SedNet

What SedNet does

SedNet (European Sediment Network) is a non-profit professional network organization founded in 2002 to incorporate sediment-related issues and knowledge into European strategies supporting good environmental status. It was originally established as a European Commission DG-Research funded Thematic Network under the 5th RTD Framework Programme (Contract EVK1-CT-2001-20002), running through 2004, and has since operated as an independent, self-supporting body. The secretariat is hosted by DSBP Consultants in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Vasteland 78, 3011BN), and governance is provided by a Steering Group with co-chairs (Ilka Carls and Henrich Röper, appointed 2025) and secretariat administrators (Nan Su and Chayenne van Dijk, since January 2022).

SedNet's core offerings are organized around a set of interconnected knowledge-sharing services rather than discrete software products. These include the SedNet website as a document and topic database, a quarterly e-newsletter covering policy and research updates, biennial international conferences (the 14th held in Madrid in October 2025; the 15th planned for Budapest in September–October 2027), and thematic working groups covering Sediments in a Circular Economy, Sediment Quality, Sediment Quantity, and Education–Science–Policy Interfacing. Supporting outputs include position and policy statements, a publications library (including 2006 Elsevier book series volumes, the SedNet Strategy Paper, and the booklet 'Contaminated Sediments in European River Basins'), training-course endorsements, and a video interview series profiling network members. The network holds NGO status at the Common Implementation Strategy of the Water Framework Directive and functions as the main contact point for European Commission DG Environment on sediment questions.

SedNet's commercial model is essentially community-led: membership and participation are free, with revenue derived from conference registration fees and event sponsorships. It reaches 500+ scientists and professionals from more than 20 nationalities across four primary persona segments — scientists and researchers, policy makers and administrators, industry and port managers, and consultants — and is formally partnered with a broad ecosystem of European bodies including CEDA, ECSA, ESPO, PIANC, EuroGeoSurveys, EurAqua, NORMAN, UNESCO ISI, and the international commissions for the Rhine, Elbe, Danube, and Oder river basins.

Name

SedNet

Legal name

SedNet

Website

https://sednet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SedNet is a European non-profit professional network founded in 2002 that brings together 500+ scientists, policy makers, port managers, and consultants to advance sustainable sediment management through biennial conferences, working groups, newsletters, and advisory input to the European Commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Conference fees and sponsorships: SedNet organizes international conferences that generate revenue through registration fees and sponsorships. The 14th conference took place in Madrid in October 2025, and the 15th is planned for Budapest in 2027.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SedNet is a European non-profit professional network that organizes sediment management knowledge exchange through biennial international conferences, thematic working groups, a publications library, a quarterly e-newsletter, and position/policy statements. It targets scientists, policy makers, port/waterway managers, and consultants working on sediment quality, sediment quantity, dredged material, and the Water Framework Directive. Membership and access to information are free; the network is sustained through conference registration fees and sponsorships.

Product overview

SedNet (European Sediment Network) is a professional knowledge-sharing and coordination network, not a traditional software product company. It operates several interconnected service offerings: the SedNet Website serves as the primary information hub and database; the SedNet E-Newsletter provides regular updates (approximately four issues annually); SedNet International Conferences convene annually to bring together sediment experts for knowledge exchange; and SedNet Working Groups (covering Sediments in Circular Economy, Sediment Quality, Sediment Quantity, and Education-Science-Policy Interfacing) drive thematic collaboration. Supporting offerings include the Library and Publications repository, Position and Policy Statements, Training Course support, and the SedNet Interview Series. SedNet is funded by member contributions and was originally established as an EC DG-Research funded project under the 5th RTD Framework Programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SedNet Website The primary online information platform of the European Sediment Network, serving as a comprehensive database for sediment-related topics and all SedNet documents, including conference materials, working group outcomes, newsletters, and publications.
• SedNet E-Newsletter An electronic newsletter service that keeps subscribers regularly updated on SedNet activities, sediment-related policy and management developments, European Commission news, events, and publications. The network aims to produce four newsletters annually.
• SedNet International Conferences Biennial international conferences that bring together sediment experts from science, management, industry, and consultancy to share knowledge, present research, and foster collaboration. Conferences include themed sessions, poster prize awards, workshops, and excursions.
• SedNet Working Groups Thematic working groups covering Sediments in Circular Economy, Sediment Quality, Sediment Quantity, and Education-Science-Policy Interfacing & Sediment Management Concepts. These groups hold regular meetings, produce white papers, and organize workshops and site visits.
• SedNet Library and Publications A repository of SedNet publications including policy briefs, articles, discussion papers, conference proceedings, and downloadable documents such as the SedNet Strategy Paper and the booklet 'Contaminated Sediments in European River Basins.'
• Position and Policy Statements Written position and policy statements on special sediment-related topics developed after internal consultation within the SedNet network, addressing matters such as Water Framework Directive integration and sediment management recommendations.
• Training and Education Support SedNet supports and cooperates with organizers of training and education courses that align with its vision on sediment management, functioning as a platform for communication and education about sediment management.
• SedNet Interview Series Video interview series spotlighting SedNet co-chairs, working group leaders, and notable members of the sediment community, discussing the network's mission, impact, and vision for sustainable sediment management.

