Interviews John Bowen and Ed Nijpels a Shop Window To
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04, 2014 INTERVIEWS JOHN BOWEN A SHOP WINDOW TO THE YOUNG WATER PROFESSIONALS AND ED NIJPELS WORLD: WIS 2015 NOMINEES GET TO WORK GLOBALLY NUMBER CONTENT of this WaterProof COLOFON 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 06 16 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 INTERVIEW JOHN BOWEN YOUNG EXPERTS technology. The inventor and developer of the HAPSS Valuable source for Dutch entrepreneurs water sterilization system. with international plans. 08 18 START-UP: COSMONIO WIS AWARD 2015 surprises with futuristic projects And the nominees are... Editor in Chief Menno Bakker Journal Management Brenda de Jong, Narvic Media & Communicatie Text Contributors Atty-Marije Horjus, Henk Dilling, Ivo Pakvis, Menno Bakker and many others Translation Simon Robb, Matthijs Plijnaar Graphic Design Jan Robert Mink Photography Frans Fazzi, Nico Pakvis, Fotobureau Hoge Noorden and many others 12 22 Printer Drukkerij Van der Eems INTERVIEW ED NIJPELS START-UP: DJIPPER “The journey from knowledge to business ‘Alll the knowledge is within us’ is often too long” AND: INTRO HEIN MOLENKAMP 03 14 24 NEWS IN BRIEF 04 INFOGRAPHIC 10 YOUNG EXPERTS FOCUS MEMBERS OF Young water professionals get to work globally an innovative concept for the medical sector THE WATER ALIANCE 26 02 | INTRO by Hein Molenkamp I was seriously considering to give this column the title ‘New’ because I am convinced that innovation is, in general terms, essential in business. Many agree with me; the word TOGETHER “innovation” is also one of the most frequently used words in management circles. And I believe rightly so in this fast changing world. I wanted to use this foreword to share with you how amazing it is that there are so many companies that are constantly working on renewal. With this I mean the renewal of traditional methods or structures. Consider also within this process the creation of new activities or new businesses. Here on the WaterCampus you will find some wonderful examples. In this edition of WaterProof you can read about some inspiring start-ups, such as Djipper, SWS and Cosmonio, but also about established names such as Berghof and DMT - companies that ‘breathe’ innovation. Yes, the word “new” would have been a nice title. Still, I decided to use another word to characterize the enthusiasm of the Dutch water technology world. Indeed, it is mainly through ‘co-operation’ that wonderful things often come to fruition. Cooperation is however easier said than done, parties involved need to trust each other. Moreover, the entrepreneurs involved should not suffer from tunnel vision. You also need to be daring enough to search “out of the box” across disciplines and subject areas. Our WaterCampus partner Wetsus has enough experience in this capacity. Ed Nijpels, chairman of the Wetsus Supervisory Board, puts it very succinctly in this edition: “The institute has created real demand from the market and also has existing knowledge related to new fields, such as nanotechnology, electrochemistry and physics. Researchers from various disciplines began to work closely together. They learned from each other and inspired each other. “ A wonderful, physical example of this is the new extension of the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden, which will be officially opened in 2015. Four Frisian architect firms put their heads together and took the decision to work together ‘when it adds value’. That sum of talent and expertise seemed to work because this co-operative called ‘Gear’ won the order to design the extension of the WaterCampus. A nice detail is that “Gear” is of course the English word related to transmission of torque but in Frisian this word means ‘together’. So again this foreword has come to a full circle. Enjoy reading! | 03 MERGER OF NORTHERN WATER LABORATORIES DMT ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLETED The merger between the laboratories of Hunze and TECHNOLOGY Aa and WLN has been completed. There is now one large laboratory in the water chain that serves the WINS HIGH Northeastern Netherlands: the Water Quality Centre (WKC). Within this new research centre knowledge and GROWTH expertise are now bundled together and technological developments can be managed more easily. In AWARD! addition, the merger provides a great financial benefit for all parties. The WKC will officially start by January 1, 2015. MERGER DELIVERS BENEFITS “Developments in the laboratory world seem to come thicker and faster these days. Especially in this area automation has taken off and such work can increasingly be done by robots. For relatively small laboratories however such developments can be too much. Therefore, increasing the scale is the only solution. From this need the idea for a merger came to fruition”, explains Hilde Prummel, director of WLN. “Together it is simply easier to take on and adopt innovations and to keep up with technological developments.” the