SENSORS UNDER STRICT CONDITIONS BENTEN RECEIVES FUNDING Benten Water Solutions has been awarded a loan of 55,000 euro by the Bison Foundation to set up the first formal test centre for water quality sensors in Europe. The test centre will use facilities of the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands and it comes under the European Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) programme. This was announced by Benten Water Solution on 29 April. This means that we will test sensors under strict conditions, says Corina Carpentier, founder and Managing Director of Benten Water Solutions. All these strict requirements result in a formally accepted European certificate. Our goal is to have the ETV certificate play a leading role in the European market. The centre will be established in collaboration with the Water Application Centre and the Center of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) and will use facilities of the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, made possible by the Bison Foundation loan. The foundation was set up to financially support start-ups, especially those in the water technology and health sectors. The knife cuts both ways, says Carpentier. There are many clever companies in Europe which develop wonderful technologies and deserve to be brought to market. Thanks to the test centre they will not only find their way to market but be awarded a certificate guaranteeing the quality of the sensors. We are extremely happy to have been given the foundation s trust and the possibility to stimulate these new technologies. As a leader in the water technology sector, you have to innovate and invest: the test centre allows us to do precisely that. About Benten Water Solutions Benten Water Solution is a young company that is specialised in monitoring of water quality. It offers a range of consulting services, bringing to bear its extensive experience in these fields to assist investors in choosing the most and economically efficient investment. 07

8 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective United in the Global Compact Cities Programma: f.l.t.r. Henk Deinum, Hein Molenkamp, Helen Scott and Dean Amhaus. WATER AND THE WORLD We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one, said French explorer and researcher Jacques Yves Cousteau ( ). With this statement, the man who spent many decades studying the world s oceans emphasized the need for integrated and coherent water management. Dutch water technology companies have a key role to play in transforming this vision into reality. Dutch innovations help, for example, by measuring water quality, improving water purification systems and offering intelligent approaches to sanitation. But the distribution of services, products and knowledge is important too. This continues to be a challenge for water technology entrepreneurs and researchers. Where do we stand in meeting this challenge regionally, nationally and internationally? Let s zoom in to take a closer look. 08

9 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective The figures are astonishing: water covers two-thirds of our planet, but still only 3 per cent of the water stock is freshwater, and of that just 1 per cent is available for human use. Alas, this does not (yet) include all people, because for example in some African countries south of the Sahara (Ethiopia, Nigeria and Chad) there is almost no freshwater, because there it hardly ever rains. The price of water is only a fraction of the value of water, which could well be considered the world s most valuable asset, said Petra Hellegers, Special Professor of the Economics of Water and Climate Change at Wageningen University, in her inaugural address a few years ago. She predicted that demand for water would increase further in the future. The reason: population growth combined with urbanization (by 2050, 70% of the world s population will live in the city), which implies changing lifestyles and changing eating patterns for which more water is often required. In addition, processes such as globalization and the liberalization of the world market are making countries more dependent on one another for their food supplies. Climate change also increases uncertainty about the demand for water and about how much water will be available and when. Finally, there is the rising price of energy, which affects not only the cost of transporting and purifying water, but also the demand for water to produce energy from alternative sources, such as crops for bio-energy and hydropower. 09

10 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective the sector grew despite the crisis Hans Konst Regional An enormous challenge, certainly, for water technology companies and researchers. Because it is obvious that we re looking at a growth market. The question is: where do we stand in it? Regionally, nationally and internationally? Research by BBO/Grontmij confirms that the water technology sector in the Northern Netherlands is a growth sector with high added value, says Hans Konst who during the Water Alliance s first five years was the member of the Provincial Executive of Friesland in charge of economic development, among other responsibilities. The sector grew despite the crisis to more than 3,000 employed individuals and a turnover of 400 million euros. The former provincial executive member can be proud of all that was achieved during his years in office. In Leeuwarden the clustering of a broad range of activities and facilities for knowledge and education at multiple levels has produced an innovation ecosystem, part of which is a unique continuous line of education in the field of water technology. Konst: That means every aspect of the innovation process can be supported. Starting from ideas and research, new products and processes can be brought to market more quickly. That s a benefit for the end-user and for the companies involved, because this structure saves them a lot of money. The SME desk Important components of the innovation ecosystem are, according to Konst, the Water Application Centre (a state-of-theart lab for SMEs with student assistants available), some five plug-and-play demo sites where companies can test their new technology and devices under field conditions, among others, in sewage treatment, drinking water abstraction and on wastewater from a hospital, and with showcase projects featuring new technology, including decentralized wastewater treatment (WaterSchoon Sneek) and energy generation out of water (Blue Energy Aflsuitdijk). There is also the cluster organization, Water Alliance. It too plays a vital role, according to Konst, as an conduit for collaboration between businesses, knowledge centres, educational institutions and government, on the path from knowledge to business. The Water Alliance provides clustering, profiling, branding and valorization for the activities that take place at the WaterCampus. Its membership numbers have grown fast. That has made the Water Alliance an important partner in water technology, and also for the entire small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector in the Netherlands. 10

11 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective the world needs us Hans Huis in t Veld National Exactly; a supportive function, for the entire Dutch water technology industry. Meaning that it is fitting to look through the window to the national level. In 2011, the Dutch government identified nine sectors in which the Netherlands excels worldwide. The objective: to make these sectors even stronger. One of these Top Sectors is water (water technology, delta technology and maritime technology). Within this Top Sector, government, industry and research institutions will work as partners to generate knowledge and innovation. Agreements on this have been formalized in so-called innovation contracts. The world needs us, says Hans Huis in t Veld, spokesperson and flag bearer of the Top Sector Water. The Dutch water sector possesses crucial knowledge and expertise that can help reduce and, in the long term, solve international water-related challenges. Together with other sectors and international partners, we can produce compelling and sustainable solutions for future generations. According to Huis in t Veld, these solutions could also provide a strong boost to the Dutch economy. He points out that the international market is large and growing rapidly. The target is to double the added value of the Dutch water sector in the period up to 2020, he says. That ambition and international competition force us to speed up our pace and to join forces. Pride He sees major opportunities in collaboration between the maritime sector, delta technology and water technology. There are areas of overlap, and that s precisely where we can seize opportunities. The Netherlands in 2020 as the Centre of Excellence of the international water industry is an appealing prospect. Huis in t Veld is proud of the milestones achieved these past decades by Dutch companies and scientists. This has meant, among other things, that we have access to clean water of the very best quality. The Dutch knowledge and technology that was developed to produce water to these very highest standards of quality for drinking and for industrial uses is now being applied and sold around the globe. This is also true of our knowledge and technology related to the treatment and reuse of wastewater. Those are achievements we can be proud of. 11

