Water technology experts share insights on innovation – A Radiofabriek podcast

TKI Watertechnologie encourages collaboration between industry, research institutes, and government authorities to bring Dutch innovations to market more quickly and help tackle water challenges. Radiofabriek’s podcast features accelerating water innovation through collaboration between government, research organisations, and private enterprises. Experts shared their experiences in developing water technologies from concept (TRL 1-3) to market-ready solutions (TRL 7-9). 

Key topics in the Podcast

• Sustainable water solutions – Strategies for efficient and environmentally friendly water management.
• Technological innovations – Advances in water purification, desalination, and wastewater treatment.
• Policy and regulation – The role of the Government in fostering innovation and addressing regulatory challenges.
• Collaboration across sectors – Building partnerships between industry, research institutes, and policymakers to accelerate innovation.
• Funding and investment – Accessing financial support, grants, and private capital to scale up water technology innovations.
• Nutrient recovery and the circular economy – Enhancing the reuse of valuable nutrients from wastewater and improving sustainability.

Featured experts & organisations

• Anne Mathilde Hummelen (Senior Programme Manager at KWR and Programme Director at TKI Watertechnologie) discusses policy and innovation acceleration. She elaborates on TKI Watertechnologie’s key role in translating societal and technological developments into research initiatives, ensuring that innovations improve water quality and availability while fostering public-private partnerships. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Nina Bresser (Senior Subsidy Advisor at Hezelburcht) shares her expertise on funding opportunities for water-related projects. She talks about how Hezelburcht assists entrepreneurs in achieving their strategic goals by applying for funding through various Dutch and European grant programmes. Hezelburcht can help SMEs access these funding opportunities, for themselves as well as in larger (international) consortia. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Henk Nieboer (Managing Director at Aquius Capital) discusses investment in water technology innovation. Aquius Capital attracts private capital to invest in the broader water sector and help businesses scale up. Having worked at Witteveen+Bos, he co-founded Aquius Capital which specialises in financing TRL 7-9 projects to bring innovations to market. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Marc Streng (International Partnerships Consultant at TechForce) shares insights on funding and international collaborations. TechForce specialises in securing funding for collaborative projects to bring technological innovations in water management to market. By identifying international funding opportunities, preparing applications, and ensuring project compliance through all development stages, it helps businesses bridge financial gaps and scale innovations to TRL 7-9, fostering partnerships between the private sector and research institutions. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Balder Verberne (Greentech entrepreneur and founder of Desaltify) introduces an energy-efficient desalination technology that eliminates the need for membranes, unlike traditional reverse osmosis methods. Using electromagnetic fields, it achieves high efficiency and produces large volumes of water suitable for industrial use. This innovation is particularly beneficial for islands seeking sustainable water solutions with significantly lower electricity consumption. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Kaspar Groot Kormelinck & Thomas van Remmen (R&D Managers at Van Remmen UV Technology) explain the role of UV technology in water purification. UV technology is used to remove pharmaceutical residues from water, ensuring it remains clean and safe for consumption. Van Remmen UV Technology is a leader in this field that aims to establish UV treatment as a standard in debates around water purification and quality. Listen to the Podcast

   

• Jorn Baan Hofman (Project Manager at The Netherlands Water Partnership and Secretary of the Nutrienten Platform) discusses nutrient recovery initiatives. The Nutrienten Platform (NP) plays a key role in the KNAP-project (Nutrient Recycling from Wastewater and Process Water), which works to close nutrient cycles in municipal and industrial wastewater. By collaborating with multiple stakeholders, NP works on regulatory improvements and advises policymakers on optimising nutrient recovery for agricultural and industrial reuse. The initiative strives to enhance the circular economy by increasing nutrient recovery efficiency and bringing sustainable wastewater solutions to a higher level. Listen to the Podcast

Key takeaways

• Public-private partnerships are essential in accelerating water innovations from research to market-ready solutions.
• Regulatory challenges and funding gaps need to be addressed to facilitate the adoption of new water technologies.
• Innovations such as AI, smart monitoring systems, and advanced purification methods are shaping the future of water management.
• Collaboration across government bodies, research institutions, and industry is crucial in overcoming global water challenges.