Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW)

Name

Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW)

Legal name

Stichting Centre of Expertise Water Technology

Website

https://cew.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Technology Research Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stack/Source Emissions Testing & CEMS Support (EUAHACAB)

Keywords

• Applied water research
• Water technology innovation
• Wastewater treatment testing
• Industrial water consultancy
• Water chain research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeuwarden, Friesland

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Applied Research Projects (1-op-1): CEW conducts commissioned applied research projects for individual companies, validating technologies or developing solutions. Students and knowledge workers carry out the research under expert supervision.
2. Annual Subscription Model: CEW offers a recurring subscription for companies that regularly have questions about water technology topics, want to be involved in water technology innovations, seek financial support (subsidy) for water technology projects, or wish to participate in cross-sectoral research themes.
3. Consortium Research: CEW participates in and manages larger multi-partner research projects, often with external funding from programs such as SPRONG, TKI, EFRO, and other European funding mechanisms.
4. Educational Collaboration: CEW collaborates with educational institutions (NHL Stenden Hogeschool, Van Hall Larenstein) to improve curricula and provide student internships. Revenue is indirect, through funded research and subsidy programs tied to educational mandates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEW is an applied research and learning center that conducts commissioned water technology research for industrial companies, water authorities, and governments. It offers subscription-based engagement, one-on-one applied research projects, and consortium facilitation, delivered alongside HBO students from partner universities and supported by physical testing infrastructure including the Water Application Centre (WAC) and the plug-and-play RWZI wastewater demosite in Leeuwarden.