12 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective International Opportunities are everywhere, then, on the international stage too. But international expansion requires energy, patience and, most of all, contacts. So it s not without reason that matchmaking and networking form the core of the Water Alliance s activities. And naturally collaboration too. That is how the Water Alliance and The Water Council, based in US city of Milwaukee, came to agree to tighten their cooperation. Director Hein Molenkamp, of the Water Alliance, and President and CEO Dean Amhaus of The Water Council, made that announcement during the official presentation of the City of Leeuwarden as an innovating city of the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme in December During the celebratory activities, CEO Amhaus indicated that within his water technology centre there was particular interest in the demo sites affiliated with the WaterCampus Leeuwarden. He invited Dutch water technology firms to come to Milwaukee to test their new technologies under US circumstances as well. The Water Council in Milwaukee is an American alliance of knowledge centres and businesses involved in water technology. The Council has been an active participant in the United Nations Global Compact Cities Programme since Council representatives were on hand in Leeuwarden to strengthen collaboration with WaterCampus Leeuwarden in the UN programme. Director Hein Molenkamp of the Water Alliance has high expectations of the partnership. We ve been talking with each other for years, but it has never resulted in a concrete project. Now that Leeuwarden has officially received the innovating city designation, we are going to explore how in the framework of the UN programme we can intensify our collaboration in the area of water technology. Molenkamp points out that, like the Water Alliance, The Water Council also has many small water technology companies among its membership. Likewise, both organizations help member companies develop export activities. During the ceremony, CEO Amhaus of The Water Council also emphasized the similarities between his council and the WaterCampus Leeuwarden. The water technology companies affiliated with us worked mainly in the region, but now they also want to enter the international water markets. We help them do that, with the support of the global network of the UN Global Compact Cities Programme. Amhaus sees considerable potential in mutually building on the concept of the demonstration sites, where water technology companies can test their new pilot systems under real-world conditions. Dutch firms could come to Milwaukee to test their new technologies with us, and American companies could come here to use the existing demo sites in Leeuwarden, according to Amhaus. UN representative Helen Scott welcomed the participation of WaterCampus Leeuwarden, because the campus has already proven itself extremely successful in fostering collaboration between science, education, knowledge centres and the business sector. That is actually one of the main pillars of our programme. We invite the 92 cities participating in the Cities Programme to initiate new projects to improve living conditions within their cities through these kinds of broad collaborative efforts. The involvement of citizens, in particular, has produced some surprising results. But the Water Alliance is involved in other international developments too. Elsewhere in this WaterProof you will find an article about a recent conference jointly organized by the Water Alliance and the Akron Global Water Alliance, in Akron, Ohio (USA). Dean Amhaus 12

13 WATER AND WATER TECHNOLOGY from a regional, national and international perspective Dutch firms could come to Milwaukee 13

14 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking Juliette Douglas 14

15 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking FROM MATCH-SEEKING TO MATCHMAKING A strong idea should get the attention it deserves. That is why the Water Alliance helps entrepreneurs link with business contacts both in the Netherlands and abroad. How? Through networking, trade show presentations, matchmaking sessions and cross-sector events. These activities have delivered excellent results during the past years. WaterProof delved into some of these. From Leeuwarden to Canada. And from Singapore to Akron (Ohio, USA), where we get a look behind the scenes of international matchmaking. Events and trade shows are an important part of our core business, says Juliette Douglas, Water Alliance s zealous marketing manager. With them we support our partners networking and profiling activities, both nationally and internationally. A big part of that is seeking out potential collaborations. With organizations like the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and Envaqua (a merger of the former VLM and AquaNL), we organize, for instance, exhibits and presentations at the major national and international trade shows. Examples? We were at the Aqua Netherlands trade show in Gorinchem, the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), IFAT Munich, Aquatech Amsterdam, the World Water Forum in Marseille and the Weftec exhibition in New Orleans. Our objective is twofold, Douglas continues. We help businesses in our network achieve their internationalization plans and we link the WaterCampus as a water technology hotspot with other water hubs in the world. Such as in Singapore. The desire to connect is mutual, it turns out. We receive numerous delegations each year, for instance, from companies and organizations in Singapore. Douglas: It shows that throughout the world, WaterCampus Leeuwarden is increasingly seen as the heart of the European Water Technology Hub. We notice that this has made it easier for us to arrange demonstrations and other activities for our members. Moreover, when an incoming trade mission visits the WaterCampus we always try to get member companies with relevant technology involved in the visit. For that reason, we always ask incoming missions ahead of time what the key issues are in their country of origin. EVENTS AND TRADE SHOWS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CORE BUSINESS 15

16 FROM MATCH- SEEKING to matchmaking events and tradeshows 16

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18 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking Good choice In the meantime, various companies have already had positive experiences with the Water Alliance s matchmaking intermediation. One of those companies is Biotrack in Leeuwarden. We joined a Water Alliance mission to Canada in 2013, says CEO Gerard Schouten. We were also present for an incoming mission from Canada. Good contacts developed from both those occasions, and they have now led to the first concrete projects, Schouten says. Canada is one of the countries where the Water Alliance has established intensive contacts through the years. That is a smart move, according to Henk ten Wolde, former trade commissioner of the Netherlands Trade Office of the Dutch Consulate in Alberta. Canada is more than 240 times the size of the Netherlands, and it has a lot of raw materials. Canadians are experts in the extraction of these raw materials, but they can learn from us Dutch how to get them to the market and also how they can add value to their raw materials. Moreover, Canada has a stable economy. During the economic recession these past years, Canada has often been referred to as a model for other countries to follow to counter the economic downturn. Because of its large oil industry, the Province of Alberta plays a prominent role in the economic growth of Canada as a whole. In Alberta, the government wants to invest in a variety of sectors. That makes it attractive for Dutch companies, for example, in water technology, to seek opportunities to spread their wings to Canada. THE CANADIANS CAN LEARN FROM US DUTCH HOW TO GET RAW MATERIALS TO THE MARKET 18 Gerard Schouten, Biotrack

19 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking Hans Wouters, BlueLeg Monitor I NO LONGER HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHO WE ARE Publicity BlueLeg Monitor is another company that is highly appreciative of the Water Alliance s communication and promotional punch. This firm, based in Sneek, won the first Water Alliance Innovation Stimulation Award (WIS) in The award was presented at WaterLink, the meet and greet event organized by the Water Alliance for the past several years at the WTC Expo Hall in Leeuwarden. Because of all the publicity surrounding the WIS award, the media approached us for interviews and we were asked to participate in workshops and conferences related to water quality, says Hans Wouters, a partner in this innovative company from the Waterpoort City, referring to the city s most distinctive monument: a guard tower built as part of a water gate in the centre of town. Now if I get in touch with a water quality manager, I no longer have to explain who we are. The prize included, among other things, free participation at one of a selection of international trade shows. The choice was ultimately made for the Singapore International Water Week. Hans Wouters: We re a small business, so we would never have gone there without the prize. A few weeks earlier we were at the German IFAT trade show in Munich, with Water Alliance, and spoke with a delegation from PUB, a water company from Singapore, again with Water Alliance providing the introductions. PUB is very interested in our technology. 19

