Water Technology Connects Experts and Sparks New Ideas
Water is a vital resource for industry, and with increasing demands for sustainability, resource efficiency and security of supply, the need for new technological solutions continues to grow. However, progress requires more than research and technology. It also requires closer collaboration between companies, researchers and public authorities.
These were some of the key messages at Helix Lab’s Applied Research Seminar: Water Technologies 2026, which brought together national and international researchers and industry specialists.
Through presentations, real-life industrial case studies and workshops, participants were introduced to the latest developments in areas such as membrane technology, water treatment, water reuse and the management of challenging residual streams. At the same time, the seminar explored how research and industry can inspire one another and develop solutions that can be implemented in real-world production environments.
Collaboration and Trust Are Key to Innovation
Among the 80 participants was Martin Hattel, Project Director at Fujifilm Biotechnologies Denmark. He had travelled from Hillerød to Kalundborg to gain inspiration on how Fujifilm can work more sustainably with water consumption and water technology solutions.
“I signed up for the conference to learn more about current developments in membrane technology, as this is highly relevant to us. Much of what we have been presented with is still at the research stage, but it is important knowledge because it will enable us to challenge commercial suppliers on their solutions in the future.”
Martin Hattel also found inspiration at the conference for solutions that are already being explored in Kalundborg:
“One possibility we could look into is establishing a pipeline from the sea, perhaps in collaboration with Novo in Hillerød. It is just an initial idea, but we could pump in seawater, desalinate it and thereby create a form of technical water that could be used. The inspiration comes from seeing how they are working here on a desalination plant on a scale that could supply the major industrial companies,” he says.
What has been the biggest surprise at today's conference?
“The opportunities for removing PFAS are greater than I had expected. PFAS-free water is something we could require of our local municipality in the future, as they are responsible for supplying our water. So there is plenty of inspiration to take away.”
Innovation Starts with Understanding Each Other’s Needs
In addition to presentations on technological solutions, the conference also explored the value of innovation partnerships. The idea that good technological solutions cannot stand alone was a central message in the presentation by Jannes van Hove, Manager of Urban Water Systems at the Municipality of Utrecht in the Netherlands.
One of the recurring messages in Jannes van Hove’s presentation, The Power of (Un)Likely Partnerships, was that innovation rarely happens when each party sticks to its own agenda. On the contrary, it requires an understanding of the different needs, interests and values at stake, and identifying where they overlap. This is particularly important in collaborations between research and industry, where the parties often have different starting points.
“Researchers may be focused on developing and testing new technologies, while companies have to consider factors such as investments and financial viability. An important part of the solution is to start by defining the challenge you want to solve rather than deciding in advance which technology to use.”
Another key point from van Hove, was that aligning the value of a project for each individual partner is essential to making a collaboration successful. Partners must be willing to share knowledge, be open about their interests and accept that development may involve experiments where the outcome is not known in advance. Without a shared understanding, it becomes difficult to take the risks necessary to develop and implement new technologies, he explained:
“Different stakeholders assess the value of a solution differently. That is why it is important to bring out the different perspectives from the very beginning. What matters to the company? What matters to the researchers? What do the other partners need? If we talk openly about these things, we are better able to find a model in which everyone can see the value of participating.”
The next Applied Research Seminar will be held at Helix Lab in spring 2027.