WaterCampus Leeuwarden expands global network by participation in UN cities programme
Dutch city Leeuwarden is recognized as 'innovative city' in the UN Global Compact Cities Programme. This was officially announced by UN representative Helen Scott at the WaterCampus Leeuwarden on 17 December.
The unique structure of the WaterCampus with its close cooperation between water technology companies, knowledge centres and governments, will be the hearth of Leeuwarden's participation.
Programme representative Helen Scott talked about the surprising results when cities involve businesses and local communities in their projects.
Unique collaboration in water technology
On the occasion, representative Helen Scott of the UNGCP emphasized the importance of the involvement of WaterCampus Leeuwarden for the global cities programme. “WaterCampus Leeuwarden is a successful example of collaboration between business, governance and civil society. This is exactly what our programme aims to stimulate. Leeuwarden can share its experiences and further develop its unique collaboration in the field of water technology with the other participating cities.”
Under worldwide UNGCP-umbrella
Water Alliance is one of the organisations based at WaterCampus Leeuwarden, and announced to formalize its contacts with the Global Water Centre in Milwaukee, USA.
Both organisations support water technology firms to develop new water technologies and new markets.
Director Hein Molenkamp of Water Alliance announced the collaboration with the Global Water Centre in Milwaukee, USA.
Director Hein Molenkamp of Water Alliance: "Our organisations have been in contact for several years. As Milwaukee and Leeuwarden are now both recognized as innovating cities, we want to use the framework of the UN programme to intensive our cooperation on water technology."
Director Dean Amhaus of the Global Water Centre invited Dutch water technology firms to come to Milwaukee. "I'm very impressed by the demonstration sites that have been set up by the WaterCampus Leeuwarden. I invite Dutch firms to come to our centre and test their new water treatment technologies under US circumstances as well."
About UN Global Compact Cities Programme
The UN Global Compact Cities Programme (UNGCP) is based on the recognition by the participating cities of ten principles, including human rights, labor rights and environmental responsibility. The programme provides a framework for translating these principles into day-to-day urban governance and management.
At the moment 92 cities from all over the world participate, of which 10 are recognized as 'innovative' cities. Together with Milwaukee, USA, Leeuwarden is the only city in the programme that focuses on water technology.
About WaterCampus Leeuwarden
WaterCampus Leeuwarden is a location where institutes work together on education, research and business development in the field of water technology. The main innovation driver is the science research centre Wetsus that runs an industry driven agenda with company and university participants from all over the EU. Another important actor is the Water Alliance, a cluster organization bringing together the most innovative water technology SMEs from all over the Netherlands.
On education the campus offers a whole range of degrees, from vocational education and training (CIV-Water), universities of applied sciences (CEW), university (Wetsus Master Track), as well as PhDs.
Technology development is enhanced by demo sites. Any water technology that has been tested successfully in a lab can be tested on larger scale in one of the 5 demo sites.
More information
WaterCampus Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
www.watercampus.nl
Water Alliance (general & business)
+31 58 284 90 44
www.wateralliance.nl
Wetsus (scientific research & education)
+31 58284 3000
www.wetsus.nl
Centre of Expertise Water Technology (applied research & education)
+31 58 210 09 19
www.cew-leeuwarden.nl
UN Global Compact Cities programme
c/o Global Cites Institute, RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
+61 3 9925 3407
http://citiesprogramme.com