A helping hand

Smart water technology innovations must be brought to market faster to deal with the world’s growing water shortages. This edition of WaterProof magazine is brimming with such developments. There are so many smart solutions being invented around the world. Inventors are not always entrepreneurs, however, and clever innovations still often get stuck along the road from idea to market. What can be done about that?

First, let’s talk about the global water market. The urgency for solving water problems through innovation is felt differently worldwide; it depends on the situation. In many countries, affordable tap water is still taken for granted, but even in those countries, there is a growing awareness of the problem of water scarcity. It is time for action. We need to accelerate innovation processes.

The only question is: who is the ‘problem owner’? Is it the water entrepreneur or mostly cluster organizations like Water Alliance? The answer: we are all responsible. However, the great social interest at stake will require a proactive stance from governments worldwide. The Netherlands is a good example of what that can accomplish. The government can make a huge difference through subsidies, favourable tax schemes, and other incentives. As such, I am also extremely pleased that the Dutch government announced in late February that it is working with other parties to allocate €342 million for the ‘Nationaal Groeiplan Watertechnologie’. This is a Dutch plan in which Water Alliance, WaterCampus Leeuwarden and a national consortium of around 600 partners invest in developing innovations to enable smarter and more efficient water use in various areas. Numerous solutions are already available, and there are many more to come from the Netherlands. We are here to help the world make use of them. You know where to find us.

Hein Molenkamp Managing Director, Water Alliance