20 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking Biotrack and BlueLeg Monitor are examples of companies from the north of the Netherlands, who profit from the activities of the Water Alliance. Important, for after all, job creation is a major motivation for the funding of the Alliance. However, the strategy chosen for doing this is one of looking beyond borders, as we learn from Director Molenkamp. By looking for market opportunities and collaborative partnerships without placing limits on yourself, you hear more, you see more, you achieve more, according to the director. Sustainability That attitude has led companies outside the Northern Netherlands to become affiliated with the Alliance too. We joined the Water Alliance because Europe s water technology hub is found in the Northern Netherlands, explains Mark Boeren on why his company Pathema - located in Goirle in the southern Dutch region of Brabant - decided to become a member of the network organization based in the Frisian capital. Together with his father Paul Boeren, he runs this innovative company engaged in engineering sustainable water treatment technology and product development. With these products, you are assured of sustainable investments, because they work without chemicals and save on energy and water. Sustainability is very important to him. I come from an entrepreneurial family that placed very high value on free thinking and seizing opportunities. Passion for our products and opportunities for a more sustainable society are my reasons as a businessman to keep on pursuing progress and get our technology into the market. We want to help reduce water scarcity in harmony with the environment and with a financial return. With IVG-C CoolWater, Pathema was the big winner of the 2014 Process Innovation Award (an initiative of the Machevo & Bulk Association, which is the Dutch process industry trade association, ed.). Pathema took home both the professional award and the public award. Mark Boeren is pleased with the support and guidance provided by the Water Alliance, not only in the Netherlands, but also internationally. We ve taken some big steps with the Water Alliance s help, he says. For example, we were a runnerup for the 2014 Water Alliance Innovation Stimulation award. That brought us a lot of publicity. We ve been able to leverage that attention, along with the sparring and stimulation we enjoy within the Water Alliance, into national and especially international growth! We now supply to all of Europe, the United States, Canada, and part of Asia. 20 Mark Boeren, Pathema

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22 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking New business The Water Alliance is also involved in cross-sector events that bring different disciplines in contact with each other. The biggest payoff of those crosssector events is that you start to see things differently, says Hilde Prummel, Director of Water Lab Noord (WLN) in Glimmen. In cooperation with WLN, the Sensors4Water conference was organized in Assen in The initial reason for organizing the conference was to wrap up the Sensors and Water (SAWA) project, in which a variety of sensors were developed for the online monitoring of water quality in drinking water production. Numerous parties collaborated in the project, such as sensor developers, end-users and knowledge institutes. In addition to showcasing global developments in the fields of sensor technology and water quality management, the main outcomes of SAWA were presented during the conference. Prummel: The development of sensor technology for water quality management brings two worlds together: sensors and water quality. If your goal is to produce successful developments, then you have to understand each other, speak each other s language. That getting to know and understand each other is only possible by spending a lot of time talking and teaming up in development. The cross-sector event generated some valuable connections, Prummel continues. An example is that we as WLN now take part in the European Action Group on Water Quality Monitoring. That positions us close to European initiatives on the interface of water technology and sensor technology. One of the contacts we made at the SAWA conference was with a Spanish party that acts as coordinator of the Action Group. We also know that the participating sensor suppliers were able to generate new business thanks to SAWA. 22 Water and dairy Another example of a cross-sector meeting is the Water and Dairy Day organized by the Water Alliance in October 2014: Where Milk and Water Meet, Innovation Is Born! This is a highly topical theme, because the Dutch dairy chain, with its more than 18,000 dairy farmers, is facing a major challenge: working towards sustainable development while, at the same time, strengthening and expanding its position in a globalizing world. To address that challenge, collaboration will be essential, and it will have to involve all the players in the milk and dairy chain. That is why the Dairy Campus was created. The campus, located in Leeuwarden on the former site of the Nij Bosma Zathe dairy experimental farm, is an initiative of Wageningen UR Livestock Research, the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, the Province of Friesland and the Municipality of Leeuwarden. Kees de Koning is manager of the Dairy Campus. Looking back on the Water and Dairy Day, he observes, Cross-overs between sectors are always interesting, if for no other reason than to look in someone else s kitchen. It often turns out that we have more in common than we realized. Techniques in one sector can sometimes, with relatively minor adaptations, be made suitable for another industry or application. The world of dairy and the world of water are both part of a global network, and water is in many ways essential for producing dairy. Collaboration between these two worlds in Leeuwarden is only natural, I would say, especially since we and the WaterCampus are both based in Leeuwarden. Future Links between dairy farming and water technology have already developed as a result of the Water and Dairy Day, De Koning indicates. After the meeting in late October there were various talks with parties from the water world who were interested in taking a closer look at the world of dairy and vice versa. Those talks planted the seed for several ideas. Soon it should become clear which will take root and be developed into definite plans. I am optimistic. In any case, the Dairy Campus is on its way to becoming the leading national and international centre for research, innovation, education and training in the field of dairy farming. Students and

23 FROM MATCH-SEEKING to matchmaking HAVING THE WATERCAMPUS AND THE DAIRY CAMPUS LOCATED SO CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER IS A MAJOR ADVANTAGE Kees de Koning professionals can go there for education, work experience and graduate programmes. Researchers have the opportunity to do studies there. And the commercial sector is stimulated to carry out innovative projects there. Kees de Koning: Together we have to ensure that sufficient, healthy and safe milk is produced, today and in the future, with respect for people, animals and the environment. Water technology could be extremely important in achieving this. So having the WaterCampus and the Dairy Campus located physically so close to one another is a major advantage. Back to the international playing field. To make good matches between demand and supply on the global map, Water Alliance has developed its so-called WaterSquare. These are closed sessions that combine technology and know-how in relation to a specific case. Recently (in April 2015) that even resulted in a concrete business opportunity in Akron, Ohio (USA). The article on page 42 takes a closer look at that. 23

24 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business FROM IDEA TO BUSINESS Completion in 2015 of the sleek new headquarters for Wetsus (the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology) marked a major milestone in the growth of the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden. The campus offers, in addition to the much acclaimed new building, the Johannes de Doper Science Centre - occupied by, among others, the Water Alliance, the Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) and numerous private companies. The campus is also where, together with the Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, the Water Application Center (WAC) can be found. Who inhabits this remarkable complex? What are they working on? And what creative spirits produced this extraordinary new building? A brief journalistic tour. As noted, the WaterCampus is a large complex in Leeuwarden. Here, but also at multiple other locations in the Netherlands, people are hard at work turning ideas into viable businesses. The WaterCampus consists of a collection of buildings, all entirely surrounded by greenery and built on the banks of a tenacious little city river called the Potmarge. The north bank of that river is where the WaterCampus expansion was recently completed. A remarkable piece of architecture by GEAR, a cooperative of four architectural firms from Friesland: TWA Architecten, AchterboschZantman Architecten, Borren Staalenhoef Architecten and Jelle de Jong Architecten. GEAR (Frisian for together ) positions itself as an idea factory working on regional issues in the fields of regional planning, urban design and architecture. Leeuwarden s ambition is to become the European Capital of Water Technology, says Bart Zantmann of the cooperative. 24

