Joining forces for sustainable water use in industry: A successful TKI matchmaking event

The event was hosted at the KWR Water Research Institute in Nieuwegein. The day was organised by TKI Water Technology in close cooperation with the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and Water Alliance, and commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The TKI matchmaking event built on the National Drinking Water Conservation Action Plan.

NWP: Driving collaboration and innovation

As a proud contributor to the event, NWP played a leading role in facilitating connections and knowledge exchange throughout the day. Arjan Braamskamp from NWP served as the event’s moderator, setting the stage for an interactive and action-oriented programme. Anne Hummelen, Director of TKI Water Technology, outlined the vital role TKI plays in fostering innovation and partnerships within the water sector – a mission in which NWP is actively involved.

Just like the previous edition of the TKI Water Technology Day, which took place in November last year, April 23 was all about sharing practical experiences, conducting round table discussions and discovering technologies that really make an impact. The right mix of ingredients to enable collaboration and accelerate change.

Subsequently, speakers from, among others, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, VEMW and KWR provided a clear overview of policy objectives and knowledge needs surrounding the industrial water transition.

Through its role as co-executor at TKI Water Technology, NWP strengthens the link between industry needs and cutting-edge water solutions, helping to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and resilient industrial sector.

Spotlight on practical solutions

Where better to find inspiration for challenging issues such as the industrial water transition than in practice? To get the participants involved in successful water saving initiatives, frontrunners such as NieuWater and Lamb Weston/Meijer shared their experiences.

NieuWater, a subsidiary of Waterschap Vechtstromen, produces ultrapure water from wastewater effluent for industrial use – a promising solution not only for oil extraction but also for hydrogen production. Lamb Weston/Meijer, one of the world’s largest producers of frozen potato products, demonstrated the practical steps they took to optimise water use in their operations.

And during a session on the ins and outs of performing a water scan, it became clear how organisations can get started with mapping their water flows. This gives them more insight into their water footprint and in which direction they can best look for their water saving measures.

Deep dives into critical themes

Following a networking lunch featuring a selection of vegetarian dishes, participants engaged in thematic working sessions led by industry experts. Topics included financial incentives for water-saving measures, governance structures, legal frameworks, risk management, and technological innovations.

The interactive format allowed for the exchange of valuable insights, reinforcing the collective drive to overcome barriers and take concrete steps forward. At the end of the afternoon, the positive feeling that obstacles are not an end point, but the starting point for concrete steps forward, prevailed.

A strong call to action

During the closing session, the results of the working sessions were shared with each other, in which governance was mentioned as an important challenge for the water transition. The focus shifted to two keywords: collaboration and action.

Annita Westenbroek (Institute for Sustainable Process Technology and the Dutch Biorefinery Cluster) summarised it powerfully: "Water belongs to no one, but it is everyone's responsibility. Only together can we ensure water availability for future generations by creating an overarching initiative where all stakeholders collaborate for sustainability and innovation."

KWR researcher Kees Roest echoed this message, stressing the need to move from ideas to action. He emphasised: “Action is needed on multiple fronts, because legislation, regulations and governance often still form obstacles to putting the water transition into practice. But it is not impossible, as can be seen from the great best practices that we have seen today.” Roest underlined the importance of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of TKI Water Technology – connecting Government, industry, and research – as a powerful platform to advance the water transition and he invited everyone to take the next steps together.

Listen to the voices of the sector

Throughout the day, podcast episodes were recorded by De Radiofabriek for New Business Radio, capturing firsthand experiences and insights from water technology and industry experts. Stay tuned for more, as these episodes (in Dutch) with the interviews will soon be available online, offering an inspiring glimpse into the collaborative and innovative spirit driving sustainable water use in industry.

A compilation of the interviews will be broadcast on New Business Radio on 22 May 2025 between 12:00-13:00 CET.

About TKI Water Technology

TKI Water Technology is one of the 10 Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs), designed to strengthen the sectors in which the Netherlands has a strong international reputation. TKI Water Technology promotes cooperation between companies, research organisations, and the Government to apply leading water innovations in practice. The programme is implemented by NWP and Water Alliance.

Besides finding answers to current social challenges regarding clean water, TKI Water Technology simultaneously stimulates the Netherlands' leading position. With the right consortium of partners and solid commitment from these partners, substantial co-funding from the TKI Water Technology programme is available, depending on the type of research (fundamental, industrial, or experimental).