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEDA (Central Dredging Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDA is an independent, non-profit, professional society providing a forum for all those involved in dredging-related activities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. CEDA is a member of WODA (World Organisation of Dredging Associations).
• Common ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommon Forum develops strategies for the management and treatment of contaminated sites and for land recycling with respect to sustainable resource protection. Holds regular meetings to discuss important and current issues in these fields.
• DGE (Dutch-German Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGE started as an informal bilateral platform between Germany and The Netherlands at administration level for exchange of knowledge on dredged material management. Since 2005 extended to DGE+ with UK, France, Belgium, and Denmark.
• ECSA (Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECSA is an international organisation dedicated to the study of all aspects of estuarine and coastal marine science and application of science for conservation and environmental management. Has supported nearly 50 conferences worldwide.
• ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESPO's mission is to influence public policy in the EU to achieve a safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable European port sector.
• EurAquacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurAqua is the European network of Freshwater Research Organisations aiming to contribute to the development of European freshwater science and its dissemination on a European scale.
• EuroGeoSurveyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuroGeoSurveys is an organisation of 32 European Geological Surveys providing the European Institutions with expert, neutral, balanced, and practical pan-European advice in geosciences.
• NORMANcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNORMAN is a network of reference laboratories, research centres, and organisations for monitoring and bio-monitoring of emerging environmental substances. Established in 2005 with EC support.
• PIANCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIANC is the world association for waterborne transport infrastructure, promoting maintenance and operation of both inland and maritime navigation. Founded in 1885, it is the oldest international association in this field.
• River Basin CommissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSedNet cooperates with International Commissions for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), the Elbe (IKSE), the Danube (ICPDR), and the Oder (MKOO) for transboundary river basin management.
• UNESCO ISI (International Sediment Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO ISI aims to add a new dimension to efforts aiming at sustainable sediment management at global scale, relating to the Water for Life Decade and Education for Sustainable Development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EurAqua: European network of freshwater research organizations. EurAqua overlaps with SedNet on river basin and freshwater sediment issues and is a formal SedNet partner, making it a directly comparable pan-European research network.
• CEDA (Central Dredging Association): Independent non-profit professional society for the dredging industry in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. CEDA is one of SedNet's closest partners and shares its convening role for sediment and dredging professionals, making it a directly comparable knowledge-network peer.
• UNESCO ISI (International Sediment Initiative): UNESCO initiative promoting sustainable sediment management globally. UNESCO ISI is a formal SedNet partner and shares the mission of advancing sediment management, making it the closest thematic peer at global scale.
• ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation): European port sector advocacy organization representing port authorities. ESPO overlaps with SedNet on port-related sediment and dredging issues and is a formal SedNet partner, making it a comparable membership-based convening body for the same customer base.
• Common Forum: European network developing strategies for contaminated sites management and land recycling. Common Forum is a formal SedNet partner with overlapping work on contaminated sediment management, making it a directly comparable network peer.
• EuroGeoSurveys: Organization of 32 European Geological Surveys providing geoscience expertise to EU institutions. EuroGeoSurveys intersects with SedNet on sediment characterization and is a formal SedNet partner, making it a comparable expert network.
• ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River): Trans-boundary Danube river basin commission that SedNet cooperates with. ICPDR shares SedNet's river basin sediment management focus, making it a directly comparable policy-coordination peer.
• NORMAN: Network of reference laboratories and research centers for monitoring emerging environmental substances. NORMAN is a formal SedNet partner with overlapping work on contaminated sediment assessment, making it a comparable European scientific network.
• ECSA (Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association): International organization supporting estuarine and coastal marine science and conservation. ECSA overlaps with SedNet on estuarine and coastal sediment science and is a formal partner, making it a closely aligned scientific network peer.
• PIANC: World association for waterborne transport infrastructure, founded in 1885. PIANC overlaps with SedNet on port maintenance, dredging, and inland/maritime navigation, and is a formal SedNet partner, making it a directly comparable international technical network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sednet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 SedNet