25 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business The request was to design an eco-icon: a building that visualizes and promotes water technology. At the same time, we felt the building had to be appropriate for the location on the banks of the Potmarge with its reed beds, willows and elderly fruit trees. The meandering green zone is of immense value in this densely built city. Not only is it a place to get away from the bustle, it s also a culturalhistorical monument. The two seemingly conflicting objectives were united, according to fellow architect Doeke van Wieren, in a building that refers to both the nature of the location and the building s use, users and sustainability. It is evident in the different waves in the façade, in the meandering water with reed beds in the landscaping plan, and in the fluid shapes of the atrium, as well as the many details in the interior. The building s shape makes it stand out, while its colour and ambience blend it into its surroundings. The design produced by the Frisian architects has since received widespread recognition and applause. Much praised, for example, have been the distinctive waves that give the building its sense of liquidity, making it a recognizable landmark for the WaterCampus. Inside the building, laboratories and office spaces have been created. An atrium, which brings light and air into the building s heart, forms the central gathering point: a three-dimensional intersection of sight lines, bridges and meeting areas. Renewable materials were used; the building is flexible and deconstructable. For the energy system the choice was made to connect with the Wetterskip biogas network for heating. Warmth is thus generated in a sustainable way and connected to local facilities. It also creates the option of connecting to sustainable heating technologies that may become available in the future without any great loss of investment. A hybrid cooling system provides air conditioning. As much cooling as possible is provided by vaporization of water (so-called adiabatic cooling, ed.). Only in cases of extremely high outside temperatures is it necessary to switch over to conventional systems. The accent on sustainability earned the building a BREEAM-NL Excellent Design Certificate in late

26 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business 26 WITH THE WATERCAMPUS EXPANSION NOW COMPLETE, WE RE EVEN BETTER POSITIONED

27 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business Growth aspirations Wetsus is the main occupant of the new building, which also houses other wateroriented technology companies and organizations. One of these is the Aqua Nirvana Foundation (ANF), an investment company from Norway. ANF invests in sustainable water technologies. Things have moved fast for Wetsus, proving that Business Director Johannes Boonstra was right twelve years ago. Back then, in Wetsus early days, an interview in Kijk op het Noorden magazine quoted Boonstra as saying, The Friesland branch may seem illogical to some, but it s actually a matter of course. The water treatment sector has traditionally been concentrated in Friesland, as most of the companies in the industry are located here, relatively speaking. Since that interview, Wetsus has grown to become the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology. The organization brings together some hundred international businesses and almost twenty universities, for the purpose of innovation in water treatment. Wetsus has spawned several companies in the intervening years. It has become the largest university institution in Friesland, and Leeuwarden has become the Capital of Water Technology, says Boonstra. With the WaterCampus expansion now complete, we re even better positioned to achieve our growth objectives. Knowledge development and experience The Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW) is also closely tied to the WaterCampus. The WaterCampus is the hub of water technology in the Netherlands, says CEW Director Gerard Adema. Here, an environment is being created where researchers, entrepreneurs and the business sector can find one another, but also where students can share their talents, knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and experience. The Netherlands has twenty Centres of Expertise associated with universities of applied sciences (as well as various Centres for Innovative Workmanship - or CIV s - associated with schools for vocational education). All of the Centres of Expertise are public-private partnerships seeking to plug into regional knowledge infrastructures by focusing on a strongly represented Top Sector. One of those Top Sectors is water. There is a learning curve in knowledge exchange, but the rewards make it well worth the effort. With CEW and the assistance of our well-educated students, companies can conduct applied research easily and efficiently. That can often considerably speed up a market launch, Adema says. Many companies and organizations have found their way to CEW in the past years. Adema names a few examples, Feycon, Magneto Special Anodes, Wetterskip Fryslân and, quite recently, the British company HAPSS Ltd. They have partnered with us to support their product and market development. HAPSS commissioned us to do research on a US-patented technology for thermal disinfection. That is happening at the demo site at the Antonius Hospital in Sneek. Knowledge development and experience are desperately needed, Adema emphasizes. The world needs water technology solutions. There are still people in the world with no access to sufficient and clean drinking water. A bright future lies ahead for our students, because the world needs water and water experts. Johannes Boonstra, Wetsus Gerard Adema, CEW 27

28 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business 28

29 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business MBO-HBO-WO While CEW targets the applied science level ( HBO schooling in the Dutch educational system), another resident of the WaterCampus, the Centre for Innovative Workmanship (CIV), focuses on the vocational track (called MBO schooling in the Netherlands). That means the WaterCampus offers a complete range of water-related studies, from the vocational level, up through the applied sciences to the university level. CIV is a partnership between Friesland College and Nordwin College. Getting recognized as a CIV by the ministry is no simple task, says director Peet Ferwerda. We are the only one in the Netherlands in the field of water technology and water management. This industry is growing rapidly and has an increasing need for well-trained and innovativeminded personnel. We can provide that. CIV s focus is on water industry jobs for vocational graduates. These are jobs in water supply companies, government water management agencies and laboratories, but also upstream in sectors like manufacturing and installations, and downstream, for example, in the food sector and horticulture. It s about training technicians, analysts, laboratory specialists, managers, operators and service workers in technology, including process technology, as well as in laboratory techniques and water management and supply, says Ferwerda. The goal is qualitative improvements in both full-time and part-time education, to adequately tailor training to the latest technological and technical develovpments. A community of knowledge and practice is also being set up, with the objective of forming a national knowledge and experience network for vocational trainers and businesses in the water industry. At the same time, it will serve as an incubator for new training programmes and new educational resources. For instance, minors in water technology could be developed for vocational students in other fields of technology and green studies. Spider in the web A good physical location like the WaterCampus is important when turning knowledge into business, according to Hein Molenkamp, Managing Director of the Water Alliance, which itself is a collaboration between government, knowledge institutions and businesses. The WaterCampus forms the physical core, in which numerous research, education and business facilities are housed. But as a network organization and as the connecting thread we go even further: together with other parties on the WaterCampus, we help companies take the step from a good idea to a marketable product or service. Matchmaking is one of the ways we do that: organizing gatherings (for example, at the WaterCampus), participating in international trade shows and supporting marketing, PR and lobbying activities. Molenkamp knows what he s talking about. He was involved in commercial activities at Paques, a biological IT S ALL ABOUT GETTING THE BALL ROLLING Hein Molenkamp, Water Alliance wastewater and gas treatment company in Balk, for many years before he became Managing Director of the Water Alliance. As the spider in the international water web, we want to help water technology companies launch their innovations and ideas into the market through mediation, promotion and lobbying. It s all about getting the ball rolling. After a brief pause, he continues, Around 780 million people worldwide have no access to safe drinking water. Every year, 3 million young children die from diseases caused by poor access to water, sanitary facilities and hygiene. That can be changed. Fortunately, the water technology industry is growing worldwide. Companies at the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden are researching solutions for drinking water production and wastewater purification. That is not only good for human welfare; it presents economic opportunities too. 29

