TKI Water Technology Podcast – Smart water & photonics insights

Recorded at the TKI Matchmaking Event entitled Shedding Light on Water – Smart Innovations for the Water Sector, taking place at One Planet Research in Wageningen, the podcasts explore how technology moves from lab to real-world solutions. From early pollution detection to real-time monitoring and smarter process control, these conversations showcase collaborations that make the water sector smarter, more efficient, and sustainable.

The series features contributions from PhotonicsNL, Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), KWR Water Research Institute, MicroLAN, Spectrik, and the Dutch National Science Agenda’s Measuring and Detecting route.

Note: The podcast is in Dutch.

Speakers featured in the series

Petra Wicherink, Director PhotonicsNL
Wicherink shares how photonics drives innovation across industry, education, and government, highlighting the possibilities of light-based technologies for the water sector. Listen to the interview.

Ivana Sersic – Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM)
Sersic explores how strategic support and investment help Dutch water technologies reach global markets and create impact. Listen to the interview.

Joep Appels – Managing Director, MicroLAN B.V.
Appels develops smart online biomonitoring systems, linking customer needs with cutting-edge photonics and digital technology for real-time water solutions. Listen to the interview.

Rick Jongen – CEO & Co-founder, Spectrik
Jongen explains how high-tech photonics are turned into practical tools, from medical ideas to revolutionary gas sensors for livestock, helping farmers reduce emissions sustainably. Listen to the interview.

Joep van den Broeke – Senior Researcher & Project Manager, KWR, and Oscar van den Brink – Initiator and Co-ordinator, Dutch National Science Agenda’s Measuring and Detecting route
Van den Broeke and Van den Brink reveal how research meets real-world practice, focusing on real-time water quality monitoring and smart water systems, and demonstrating how innovation drives smarter, more efficient water management. Listen to the interview.

TKI Water Technology podcast series

The podcast series was produced by De Radiofabriek for New Business Radio (in Dutch). A compilation of the interviews was broadcast on New Business Radio on 23 February 2026. The full series is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
 

These podcasts are part of the TKI Water Technology programme – implemented by the Netherlands Water Partnership and Water Alliance. TKI (Top Consortium Knowledge & Innovation) focuses on water technology for water and agriculture in the Dutch Knowledge & Innovation Agenda (KIA). The programme helps companies accelerate and valorise innovations using public resources, connecting research, development, and market implementation.

For more information on TKI Water Technology, visit: https://www.tkiwatertechnologie.nl (in Dutch).