Dutch water innovations get international exposure at World Water Congress

Each IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition is held in a different continent and this year it was Europe’s turn. From 11 to 15 September, the international water sector met in Copenhagen, Denmark. A Netherlands Lounge hosted by the Netherlands Water Partnership served as the Dutch hub on the Exhibition floor. The space was optimally designed to showcase Dutch water-related innovations, meet potential partners, and stimulate business opportunities conducive to a water-driven future.

Copenhagen recap – networking, business leads & international visibility

The IWA World Water Congress attracts the right audience for doing business, was the conclusion of the participants of the Netherlands Lounge. During IWA’s flagship event, a Dutch delegation consisting of Aquatech, EBC Foundation, Hydraloop, Join the Pipe Foundation, the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), PB International, Sensoterra, Vewin, Water Alliance and Water Test Network shared several Dutch water-related products and services, sowing the seeds for international and cross-sectoral initiatives. The Lounge was strategically located, fittingly neighbouring our Belgian colleagues and next to KWR Water Research Institute, an NWP member.

Throughout the Congress, NWP provided promotional support to all participants, thereby increasing the visibility and overall impact of the Dutch presence in Copenhagen. Van Remmen UV Technology and IHE-Delft – both NWP members – were also beneficiaries of NWP’s efforts.

Photo of participants of the Netherlands Lounge IWA

The Congress programme included a well-attended Netherlands Business Forum on 13 September. Some of the participants of the Netherlands Lounge presented their products and pitched their organisations at the Forum.

As stated by NWP member Sensoterra, “the NL Business Forum is a good stage to attract both the Congress audience and local trade visitors”.

The Dutch water sector knows that a key aspect in solving water related issues is collaboration. Working together towards a shared goal is usually the ‘orange’ way. So at IWA’s World Water Congress too, the Netherlands hosted its traditional network reception and, here too, a collaborative arrangement made the reception a truly successful network event, in this case between NWP, KWR Water Research Institute and the Dutch Embassy in Denmark.

The recently appointed new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Denmark, H.E. Nienke Trooster, made one of her first public appearances in her new role, alongside Professor Dragan Savic, CEO of KWR Water Research Institute, and our own Arjan Braamskamp, Business Relations Manager at NWP.

Lounge participants had the opportunity to meet many international like-minded professionals and present their products and services.

NWP’s personal approach

Tackling international water challenges while meeting NWP members’ needs has always been a core activity at NWP. Now, after two years of social distancing and restrictions around physical business activities due to Covid-19, NWP is emphasising re-establishing personal contacts. With this in mind, NWP brought its Business Relationship Management team to Copenhagen and created the space to strengthen relationships among our members.

In one of our activities we challenged our members to an early morning swim in Copenhagen’s Nyhavn River, where we did an onsite interview with Frodo van Oostveen, the CEO of World Waternet, did a live water quality sampling using ‘highly scientific’ Join the Pipe water bottles, and made a real splash with brave fellow water warriors, PB International and Sensoterra!

Next Congress

For some of the organisations participating in the Netherlands Lounge, this was their first time at the IWA World Water Congress and the experience was superb. In fact, after having created valuable, international connections and potential business leads, most of the participants have already expressed their intention to repeat the experience in August 2024 when the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition will take us to Toronto.

NWP will share information regarding the Netherlands booth and signing up in due course. If you would like us to personally inform you of possible opportunities to participate, please let us know at events@nwp.nl.