30 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business 30 Bob van Bijnen, WAC

31 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business Water Application Centre Before we can get to those economic opportunities, ideas and innovations have to go through a process (see also the Water Technology Innovation Chain illustration elsewhere in this WaterProof, ed.). Large-scale research and testing is part of that process. It can be done at the Water Application Centre (WAC), which is also located at the WaterCampus, explains WAC s Director Bob van Bijnen. WAC offers no less than 1,200 square metres of fully equipped laboratories. Companies - large and small - can have all kinds of research carried out here. In addition to the excellent physical infrastructure, WAC provides technical support in construction and maintenance of test setups, analysis support, procurement, security, and other services. A major advantage of WAC is that companies, organizations and institutions without their own facilities can come here to conduct large-scale research, according to Van Bijnen. No investment is necessary; you can get to work almost immediately. That can be immensely helpful for businesses, especially SMEs, starting them off more quickly on the path to market introduction of new products or applications. NO INVESTMENT IS NECESSARY; YOU CAN GET TO WORK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IT MAKES IT LOGICAL FOR US TO BE HERE Entrepreneurship In addition to research, marketing and education, entrepreneurship is part of the WaterCampus DNA. One of the companies housed at the campus is Berghof Membrane Technology. The head office of this business unit of the German Berghof Group has been located in Leeuwarden for the past several years. Managing Director Erik Wildeboer describes the WaterCampus as an inspiring base of operations. You ve got everything here, he says. From research to support in getting water technology products to the market. That makes it logical for us to be here. His company has grown considerably in recent years - growth which he attributes not only to the combination of German reliability and Dutch creativity, but also to collaboration with other companies in the Berghof Group and the cooperative environment of the WaterCampus. Working together, we can offer a complete package, and innovative ideas are taken up and developed faster. Cooperating with others on the WaterCampus also helps you get ahead. Clean drinking water Bucon Industries is another company that has settled in Leeuwarden. Since its founding in 2001, the company (originally located in Rijswijk, the Netherlands) has made a name for itself with a number of international innovations in water supply, wastewater treatment and water storage. From its Leeuwarden offices, Bucon hopes to achieve further growth, increasing both turnover and employment via its operating company Dutch Water Partners (DWP). This involves mostly activities associated with water supply systems. This region has a high added value for us, says Director Peter Bulsing. Here you are working in the water technology capital. That last sentiment is one that Tobias Strating fully shares. During his environmental science studies at Van Hall Larenstein (located at the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden), he discovered the sustainable possibilities of 3D printing, in combination with, for example, clay. That led to the founding of his own company. He now runs the oneman business SymbioShape (offering sustainable 3D printing for consumers, businesses, and education) from the WaterCampus. Everyone has a right to clean drinking water, he says. The reality, however, is that there are still people who do not have access to this basic service. For all those people who, out of necessity, have to make do with contaminated water, I wondered: as an environmental scientist, how can I contribute to reduce the water problem? My own thinking and brainstorming with my water technology professor Leo Groendijk (also chairperson of the Water for Everyone, ed.) resulted in the ceramic water filter project. Pathogens in water are removed using a ceramic filter. And you know what s funny? It s a centuries old method. The Ancient Egyptians used it. Erik Wildeboer, Berghof MT 31

32 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business 32 Joost Edens, DMT

33 WATERCAMPUS LEEUWARDEN from idea to business State of the art DMT Environmental Technology, from Joure, opened an office at the WaterCampus in late October The expansion was necessary to keep pace with the significant international growth experienced by this Frisian company over the past few years. Growth has brought increased demand and new opportunities. Our work in water and biogas purification contributes to a green and prosperous future, says Joost Edens, Water Division Manager at DMT Environmental Technology. These are strongly developing, international markets. So it was a logical step for us to open a second office at the WaterCampus, since here we have better access to a wider network, state-of-the-art research facilities and business development support such as that provided, for example, by the Water Alliance. Growth Capilix and Red Stack are two companies that started out at the WaterCampus, laid the foundation for their success there, and have since taken flight as a result of their growth. Capilix developed a technology for rapidly testing water for the presence of ten substances. This is crucial information, for example, for the paper industry, wastewater treatment, greenhouse cultivation and the biogas industry, which can use such input to improve their yields. The Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands (NOM) supported Capilix from the start in 2008 until 2012, when NOM s stake in Capilix was purchased by the internationally operating Metrohm Group. Red Stack has also spread its wings. Wetsus first spin-off company focuses on developing, scaling up and marketing its Blue Energy technology, for generating electricity from fresh and salt water. A pilot is currently being conducted on the Afsluitdijk (Closure Dike), which will continue till 2016 or possibly It s primarily about improving the membranes, reducing costs and identifying the effects on the environment, explains Company Director Rik Siebers. His company has teamed up with a pair of investors to take the required next steps. The foundation for what we are now rolling out was laid at the WaterCampus, he says. Investor interest is confirmation that we are on the right track. OUR WORK THE IN WATER AND BIOGAS PURIFICATION CONTRIBUTES TO A GREEN AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOUNDATION FOR OUR CURRENT ACTIVITIES WAS LAID OUT AT THE WATERCAMPUS. 33

34 INFOGRAPHIC The Water Technology Innovation Chain THE WATER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CHAIN The WaterCampus brings together a complete chain of innovation for water technology, from first idea, research, specialized laboratories, various demo-sites, launching customers to commercial international applications by commercial companies. Indeed from knowledge to business. It is driven by the idea that technological development and innovation is needed to develop new markets and create new business opportunities. 34

35 INFOGRAPHIC The Water Technology Innovation Chain 35

36 WATER ALLIANCE AND AKRON WATER SUPPLY join forces LEADING DUTCH CONSORTIUM COMBATS ALGAE IN US Blue-green algae found in surface water is a big problem for governments and water companies. When this algae dies, Microcystin is released; for humans this is a highly toxic substance that can cause various diseases, including liver cancer. Knowing that Dutch water technology companies can offer solutions for these threats, The US Algal Toxin Conference has been organized in Akron, Ohio from 28 to 30 April by the Akron Global Water Alliance (Ohio) in collaboration with Water Alliance (NL). Subsequently the Water Alliance organized the Water Square on May 1 st this year in Akron (USA); a closed meeting, where technology and knowledge were brought together to tackle a concrete problem. The result: the case-owner - the company Akron Water Supply - wants the Dutch companies BlueLeg Monitor, Deltares and Arcadis to start before the summer to see how monitoring and combatting toxic algae can be done. The problem of Blue-green algae existed long ago, but it is a remarkable event in the summer of 2014 that the problem really came onto the agenda of city governments and water companies. On August 1, 2014 the American city of Toledo (Ohio) on the shore of Lake Erie was affected by extreme algae growth. The water authorities saw control charts for the algae spread so alarmingly that they could do nothing else than directly advise the population not to use tap water. For example, a conglomerate with about 500,000 inhabitants was shut down for several days and that became big national news. For the Americans it was clear from this point onwards: the problem of Blue-green algae (known as cyanobacteria) was crying out for a solution. Risk The algae threat is felt everywhere in the US, but with even greater emphasis in the states bordering the Great Lakes, between the US and Canada. Many of the two hundred visitors to the US Algal Toxin Conference also came from this area. After two days of intensive knowledge exchange it could be concluded that there are plenty of solutions or semi-solutions offered by the market, but there is no consensus on one ultimate solution. Much is still unclear, there is a crying need for more data, but it is clear that the problem does not go away by itself. Or, as Mike Baker, Chief Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in his presentation at the conference summarized: Cyanobacteria are still in the water of Ohio and they form an explicit risk. Water Square A risk perhaps but there are also solutions. Therefore, the Water Alliance organized, following the convention in Akron (Ohio), for the first time on American soil one of its Water Squares. Business Development Manager Alex Berhitu: Water Square is an 36

