A very warm welcome on behalf of the Aquatech Amsterdam team
Aquatech Amsterdam has always been and will always be exclusively about water, covering every aspect of water. In 55 years we have seen continued growth and I am very proud that we welcome over 1,000 exhibitors this year. Another milestone in our history.
This edition we moved halls within the RAI to create more space. Follow the orange carpet of the Innovation Avenue across Aquatech and you are guaranteed to pass all these halls. In the heart of this new lay out you will find the ‘new’ Hall 13 - where it is all about innovation.
Water does not stick to boundaries, it is a truly global challenge. My true belief is that cooperation is key to facing this enormous challenge. I believe in the power of technology and the power of exchanging knowledge and ideas. To¬gether we have a duty to preserve our earth - a live able and biodiverse planet.
On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank the Advisory Board of Aquatech, the Board of the Amsterdam International Water Week, the Jury of the Innovation Award, Content Board of the Aquatech Innovation Forum, our partners and all exhibitors for their continued support. I wish you a great and fruitful visit.
Together we make water work!
Annette Bos
Director Water - RAI Amsterdam
Kaumera Nereda® Gum overall winner Aquatech Innovation Awards
The overall winner of this year’s Aquatech Innovation awards was the Kaumera Nereda® Gum, a valuable resource that can be extracted from the wastewater treatment process.
A biological raw material, the gum can retain as well as repel water, giving it great potential to be used in agriculture, as well as the paper and construction industries. “This was by far the biggest innovative step from all of the entries received,” said jury chairman Professor Cees Buisman, Scientific Director of Wetsus, European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology. “It’s completely new and hasn’t been done before. In an urbanizing world, it’s going to have much impact to help enable a circular economy.”
The development of Kaumera Nereda® Gum is the result of a collaboration between multiple stakeholders: Royal HaskoningDHV, TU Delft, STOWA (Stichting Toegepast Onderzoek Waterbeheer), the Vallei en Veluwe Water Authority, the Rijn en IJssel Water Authority, Chaincraft and the Energy and Raw Materials Factory (EFGF).
Urbanization as a major trend
A total of 12 innovative technologies were selected from an impressive number of entries by an expert jury. “What always amazes the jury is that every two years there are so many new innovations,” added Buisman. “We are always surprised by the enormous, innovative potential of the water sector that is highlighted by these awards.”
Buisman said the jury noticed two major trends across the entries this year. The first was a rise in the number and ability for sensors to measure online parameters that were not possible before. This gives the potential for greater automation of the water sector. The second trend was urba¬nization. “There is now an increasing diffe¬rence between cities and the countryside because of the heat, waste and resource recovery challenges facing urban areas,” said the jury chairman. “Water technology innovations are helping to bring solutions to the challenges of urbanization.”
Aquatech moved halls to grow
Step into the future, follow the Aquatech Innovation Avenue!
Aquatech is renowned for its’ focus on innovation. This is the platform where international solutions are launched. For a sneak preview of the next decade in water technology, follow the innovation route below.
- First stop: the InnovationLAB, hall 1, booth number 01.332
As the name suggests, this part of the InnovationLAB is all about giving you the chance to experience the technology of the future in live demonstrations.
The InnovationLAB is the central platform for all innovation. Our top tips for your LAB visit are:
• Visit the winners of the Aquatech Innovation Award, seen as trend¬setters for the next generation of product development
• Be part of the Innovation Lab Experience
- Move on to Innovation Avenue
Fully up to date on the latest trends, developments and technologies in approximately 30 minutes? Walk the floor and follow the Innovation Avenue which runs from the InnovationLAB in hall 1 all the way through to the other end of the show to the Holland Innovation Park (stand number 11.404) and Industrial User Experience in Hall 11, stand number 11.312.
- Play the Innovation Avenue QR game ... and win an Apple Watch!
All new products and innovations are also listed on the Aquatech website and in the Aquatech app. Follow the orange carpet of the Innovation Ave¬nue across Aquatech and you will pass all the halls. In addition, you can win an Apple Watch every day by playing the Innovation Avenue QR Game. Search and scan all QR codes along the Avenue. View the technology or innovative solution behind it. Collect all the letters that you find and have a chance to win an Apple Watch.
- Along the way, stop at the BlueTech Research Innovation Pavilion (13.160)
The BlueTech Research Innovation Pavilion is the go-to-area for water professionals looking for cutting-edge technology offerings in the industry. BlueTech Research shortlists the most promising and innovative water tech companies to present their technology at the Innovation Pavilion based on their research methodology. Pavilion participants are:
• Acuva – Canada
• Aquafortus – New Zealand
• Biopolus – Ireland
• Blue Foot Membranes – Belgium
• EasyMining – Sweden
• Glanris - USA
• Microbium – Slovenia
• MicrOrganic – USA
• Sigirist – Photometer – Switzerland
• SwiftComply – Ireland
- The Blue Tech Research Pavilion is part of the Future Water Square in hall 13. At the heart of this area is the EU Innovation Projects Pavilion that shows poster presentations and speakers from over 16 projects.
- Stay a while longer at Future Water Square in hall 13.
Here you will meet forward thinkers in the water industry, see innovative technology by start-ups from within and outside the water sector, giving you the chance to tap into new ways of thinking and solutions for some of this sectors most recognized upcoming challenges.
Brine, micropollutants, water reuse and resource recovery are some of the themes presented by future shapers of the industry.
- Learn about recovered resources
More and more utilities & industries are looking at ways to recover resour¬ces from waste water & surface water to recycle the water and to re-use the recovered resources and upcycle them. Aquatech highlights the latest developments on resource recovery and bringing it to the market in hall 13.
- Follow the Innovation Avenue to the Industrial User Experience
Visitors have the opportunity to dive into the world of industrial water use at The Industrial User Experience, powered by Wetsus. It offers the latest solutions and information on water use in key industries, such as oil & gas, food, beverage & paper, energy & power, and chemicals.
Are you involved in Industrial water use and challenged to find solutions to re-use or reduce water within your companies processes? Visit the free seminar sessions and showca¬ses at the Industrial User Experience, stand 11.312 in hall 11.
