The world is urbanizing at a tremendous rate. Cities increasingly face challenges of sustainability and quality of life, challenges that put our resources, food security, mobility and logistics, water and waste management, health and wellbeing at risk. Cities need metropolitan solutions, made possible by revolutions in new technologies, research and design methods. No stakeholder can do this alone; finding metropolitan solutions requires collaboration between knowledge institutes, companies, cities and citizens. Within this ambition, we committed to two new collaboration agreements.
Next steps in collaboration with Witteveen+Bos
On Friday, November 1st, we signed a collaboration agreement with Witteveen+Bos Consulting Engineers to jointly develop an R&D agenda around specific metropolitan challenges. Witteveen+Bos will also actively contribute to Living Labs and the educational program of the master MADE – the joint degree Master Metropolitan Analysis Design and Engineering – that takes place at AMS Institute and revolves around AMS Institute’s research topics.
There are many other opportunities to jointly explore. For instance, entrepreneurship, how to unlock talent, co-develop professional education that targets professionals such as engineers, architects and policymakers, and enhance value propositions on the topic of urban data.
“The drive to be actively connected to knowledge and education is part of the DNA at Witteveen+Bos. Therefore, we are keen to work closely together with knowledge institutes such as AMS Institute.”
Stephan van der Biezen | Director at Witteveen+Bos
Last year Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen, Chief Technology Officer Renewable Energy, Water and Resources at Witteveen+Bos, was appointed the first Industry based Principal Investigator at AMS Institute. With this appointment, he contributes to applied research and the development of innovative concepts for functional solutions in the topic of urban circular solutions for the city of Amsterdam and cities worldwide. This past year, in his role as Industry-based PI, Arjen has contributed to many keynotes, educational activities, new research proposals and publications. A special mention goes to the two MADE graduation trajectories that he supervised:
“Talent development is one the four main company goals of Witteveen+Bos. Our active contributions to and close liaison with the education program of the MSc MADE, has resulted in the first MADE graduate to join Witteveen+Bos. A fact that we are proud of. At Witteveen+Bos MADE graduate Marijke Rommelse incorporates the integrated sustainable design principle Participation in Design she developed in her studies.”
Arjen van Nieuwenhuijzen
AMS Industry PI
Collaboration with Waternet confirmed during Amsterdam International Water Week
The AIWW Conference focuses thematically on the latest solutions and strategies, connecting city, industry and utility actors and in particular on topics such as integrated water management, circular economy, digital technologies, and blue-green solutions for city resilience. All topics in line with our activities, which made the Conference a great stage and momentum to reconfirm and further develop our collaboration with Waternet.
To highlight the importance of collaboration, at the event a ‘Amsterdam Agreements’ session is organized to support new and existing partnerships and the scaling up of new solutions to accelerate the transition to a resilient and circular water cycle. During this session the collaboration agreement was confirmed.
Waternet is engaged in resolving today’s complex challenges by working on improving the human environment for everyone, today and for future generations. Together with its partners, Waternet contributes to social, ecological and economic progress in the fields of water management, infrastructure, environment and construction.
“Transitioning to a circular water cycle requires collaboration between all actors involved to truly develop integrated solutions. Reinforcing our collaboration and activities bring Waternet and AMS Institute a step closer in our joint mission to contribute to this complex challenge.”
Current collaborations with Waternet are on Roboat, where Waternet and AMS Institute are jointly developing a sensor that allows for continuous water quality management, and the WASCOM project where we are researching how we can convert waste water into bio composite materials.
We are now expanding the collaboration with a more focused effort to create synergies on the topics of Urban Water infrastructure, Resource recovery, Energy transition and Smart Urban Mobility. Educating new generations is an important topic for Waternet, therefore Waternet will yearly contribute with two Living Lab cases to the MADE program.
In addition to this, we will explore how we can further develop a partnership community to enhance the collaboration between all actors involved to jointy work on the integrated topic of a resilient and circular water cycle.