37 WATER ALLIANCE AND AKRON WATER SUPPLY join forces contacts. Possibly the Dutch solutions in combination can help us together to make progress. Threat Entrepreneur Hans Wouters from BlueLeg Monitor is pleased with the recognition, though he realizes that there is, as yet, no contract signed. That is not necessary immediately. All parties sat at the table were all convinced that you only come to customized solutions when you just get started and sweep into action. But you do not want to make mistakes and need to take into account their wishes and possibilities. So we are working in small steps. Also Miguel Dionisio from Deltares is impressed by the steps that they have taken during the Water Square. Conferences and exhibitions are very good to meet people and share knowledge. But here we have zoomed in on a very specific problem, in this case the city of Akron and we have gone into much more depth. We now know pretty well what we have together. I am very enthusiastic about this approach. already proven concept of the Water Alliance in the Netherlands. Based on a concrete problem from one or more parties a select group of scientists and entrepreneurs are invited who are expected to help in seeking out a solution. The parties will exchange, in the space of several hours, thoughts and try to forge a cooperation plan. The result of the Water Square USA is that the company Akron Water Supply wants the Dutch companies BlueLeg Monitor, Deltares, Arcadis to start before the summer, to see how monitoring and combatting toxic algae can be done. Toxic algae are a serious threat, even in the lakes where we draw our water, said manager Jeff Bronowski. We are really impressed by the knowledge and the methods offered by the Dutch. We do a lot of monitoring ourselves, but we want to see how it could be done better and more efficiently. We have highly qualified people within our organisation and it takes them a lot of time to gather samples. BlueLeg Monitor s equipment for example, would be easier to monitor and faster, so our people can spend more time actually analysing data. We want to look seriously at the methodology of scientist Hans Matthijs of the University of Amsterdam in cooperation with Arcadis who offers to fight algae with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Within Arcadis we already have good It is clear what needs to happen but precisely on what scale the monitoring and control of toxic algae in Akron will be handled exactly is still unknown and ultimately remains to be answered. As the summer approaches and the threat through the warming of the water increases, we do want to create some momentum, says entrepreneur Wouters. The people of Akron have asked us to put a plan on paper. We re going to do that in the coming weeks. Water Alliance Managing Director Hein Molenkamp: Altogether we can reflect, like our Dutch partner companies, on a very successful WaterSquare session in America. It s nice to be so busy with a concrete need and help mediate and leave them wanting more. 37

38 WATER ALLIANCE AND AKRON WATER SUPPLY join forces Satellite image - courtesy of NASA - shows an algae bloom on the western side of Lake Erie. ALGAE Blue-green algae - also known as cyanobacteria - now form the largest problem in the production of safe drinking water. The underlying cause is complex. Among other reasons, overfertilization of agriculture causes too much phosphorus and nitrates in the water. This encourages growth of the harmful algae. However, recent research also points towards climate change and invasive species, which work hand in hand with algae bloom. Especially the impact made by heavy rainfall in the spring and early summer, provides more nutrients to the lakes by streams and rivers at a crucial time for algae growth. Watch the video-reports on com/wateralliancenl 38

39 WATER ALLIANCE AND AKRON WATER SUPPLY join forces AKRON Akron is located in northern Ohio, about a hundred kilometres from Lake Erie. The creation of giants like Goodyear and Firestone gave the city the label of Rubber Capital of the World. Today, Akron is known as a city of water technology. In the background from left to right: Hein Molenkamp, Hans Wouters and Jeff Bronowski 39

40 DEMO SITES a vital part of the innovation ecosystem DEMO SITES: A VITAL PART OF THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM From Singapore to Israel and the USA, the so-called demo sites of the WaterCampus have attracted interest from many parts of the world. That is certainly understandable. Nowhere else in the world is there a comparable group of test facilities for inventions in the field of water technology. Water Alliance helps promote the demo sites. How did the concept come about? And where are the demo sites located? A brief account from some of the people involved. The demo sites are a vital part of the innovation ecosystem. If a good idea, following research and laboratory studies, can be scaled up, large-scale trials can take place at a demo site. This last step enables developers to optimize an invention for the market. A demo site is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Think of it as a plug and play facility, meaning that the user does not lose valuable time navigating different procedures, for example, applying for environmental permits. Each location has multiple lots available for containers, typically housing test installations. We go back in time to the year 2008, when the first demo site opened for operation. In Wetsalt in Harlingen, researchers focus on desalination of seawater. Four more demo sites followed: the Sentec demo site in Glimmen (sensor development), Wetterskip Fryslân in Leeuwarden (wastewater treatment), Vitens in Noordbergum (drinking water research) and the Antonius Hospital in Sneek (hospital wastewater treatment). Ground-breaking inventions have been launched from these demo sites over the years. Examples are sensors for rapid microbiology measurements, a membrane cleansing technique using gas bubbles and sustainable wastewater treatment systems. The Water Alliance supports the owners in promoting their demo site. The locations, facilities and success stories are brought into the spotlight in a variety of ways. For example, via the Water Alliance website, with articles in WaterProof magazine and through lectures at national and international conferences and trade shows. Furthermore, via the Water Alliance, researchers can receive help in finding co-financiers for their tests. LARGE-SCALE TRIALS CAN TAKE PLACE AT A DEMO SITE LOCATIONS Wetsalt Harlingen Fryslân water authority Vitens Innovation Centre Antonius Hospital Sneek SenTec Glimmen 40 Nieuwe Waterweg Scheveningen ' s-gravenhage Hoek van Holland Katwijk IJmuiden Haarlem Leiden Alkmaar Noordzeekanaal R A N D Zoetermee r Gouda Delft Zuid-Holland Rotterdam Oude E U R OP OOR T M a a s - Vlaardingen v l a k t e Schiedam Eemhaven R I J N M O N D Dordrecht Noord-Holland Zaanstad Amsterdam Schiphol Rijn S T A Lek IJmeer Hilversum Utrecht D Utrecht Harlingen Almere Amersfoort Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal B Waal E Tiel Lelystad V T Friesland E Sneek Flevoland Leeuwarden Emmeloord Harderwijk Veluwemeer U L Ede U Neder-Rijn W Waal W E Drachten Heerenveen Apeldoorn E Arnhem GEL DER SE Nijmegen P OOR T Maas Zwolle IJssel Gelderland Meppel Deventer Zutphen Doetinchem Groningen Assen Hoogeveen Overijssel Groningen Drenthe Berkel Almelo Delfzijl Hengelo Winterswijk Winschoten Emmen T W E N T E Enschede THE DEMO SITES PROVIDE TESTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIELD OF: Sustainable desalination of seawater, groundwater and wastewater. Renewable energy generation from water. Wastewater treatment. Post-treatment with sand filters or algae. Extra energy from sludge. Purification of drinking water. Drinking water innovations. Purification technology for wastewater treatment from hospitals. Sensor technology S c h o u w e n - D u i v e n l a n d BI E S BOS Maas 's-hertogenbosch

