Aquatech Amsterdam played host to 4 days of inspirational innovation and a platform for networking and exchanging ideas
Last month we headed to The Netherlands for the world’s biggest water trade show, “Aquatech Amsterdam 2019”. The event provided a fascinating insight into the water industry and we were able to make some useful connections that have the potential to benefit EIC Partners.
Featuring over 1000 exhibitors, 25,000+ water experts from 140+ different countries and more than 1000 AIWW (Amsterdam International Water Week) delegates, the event is firmly established as being the biggest of its kind in the world and the leading platform for process, drinking and waste water. All of this meant that the event was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the ongoing trends and innovations within the water industry and to form new connections as part of the EIC’s ongoing mission to help bridge the gap between industry and innovators.
We were particularly impressed with the interactive nature of the event, which made it far more engaging than your typical conference. Prior to the event, we were keen to explore the approaches that other countries are taking in tackling key issues within the water industry, and it was fascinating to observe the variation in perspective with regards to innovation across the globe. There were pavilions representing 11 different countries across the exhibition which made for an extremely interesting insight into the key trends and priorities around the world, with the use of hydrogen for water purification being a particularly prominent example.
Some of the key trends that we identified from the event included; water purification and filtration, smart networks, leakage, monitoring equipment and automation.
The energy in the room was palpable throughout, with pipe fitting competitions taking place and a ‘Drone Zone’ grabbing the attention of many of the attendees across the day. An ‘Innovation Zone’ also showcased an impressive range of winners and nominees from this year’s Aquatech Innovation Awards, which offered a great opportunity for us to find out more about some of the most significant innovations currently making a splash in the water industry.
Some of the highlights of the week from an EIC perspective included the Innovation Forum (featuring 250 delegates, speakers and moderators) and the announcing of the overall winner of the Aquatech Innovation Award: Kaumera Nereda Gum by Royal HaskoningDHV and partners.
We had a great time exploring all of the insightful areas of Aquatech Amsterdam 2019 and to be a part of such a global water event. This was definitely a great opportunity to form new connections and expand the Innovation Community, increasing the opportunities available to our industry partners.