Attending Aquatech this year was an exciting opportunity to see the latest innovations shaping the global water industry while strengthening Cleveland Water Alliance’s (CWA) international partnerships. As always, it was a fast-paced week filled with new connections, promising technologies, and strategic discussions about the future of water innovation.

Kicking Off with Innovation and Collaboration

We kicked off the week with an event hosted by PureTerra Ventures, a water-themed venture capital firm that originally engaged with us through the Freshwater Innovation Fund. The event brought together innovators, investors, corporate partners, and advisors to build meaningful connections. It was also great to reconnect with our friends at Burnt Island Ventures, Current, and Water Alliance (The Netherlands). 

Exploring Emerging Technologies

On Tuesday, I participated in the Integrated Leaders Forum, where I hosted a roundtable discussion on the circular economy. This led to some excellent conversations with utilities based in the Netherlands and global partners, including BlueTech Research. Meanwhile, Natalie Van Scyoc, CWA’s Innovation Associate, and Leonard Kieseler, CWA’s European Representative, scouted new water technology solutions on the trade floor. They met with companies like Royal Eijkelkamp, Fluidion, Holland Sensor, WATR, DataPond, and several others.

Throughout these conversations, it became clear that international companies are not only eager to enter the U.S. market but also seeking the right partners to help navigate the process. With our robust testbed infrastructure and network of industry leaders, CWA is well-positioned to support innovators in bringing their solutions to market. 

Strengthening Relationships 

Wednesday brought even more opportunities for collaboration. We had lunch with our partners at Hach, who one of CWA’s innovators is currently testing their technology through.  Our team continued building relationships with European partners, including Clean (Danish Water Cluster), Finland’s Digital Water Flagship (DIWA), and others. Meanwhile, Natalie attended a lunch with Water Smart Connect, CircInWater, Water4All, and ICN, further strengthening our engagement with international water leaders. Throughout the day, we also connected with new companies exploring opportunities in the water innovation space.

Navigating the U.S. Market 

On Thursday, I gave a presentation on the trade floor stage regarding navigating the U.S. market, where I had the chance to engage with companies looking to expand their presence in North America. Many innovators are eager to enter this space, and Cleveland Water Alliance has the resources and expertise to help support their transition and success. The reception at the Netherlands pavilion that evening, hosted by Netherlands Water Partnership and Water Alliance, provided us with another chance to connect with our cluster partners, new innovative companies, and to explore potential pilot opportunities.

Continuing to Drive Innovation

Beyond the technologies and discussions, another highlight of the week was strengthening relationships with some of our key partners. It was great to connect with our friends, partners, and board members at In-Situ, Kinetico, Water Quality Association, and YSI Xylem, who each play a critical role in advancing water quality solutions. 

As always, Aquatech showcased the power of international collaboration. It was great to spend time with Leonard, whose work expanding our European partnerships is more valuable than ever. The conference left us with exciting new opportunities, and we look forward to translating these conversations into action as we continue to drive innovation in water technology.

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