41 DEMO SITES a vital part of the innovation ecosystem THE MAGNET HAS BEEN ACTIVATED Alex Berhitu of the Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands (NOM) is also business development manager for Water Alliance. His job is to further develop the demo sites, alongside the others involved in the sites. Below is his story. Worldwide many people would give their eyeteeth for our demo sites. In some places they have tried to copy them. But it s not that simple. It s a total package. The demo sites are a part of the innovation ecosystem formed by the WaterCampus. We ve been working on this for more than ten years. It takes more than just one cog to get a wheel turning. So our lead is secure for the time being. The demo sites are extremely important for the marketing of an invention. Potential customers stop by on a regular basis to take a look. If they have an appointment with one researcher, they often take a walk along the other containers as well. That is one of the advantages of concentrating technologies at a single, central location. The Water Alliance attracts attention to the five demo sites. Also, with many other parties, we think about possible new locations. A demo site has to satisfy a number of criteria. Above all, each demo site has to be commercially viable and the sites need to be complementary to one another. Right now we re looking at possibilities for a demo site for the dairy farming industry. When I started out with the Water Alliance in 2009, it was difficult to get outsiders enthusiastic about the innovation ecosystem, where the demo sites play a vital role. But if you do things well, an attracting force just seems to be generated automatically. Potential customers and prominent guests now find their way to the WaterCampus on their own, and for most, a visit to a demo site has become a near essential part of that. The magnet has been activated. The next step is attracting foreign companies. Once they have made use of a demo site, establishing a permanent office in Friesland is just a small step away. And that, of course, is very good for the regional economy. 41

42 DEMO SITES a vital part of the innovation ecosystem DEMO SITES IN WORD AND IMAGE Worldwide, many people would give their eyeteeth for our demo sites VITENS Focus: Potable water research Established: 2011 Location: Noordbergum We consider it a noble goal that the Water Alliance is pursuing: marketing worldwide the water knowledge, innovation and experience available throughout all of the Netherlands. A unique aspect of this proposition is its incorporation of the demo sites. Erik Driessen Vitens WETSALT Focus: Desalination of seawater Established: 2008 Location: Harlingen When a company tells me that research at the demo site has delivered more in two months than a year of research in the lab, it s clear to me that the demo sites fulfil an important role in the innovation chain. Water Alliance puts a spotlight on these unique demo sites, time after time, both nationally and abroad, and in doing so, it fulfils an important role in marketing them. Heleen Sombekke Wetsus 42

43 SENTEC Focus: Sensor development Established: 2010 Location: Glimmen Sentec (the Sensor Test Centre) offers a testing environment for development and application of sensor technology for purposes of drinking water production. The demo site was important in the SAWA Sensors and Water project, which worked to make sensors for measuring water quality market-ready in just a very short period of time. The demo site is just as secure as the lab. But the research done there still takes place under real field conditions. The Water Alliance is the main driving force behind the demo sites. The Water Alliance also plays an important role in knowledge dissemination, for example, as co-organizer of international conferences. Peter van der Maas WLN WETTERSKIP FRYSLAN Focus: Wastewater treatment Established: 2010 Location: Leeuwarden Wetterskip Fryslân seeks to purify wastewater as environmentally responsibly, cheaply and sustainably as possible. That is why research and piloting of new techniques is so important. This can be done quickly and efficiently with a demo site. Companies, knowledge institutes, water boards and STOWA [the Foundation for Applied Water Research] can come here to make use of the wastewater treatment facilities. That enables companies to move more quickly to market introduction and sales. Yede van der Kooij Wetterskip Fryslân ANTONIUS HOSPITAL Focus: Hospital wastewater treatment Established: 2014 Location: Sneek The municipality of Súdwest Fryslân aims to be the leading testing ground for water technology. Our demo site is a good example of this. It is a unique testing location for the treatment of hospital wastewater. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done. The demo site is very valuable for this. The Water Alliance plays an important role, as intermediary to the commercial sector, in making the demo site commercially viable. Anne van Scheltinga Municipality of Súdwest Fryslân 43

44 FOUR WIS AWARD PARTICIPANTS take the floor TREASURES, THEN AND NOW Now, if I get in touch with a water quality manager, I no longer have to explain who we are, says Hans Wouters, CEO of BlueLeg Monitor, a company from Sneek. A flood of publicity swept in his direction when he won the Water Alliance Innovation Stimulation Award (WIS) in In the meantime, that has opened doors to international markets. Hydrowashr, the most recent WIS winner, has also already started to feel the PR effects of the award. How are things with the winners now? And what about the companies that have come in a close second these past years? What type of business development ambition do those entrepreneurs represent? A brief tour of four innovative water technology companies. 44

45 FOUR WIS AWARD PARTICIPANTS take the floor To meet the brand new winner of the 2015 WIS Award, we journey to Leeuwarden, where the young company Hydrowashr is based. Hydrowashr developed an appliance for both cleansing and drying hands after toilet use, employing an innovative technique for both. And because it works very quickly, it is energy and water efficient. Award committee chairperson Cees Buisman (scientific director of Wetsus) praised the appliance s combination of functionality with design, even going so far as to call designer and company director Jan Melein the Steve Jobs of the water technology branch. The timing of this award is perfect, said Tineke Willems of Hydrowashr, because we are now ready to enter into the commercial market. In the absence of Melein, Willems accepted the award on behalf of the winner, at a ceremony during the WaterLink symposium in early It is tremendous that with this award we receive a vote of confidence and a whole lot of promotional support. Later, via videolink, Hydrowashr s director, Melein, added, As an entrepreneur, I am working to achieve a personal dream. That dream is that ten years from now we have a factory where many people work and where we produce ten thousands of hydrowashrs each year. I AM WORKING TO ACHIEVE A PERSONAL DREAM Jan Melein, HydrowashR PRODUCING CERAMIC MEMBRANES OUT OF METAL A born entrepreneur Where someone wins, there s also someone in second place. In 2015 that second place went to a company called Metalmembranes - also based in Leeuwarden - co-founded by businessman Hans-Henk Wolters. Wolters is by origin a chemical and process engineer, inventor, innovator, networker and technician, but actually more than anything a born entrepreneur. He has multiple businesses, such as ECM Technologies (specialized in innovative solutions for the electrochemical machining of metal), Sidekick Industries (specialized in the visualization of complex processes and techniques using animations) and Metalmembranes. Metalmembranes has developed a method for producing ceramic membranes out of metal, Wolters explains. The metal is transformed into a ceramic material via an electrochemical process. The membranes have pores nanometres in diameter. The thin membranes, according to Wolters, are flexible, have high fluxes and are less quick to foul due to a light electrical current applied to them. Hans-Henk Wolters, MetalMembranes 45

