Cofunded by the European Union

On May 13-17, The European Water Campus Business Challenge (EWCBC) was held in Leeuwarden (The Netherlands). 5-day training programme for entrepreneurial and business development.

The WaterCampus Business Challenge was a huge success. This year's edition took place a spart of Water4All. The Partnership aims to support (pre)startups making the next step in developing their company.

Winner of Water Campus Business Challenge 2024

Groundbreaking PFAS-sensor (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances): Cor Datema is the winner of this 2024 edition The jury believes that his company, Forever Analytical Solutions, makes a difference in PFAS measurement. Indeed, it is an innovative environmental startup dedicated to developing cutting-edge methods for total-PFAS detection.

PFAS have been frequently observed to contaminate groundwater, surface water and soil. Cleaning up polluted sites is technically difficult and costly. If releases continue, they will continue to accumulate in the environment, drinking water and food. Learn more (PFAS) - ECHA (europa.eu)

60 experts and 15 startups participating

Looking at the final evaluation with a 9.3 on a scale from 1 to 10, all 15 participants were able to set an important step to build their company.

During the week they learned about

  • setting up a business case,
  • having interviews with important stakeholders, 
  • and getting inspired by CEOs from research institutes, potential clients, technology companies and investors. Over 60 different experts, technicians

Participants had the opportunity to connect with other peers, engage with innovative companies and present their projects to potential investors, early-stage customers and technology partners. The initiative is an opportunity for startups and PhD students from across Europe who harbour entrepreneurial aspirations to catalyze significant ripple effects and foster mutually beneficial collaborations.

The 15 start-ups participating in the event, gave a positive evaluation of the initiative and willingness to participate in the future edition. Over 60 experts, and technicians have attended the event supporting the programme.

Promote the training program for business development

One of the activities developed under the Science, Policy and Users interface of the European Partnerships Water4All is to promote a training program for entrepreneurial and business development. The aim is to build a strategy to support early-stage startups and European projects' spin-offs, to increase the European water start-ups’ abilities to bring their technology faster to the market.

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The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.