From Exploration to Action in the Water Transition

Initial Exploration: Much Fragmentation, Little Common Overview 

Invest-NL, together with ministries, water boards, knowledge institutions, and other stakeholders, explored how the water transition can be financed and what role public and private capital can play in this process.  

The exploration shows that data, investment information, and responsibilities within the water chain are organised in a fragmented manner and are often not easily comparable or centrally available. Public entities historically work from their own roles and funding flows. As a result, opportunities for scaling up and acceleration remain, and there is no shared view of the overall investment challenge.  

Laying the foundation for a national investment agenda 

To concretely quantify the investment challenge, clear preconditions are needed: a nationally supported mandate primarily from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, a joint qualitative analysis of the water chain with the sector, and better insight into available data and investment information from investors. Public-private collaboration and a shared agenda are essential for this.  

“The water transition requires much more joint insight and cooperation,” says Rik Pantjes, team lead for agrifood within market development at Invest-NL. “We see that the need for a joint investment agenda is great, but to organise this properly, public and private parties first need to develop more shared insight.”  

In such an investment agenda, various scenarios can clarify which investments are needed and with what capital. Such an agenda must be supported and developed primarily by public parties, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.  

Building Together Towards a Future-Proof Water System 

With this exploration, Invest-NL takes the next step in addressing the financing of the water transition. Earlier, in 2024, Invest-NL already outlined its vision on water and the necessity for new financing models and public-private partnerships. Also, in 2026, Invest-NL invested € 10 million in PureTerra Ventures, a fund focused on innovative water technologies. 

Invest-NL contributes to a future-proof water system by making investments in water innovation and water reuse more feasible. This broad exploration represents a first step to gain better insight into the investment challenge and the collaboration required to address it. 

Seeking Collaboration 

Invest-NL is proactive and working towards the next step of achieving a 20% reduction in drinking water use in industry. The initial focus is on the food and beverage sector, where both the urgency and the potential savings are significant. For this, Invest-NL is actively seeking collaboration with parties that can contribute from various roles: companies in the food and drinks supply chain, financial institutions, technology companies developing and implementing solutions, and ministries, water boards, and other public water organisations. 

By connecting these parties early, better insights are gained into the financial challenge and the solutions needed to accelerate the water transition. Interested in collaborating or contributing? Please contact Rik.