46 FOUR WIS AWARD PARTICIPANTS take the floor Laser gun It s an impressive group of companies that recently took part in the WIS Award, and they ve now already received quite a bit of publicity as a result of that participation. For the 2014 winner, we travel to Sneek, where Hans Wouters, CEO of BlueLeg Monitor gladly looks back with us at the past year and a half. No one knew us two years ago, says Wouters. It s very difficult to knock on the doors of water managers with a new product and they don t know you. By taking part in the WIS Award, we suddenly received a lot of name recognition, and because of that it s gotten a lot easier to make contact with our potential clients. What is the innovation that won BlueLeg Monitor the WIS Award? It was IQ Water, an app that lets you test water quality IT S GOTTEN A LOT EASIER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH OUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS using your mobile phone. In the wake of all the publicity, however, BlueLeg Monitor also succeeded in bringing the so-called WISP-3 into the spotlight. The WISP-3 is a spectrometer which determines in a very simple way - based on a water colour analysis - the presence of algae, including blue-green algae, the concentration of sediment, the concentration of dissolved organic matter and water clarity. The hand-held device looks like a laser gun and can generate very large amounts of data in a very short period of time. The market potential looks good, not least because BlueLeg Monitor has been very active in marketing the invention. For example, company representatives went to the Singapore International Water Week in 2014, with the support of the Water Alliance. At the event the Singaporean water company PUB turned out to be interested in the innovation. The company produces drinking water from surface water and therefore manages a number of freshwater catchments, according to Wouters. So they are very attentive to the quality of water in the reservoirs. We met their people before, at the IFAT trade show in Munich (mentioned elsewhere in this magazine, ed.). As a result of the meeting at IFAT we were allowed to present a workshop and demonstrations of our WISP-3 in Singapore. Because people got a chance to work with the device themselves, our message got across much better. The demonstration on the edge of Marina Bay in the heart of Singapore was especially impressive. There s a good chance that contracts will come out of it. Note from the editors: Wouters recently demonstrated his WISP again during a Water Alliance business development mission to Akron, Ohio (USA). More about that trip can be read elsewhere in this magazine. A video-report can be viewed on the WaterProof TV YouTube channel, accessible via the website: Hans Wouters, BlueLeg Monitor Demo in Singapore 46

47 FOUR WIS AWARD PARTICIPANTS take the floor Sampling It s interesting that innovations which in one way or another allow water quality to be tested quicker and more easily tend to do well in the market. Companies like Capilix and Biotrack also members of the Water Alliance have scored highly with these types of technologies, and BlueLeg Monitor and the earliermentioned Metalmembranes are involved in these. And new methods are constantly being invented and tested. For example, in 2015 the Province of Friesland awarded BlueLeg Monitor a subsidy for the EcoWatch project. The Water Alliance acted as intermediary and provided guidance. The project, developed in partnership with WaterInsight BV, the INCAS3 Foundation and the Noorderzijlvest regional water board, seeks to develop an innovative tool for remote, real-time monitoring of surface water quality. With EcoWatch, freshwater supply can be monitored cost-effectively for the best possible management of surface water quality, says Hans Wouters. It will give water managers such as the water boards the ability to continuously monitor water quality. EcoWatch will be tested in the summer of 2015 at Paterswoldse Lake (more on this project in the Short News section, ed.). WaterCampus firm. The Aquascope, furthermore, uses mircochips from Microdish, which is also based at the WaterCampus. Sustainable investments Back to the WIS. Winning the award helps, that much is clear. But the companies themselves are also expected to take a proactive role when it comes to conquering new markets. BlueLeg Monitor is an excellent example in this respect. Another good example is the company Pathema. This company located in Goirle (in the south of the Netherlands) won second place in the 2014 WIS with its IVG-C CoolWater technology, offering a complete solution for managing cooling water without the use of any chemicals. The product combines all the techniques available in the water branch for exploiting a cooling tower or evaporative condenser without the use of chemicals and with low water use and reduced power consumption, says Pathema Director Mark Boeren. When asked where he sees the greatest opportunities and potentials for Pathema, he replies, We want to service our industrial target group with a hybrid model. The intention is to sell and rent industrial water treatment technology and provide implementation that is completely care-free for the client. That way, industrial cooling and process water can be used without the addition of chemicals, thus saving both water and energy. These products offer sustainable investments for our clients. And his biggest drive? I come from an entrepreneurial family that placed very high value on free thinking and seizing opportunities. Passion for our products and opportunities for a more sustainable society are my reasons as a businessman to keep on pursuing progress and get our technology into the market. We want to help reduce water scarcity in harmony with the environment and with a financial return. HIGH VALUE ON FREE THINKING AND SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES Metalmembranes received a subsidy for the Better Wetter project. Sybrand Metz, of the Leeuwarden-based company, explains, Taking water samples and then analysing them in the laboratory is very time consuming. It can be anywhere from two days to three weeks before the results become available. With the use of our membranes, that can all be done in just a couple of hours. The Better Wetter project is also a good example of the way companies in and around the WaterCampus collaborate, because Metalmembranes metallic membranes with a ceramic inner layer were implemented right from the start in the Aquascope water monitor, which was produced by Biotrack, another Mark Boeren, Pathema Johannes Boonstra 47

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49 FIVE YEARS OF WATER ALLIANCE. FIVE YEARS OF INSPIRATION. FIVE YEARS OF DEVOTION, MEETINGS, COOPERATION, INNOVATION AND BOOKING RESULTS. WATER ALLIANCE WISHES TO THANK ALL HER PARTNERS FOR THEIR TRUST. 49

50 MEMBERS of the Water Alliance Benten water solutions BWA Water Purifications COSMONiO ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY Fleet Cleaner Hull Cleaning and Inspection Equipment 50

51 MEMBERS of the Water Alliance ISS Tanks B.V. De Giek AS The Netherlands T + 31 (0) F +31 (0) Mail: [email protected] Internet: UVIDIS Specialists in UV-Disinfection 51

52 The Northern Netherlands Provinces (SNN): Investing in your future. Water Alliance is co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development and The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Peaks in the Delta. Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland Hier wordt geïnvesteerd in uw toekomst. Water Alliance wordt medegefinancierd door het Europees fonds voor regionale ontwikkeling en door het ministerie van EZ, Pieken in de Delta. WATER ALLIANCE Agora CJ Leeuwarden The Netherlands [email protected] Tel