Gert-Jan Euverink, deputy-director research

First initiative in The Netherlands bridging the gap between:

• Bio- and separation technology

• Drinking water and waste water

• Public and private (water)problems

Wetsus, Unique topinstitute

Wetsus started in 2003

• A post-graduate research institute

– PhD students and Post-Docs

• Research Themes

– driven by industrial partners

– carried out by key universities

• Funding

– by industrial partners (in money / facilities)

– by universities (in kind: professors, PhDs, facilities)

– by government (local and regional)

• All at a single physical location

– Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Sparkling start of Wetsus ! September 16/17, 2004

Fresh water availability

Mission, Ambition, Scope

Contribute to the solution of global water problems through technological innovation and collaboration

1.1 billion people no safe drinking water

Increasing shortage Irrigation water

2.5 billion people no safe sanitation

Wetsus aims to become the European Centre of Excellence in the field of sustainable water technology.

• Develop new Water Technology

• Establish a network function for water industry

• National incubator for water technology start-ups

• To become an international acknowledged ‘Hot Spot’

for water technology

Strategy

unique bundling of

know-how disciplines

• 15 scientific chairs1. Wageningen University2. University Twente3. Technical University Delft

• >32 companies1. Drinking water2. Water boards3. Water Technology suppliers4. Industry

The basic IPR arrangement

• Claim to results and intellectual property:

– All results and (claims to) intellectual property rights…etc... will be the complete property of Wetsus.

– Participant companies have the possibility of receiving priority in the acquisition of a license to the above….etc….

– Participant research institutes may use the results for education, publications and research….

Multidisciplinary Research Themes

bioconversions

adsorption

crystallization

genetics

bioconversions bioconversions bioconversions

genetics

genetics

adsorption

crystallization

bioconversions

Decentral sanitation

Blue Energy

Sludge reduction

Laboratory

Conclusions

Research Institute• Wetsus employs about 50 people (still growing)

– Import of highly educated people to the region– Attracting force for companies to established offices in the region

Interesting environment for startups• Venture capital• Business development assistance• Knowledge network• Facility sharing• Offices