WLN laboratory The merger of these two laboratories provides an annual saving of 900,000 euros. That represents a major financial advantage. Moreover, this creates one large research centre that can help to give more shape to cooperation in the northern water chain. The regional knowledge for the North is of course maintained and with this pooling of knowledge and capacity any vulnerabilities are lifted. Erwin Dirkse On November 19, DMT Environmental important than the actual growth” says don’t forget! Technology was awarded the High Dirkse. “For us, personal development Growth Award, as well as the Innovate, is just as important as organizational Create and Grow Award, both awarded growth. In the end, our team makes it all 15 January by Port4Growth. “A true reward for the happen”, Dirkse continues. Additionally, hard work of the employees of DMT”, he also recognizes the importance of says Managing Director Erwin Dirkse. DMT’s international partners who are WaterLink! true ambassadors. “For them it is also a “Growing is important, however for recognition for their efforts to represent DMT the quality of the growth is more our company abroad.” 04 | WATERCAMPUS NEW OFFICE FOR ASSISTS SMEs WITH EU SUBSIDY GROWING DMT REQUESTS SMEs based at the WaterCampus are now able to enquire about and seek assistance in applying for European funding from subsidy programs such as ERDF and Horizon 2020. “There are so many different subsidy programs available now and each of these programs has its own requirements and conditions, it is understandable therefore that especially SMEs could easily get lost in this maze of information. At the WaterCampus SMEs can now contact me with questions about any of the programs and seek assistance with submitting their application”, explains Martijn Wagterveld, scientific project manager at Wetsus. By offering this service, the WaterCampus reinforces its position as a European water technology hub. ICOS CAPITAL INVESTS IN REVOLUTIONARY MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY FROM METAL In late October Councillor Henk Deinum stated “Water is a global challenge. It’s MEMBRANES from Leeuwarden officially opened the great that Dutch and Frisian companies Metalmembranes BV wants to improve the quality of office of DMT Environmental Technology capitalize on international opportunities ceramic membranes and reduce their cost through the at the WaterCampus in Leeuwarden. and developments. Increasingly, these use of patented production techniques. Together with its The expansion of the Frisian company companies consider the WaterCampus financial partner ICOS Capital, Metalmembranes has set is a result of their strong international in Leeuwarden as an important itself the objective to deliver its innovative membranes growth made over the last few years. partner. DMT is a good example.” to the global market. The focus is primarily on industrial DMT, headquartered in Joure, has grown The WaterCampus Leeuwarden is the customers who require the highest quality membranes. explosively in recent years, both nationally physical hub of Dutch water technology. The investment from ICOS Capital will be used to and internationally. Here (inter) national companies, improve the technology and to forge partnerships research institutions and governments with industrial users; especially in the chemical, This international growth also in water technology work together to sensor and oil and gas sectors. “The technology means increased demand and new find solutions to global water problems of Metalmembranes is pioneering due to the opportunities. “We work with water and by stimulating innovation, education extremely thin metal membranes. The membrane biogas treatment plants for a green and and world-class entrepreneurship and is made using a combination of metal and ceramic prosperous future. These are strongly thereby strengthen the position of Dutch membranes and can be used in many different industry developing and international markets. water technology. applications”, explains Hans-Henk Wolters, Director of Opening of the second office at the Metalmembranes. WaterCampus is a logical development, here we have better access to a wider network, state of the art research opportunities and support in the areas of business development”, explains Joost Edens, Manager Water Division at DMT Environmental Technology. “Incidentally, we are on the look out for inspired people to join and help us.” During the openingceremony of DMT’s new office, councillor Henk Deinum | 05 INTERVIEW John Bowen “THIS IS THE ONLY TEST SITE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT PROVIDES THIS OPPORTUNITY” ONE WEEK AFTER THE DEMO SITE AT THE ANTONIUS HOSPITAL WAS OPENED BY STATE SECRETARY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WILMA MANSFELD, A MAN WITH GREY HAIR AND AN AUTHENTIC WOODEN WALKING STICK ARRIVES AT THE DEMO SITE. HE HAS COME TO INSPECT WHETHER THE MATERIALS IN THE CONTAINER MADE IT SAFELY FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE NETHERLANDS.