Product overview

CEW (Centre of Expertise Water Technology) is an applied research center that does not operate a unified SaaS platform but rather offers a portfolio of research services, facilities, and programs. Core offerings include the Waterapplicatiecentrum (WAC) with laboratories and research halls for water technology experiments, and the RWZI-demosite in Leeuwarden providing plug-and-play access to wastewater streams for technology testing. Commercial offerings consist of subscription services (Abonnement), custom 1-op-1 research projects, and consortium facilitation for collaborative innovation. CEW also runs themed research programs including REGAIN (pharmaceutical residue removal and industrial water reuse), Chemie-Arm Koelen (low-chemistry cooling technologies), SNuK (nutrient cycle closing), Legionella knowledge platform, and the Cross-sectoraal Innovatie Programma Watertechnologie (CIP). These are delivered through partnerships with universities, companies, and government bodies, primarily serving as an intermediary connecting education with market needs through internships and applied research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEW Subscription (Abonnement) Annual subscription service for companies with regular water technology questions, providing access to experts, involvement in water technology innovations, subsidy support for projects, and participation in cross-sectoral research themes such as biofilm, nutrients, and PFAS.
• 1-op-1 Applied Research Project Custom commissioned research project in which CEW works with students and knowledge workers to validate a client's technology or product through applied research, including prototype development or pilot setup, to accelerate innovation and shorten time to market.
• Consortium Services Coordination and facilitation of larger multi-partner research projects, including consortium construction, identification of external funding sources (SPRONG, TKI, EFRO, European programs), and acting as lead applicant (penvoerder).
• Water Application Centre (WAC) Facility Access Access to a fully equipped research facility for water technology research and experiments, including a large research hall for test setups and laboratories for chemical and (micro)biological analyses, with availability of groundwater, household wastewater, and surface water streams.
• RWZI Demosite Leeuwarden Demonstration site at a wastewater treatment plant in Leeuwarden offering businesses, research institutions, and water authorities plug-and-play access to all existing wastewater process streams with 24/7 availability and pre-arranged permits, enabling testing to begin within 24 hours of a research plan being approved. Space for at least five large 40 ft containers.
• Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs) Methodology Guidelines developed by CEW for setting up and sustainably maintaining Water-Oriented Living Labs in different contexts. WOLLs are realistic environments designed to test water-related solutions with multiple stakeholders using a cross-sectoral approach.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 mbo/hbo students deployed over 3 years on REGAIN project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• REGAIN consortium (Waterschap Noorderzijlvest, North Water, WLN, CEW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Four parties in Noord-Nederland collaborated for three years in the REGAIN project to remove pharmaceutical residues from treated municipal wastewater and create a source for industrial water. Total investment of €3.5 million. Successfully demonstrated that treated effluent can meet European 2045 pharmaceutical residue standards.
• Medicijnresten uit Water Noord-Nederland consortiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Broad consortium of SMEs, knowledge institutions, healthcare institutions, and governments in Noord-Nederland working for three years on reducing pharmaceutical residues in water. Total project budget €2.34 million, with €1.17M from SNN/EFRO. Targets include structural connection between water, pharma, and healthcare sectors, measurable reduction in pharmaceutical use through conscious prescribing, and 75 new jobs.
• WetsuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEW is part of WaterCampus Leeuwarden, alongside Wetsus and Water Alliance. Wetsus is a European centre of excellence for water technology research and the largest water technology research institute in the Netherlands. The WaterCampus ecosystem sustainably connects 380 companies and 60 knowledge institutions from across Europe.
• Water AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater Alliance is part of WaterCampus Leeuwarden and is a key innovation ecosystem partner for CEW. CEW and Water Alliance collaborate on industry projects and joint events. Water Alliance also serves as work package leader in the medicijnresten reduction project.
• Legionella in afvalwater consortium (Diamidex, GETEC Emmen, Hydroscope, Hydrobusiness, IDEXX, Normec-Kalsbeek, Innosieve, QIAGEN, rqmicro, UVOX, Waterstromen, CEW, VITO, Sitech Services, KWR, Liquisens)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational project involving knowledge institutions, technology suppliers, consultants, and wastewater companies to improve Legionella control in wastewater treatment plants. Tests existing Legionella detection methods (comparing against ISO 11731 standard culture method) and develops control measures for Legionella pneumophila in wastewater.
• Groene Transitie consortium (CIV Water, WVLO, Bakery Sweets Center, Greenpac + educational institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium addressing the green transition in Water, Chemistry, and Food sectors in Noord-Nederland, tackling water shortages, plastic pollution, and food waste. Focuses on training new people (youth, career changers) for green transition roles. Funded by the Nationaal Groeifonds (National Growth Fund).
• Programma Sluiten Nutriëntenkringlopen (SNuK) consortium (16 partners including Wetterskip Fryslân, municipalities, provinces, Wetsus, Van Hall Larenstein, Bioclear Earth, NHL Stenden, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram addressing circular nutrient management in agriculture and food systems, aiming to close the loop for human excreta and prevent nutrient loss. CEW investigates locally available biomass streams with potential to supplement nutrient deficiencies such as cow manure, roadside grass cuttings, and food waste.
• Cross-sectoraal Innovatie Programma Watertechnologie (CIP) partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant initiative to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Noord-Nederland. The program consists of five work packages: coordination and monitoring, strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration, entrepreneurship, human resource development, and interregionalisation. For companies, research institutions, and stakeholders involved in water technology and innovation.
• KWR (TKI Watertechnologie programma)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEW and KWR jointly manage the Chemie-Arm Koelen (C.A.K.) project, developing test protocols for new chemistry-reduced cooling water treatment technologies. Project falls under CEW and the KWR TKI Watertechnologie program, with TKI surcharges available for project members.
• NHL Stenden Hogeschool and Van Hall LarensteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEW collaborates with these HBO institutions to conduct applied research together with students, lecturers, researchers, and lectoren (professors of practice). CEW works with these institutions to improve curricula around water technology and to provide real-world student learning experiences.
• RijkswaterstaatminorOthersRijkswaterstaat is responsible for implementing the new EU Urban Wastewater Treatment directive in the Netherlands by 2028. CEW positions itself as a resource for companies needing guidance on compliance with this new regulation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Water Alliance: Dutch water technology industry network and WaterCampus partner, working package leader on the medicijnresten consortium with CEW. Comparable as ecosystem/network enabler rather than a direct research competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Wageningen University & Research: Major Dutch research university and institute with substantial water, nutrient-cycle, and agricultural sustainability research overlapping with CEW's SNuK and farm-emissions work. Broad incumbent across the food-water-environment nexus.
• Arcadis: Global design, engineering, and consultancy firm with a sizeable water and climate adaptation practice serving utilities and industrial clients. Broad incumbent whose water practice overlaps with CEW's industrial and water-board engagements.
• Royal HaskoningDHV: Global engineering and project management consultancy with a strong water technology and water infrastructure practice. Broad incumbent that overlaps with CEW on industrial water, water reuse, and wastewater projects but operates globally and across many sectors.

Direct peers

• Witteveen+Bos: Dutch engineering and consultancy firm with deep water technology and water infrastructure practice. Comparable as a Dutch-headquartered consulting engineering firm serving water boards, municipalities, and industrial clients on water-chain challenges.
• KWR Water Research Institute: Dutch research institute focused on the water cycle, co-managing TKI Watertechnologie and joint partner with CEW on the Chemie-Arm Koelen project. Directly comparable as a Dutch applied water research organization serving utilities and industry.
• Nelen & Schuurmans: Dutch consultancy specialized in water management software, data, and modeling for water boards and municipalities. Comparable to CEW in serving Dutch water authorities with applied, technology-driven water solutions.
• Deltares: Dutch applied research institute specializing in water, subsurface, and infrastructure. Directly comparable as a Netherlands-based applied research center serving public-sector water clients with technical expertise and pilot infrastructure.
• Wetsus: European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology and the largest water technology research institute in the Netherlands. Co-located with CEW on WaterCampus Leeuwarden and shares the 380-company, 60-institution European ecosystem; overlapping applied-research mandate for industrial water challenges.
• VITO: Flemish strategic applied research organization active across water, energy, and sustainability, partnering with CEW on the Legionella in afvalwater consortium. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary European applied research center with industrial water technology projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-of-expertise-water-technology-cew-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW)