Aquateam Cowi

Name

Aquateam Cowi

Legal name

Aquateam COWI AS

Website

https://aquateamcowi.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Research: Research projects financed by public funding sources, including government research councils and regulatory bodies. These projects form the core research activities focused on water and environmental challenges.
2. Commissioned Research (Oppdragsforskning): Contract research and development work funded by public and private sector clients, providing tailored research services to solve specific environmental and water treatment challenges for municipalities, industry, and government bodies.
3. COWIfonden Supported Independent Research: Independent applied research supported by COWIfonden (COWI Foundation), the parent company's foundation funding arm, enabling research autonomy and innovation beyond client-commissioned work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aquateam COWI is a non-profit applied research institute that performs publicly funded research, commissioned (contract) research and development, and independent research supported by COWIfonden, focused on sustainable solutions in water, wastewater, resource recovery, bioenergy and environmental assessment. Its integrated in-house GLP-accredited laboratory supports ecotoxicology testing, biodegradation analysis, membrane separation pilots (including SiC ceramic membranes), dissolved air flotation, and biogas process investigations, serving municipalities, regulatory authorities, industry and environmental technology vendors.

Product overview

Aquateam Cowi is a research institute for applied research in water and environmental sectors. It is a 100% owned subsidiary of COWI AS. The company operates as a single integrated research organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include applied research services, laboratory testing (ecotoxicology, microbiology, treatment method testing), pilot-scale testing facilities (membrane, flotation, biogas equipment), and technology qualification services. The company collaborates closely with authorities, industry, environmental technology suppliers, universities, and other research organizations to develop knowledge and methodology related to new environmental technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Applied Research Services Publicly funded research, commissioned contract research and development, and independent research supported by COWIfonden, focused on developing new and improved sustainable solutions for water management, wastewater treatment, resource recovery (biogas, phosphorus, fertilizers), bioenergy and environmental impact assessment. Targeted at municipalities, regulatory authorities, industrial clients and environmental technology vendors.
• Laboratory Testing Services GLP-accredited in-house laboratory services covering ecotoxicology testing (acute toxicity tests on algae, copepods, Daphnia magna, Microtox bacterial screening, nitrification tests), bioaccumulation and biodegradation testing, leaching tests on soil and sediment, pilot-scale membrane testing using a LabBrain SiC ceramic membrane unit with anti-fouling nanoparticle layer, dissolved air flotation (DAF-NIKUNI) pilot testing, and biogas potential assessment. Conducted within research projects rather than as standalone commercial testing.
• Technology Qualification Services Services acting as a link between fundamental research and end users, assisting industrial clients and environmental technology vendors in qualifying new products and processes, reducing time from development to validated product, and conducting Best Available Techniques (BAT) assessments within water and environmental technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• CFIC biofilm reactor reduces aeration energy to approximately 60% of MBBR process energy requirement
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquateam was originally established in 1984 as a spin-off from NIVA by four researchers. The organization maintains close collaborative relationships with NIVA and other research institutions, particularly in environmental technology and water research.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquateam COWI collaborates closely with NMBU and other Norwegian universities and colleges on joint research projects, researcher education (PhD supervision), and knowledge development related to new environmental technology.
• European Universities and Research InstitutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquateam COWI maintains close collaborative relationships with universities and research institutions across Europe and other regions of the world, participating in international research projects and researcher education.
• Environmental Technology VendorscoreTechnology or IntegrationAquateam COWI functions as a bridge between fundamental research from universities, colleges, and innovative technology vendors, and end users. The organization supports technology qualification and helps bring new products and processes to market.
• DOSCONminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLelum Duminda Manamperuma, a researcher at Aquateam COWI, previously worked at DOSCON for six years before joining Aquateam COWI in 2017. Prior employment relationship indicating industry expertise and potential collaborative networks.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DHI Group: Global water and environment consulting/research firm specializing in water treatment, marine environments, and aquatic ecosystem modeling. Operates pilot testing facilities and provides technology qualification services directly comparable to Aquateam COWI's offerings.
• Water Research Centre (WRc): UK-based water research and testing organization providing applied research, laboratory services, and technology evaluation to water utilities and regulators. Direct competitor in the technology qualification and applied water research space serving municipal clients.
• IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Swedish non-profit environmental research institute with similar mandate in applied environmental and water research, ecotoxicology, and circular economy solutions. Comparable funding structure (membership-based and project-funded) and Nordic regulatory environment make it a close analog.
• NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research): Norway's principal applied water research institute. Aquateam was originally founded in 1984 as a NIVA spin-off, and the two organizations continue to collaborate on water and environmental research. Both serve Norwegian municipalities and authorities with applied research and laboratory testing in closely overlapping domains.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest applied research institute with significant water and environmental research activities. Comparable as a Nordic non-profit applied research organization with public/commissioned funding mix, multidisciplinary PhD-level researchers, and pilot-scale testing infrastructure serving municipal and industrial clients.

Broad incumbents

• VITO: Belgian Flemish Institute for Technological Research with environmental technology and water research divisions. Comparable applied research mandate with pilot testing capabilities, though VITO operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• TNO: Dutch applied research organization with environmental and water technology activities. Similar non-profit applied research structure with public/commissioned funding mix; broader mandate includes energy, health, and built environment beyond water sector.
• Kiwa: Global testing, inspection and certification organization with significant water and environmental testing capabilities. Overlaps with Aquateam's laboratory testing services but operates as a much larger TIC incumbent rather than a specialized applied research institute.
• Rambøll Water: Major Nordic engineering consultancy with a dedicated water division offering applied research, environmental assessments, and water treatment consulting. Comparable Nordic presence and municipal/government client base, though operating as a broad engineering firm rather than a specialized research institute.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with environmental and water technology programs. Comparable as a publicly funded Nordic applied research institute but operates at much greater scale and across a broader portfolio beyond water/environment.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Aquateam-COWI-102644598073329

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aquateam Cowi