Report: Mapping of water tech research in Denmark – a gateway into world leading water tech research

In Denmark, water tech research is conducted at six different institutions, involving a total of 175 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) re-searchers. Most water tech researchers in Denmark are affiliated with three universities, namely Aalborg University (AAU), Aarhus University (AU), and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). There are a total of 17 research environments spread across the six institutions conducting water tech re-search.

The organisation of water tech research at the six institutions differs notably:

• Water tech research at Aalborg University (AAU) is carried out in five individual research groups across three departments. There is no joint organisation of water tech research at AAU.
• Since 2017, Aarhus University has organised water tech research around the interdisciplinary Cen-tre for Water Technology (WATEC). The four environments covered in this analysis represent four different departments – three in Aarhus and one located in Roskilde. Prior to the establishment of WATEC, water-related research at AU mostly focused on ecological issues in open water environ-ments.
• The Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has a long track record in water tech research. In 2023, three of the four research environments are part of DTU Sustain. Some sections in the overview have a broader scope than water tech research and focus on several issues related to climate adap-tation and the environment in general.
• At the University of Copenhagen, one research group at the Department of Plant and Environmen-tal Sciences is engaged in research activities within the scope of this analysis. Most water-related research areas at the university fall outside the scope of this analysis (e.g., surface water, percola-tion issues, nature-based solutions, etc.).
• The University of Southern Denmark does not host sections or research groups with water technol-ogy as the main domain. However, several researchers at the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Science are engaged in research projects within the water cycle. Water tech researchers at SDU are found in Odense and Sønderborg.
• VIA University College in Horsens operates four research programs. One is specialized in water technology.

Danish water tech research takes place in all parts of the water cycle. However, most research institutions are active in fields related to water supply and wastewater technologies. Here is a quick glimpse into some of the essential research areas within the two mentioned domains.

Water Supply

All six research institutions participating in the report are active in research areas related to water supply.

• Water Monitoring and Analysis
  • Research environments at AU, KU, and SDU specialise in technologies with the ability to detect and analyse unwanted substances in water, such as micro-pollutants and harmful chemicals.
• Water Purification:
  • AU, DTU, and VIA hold strong research competencies in water purification technologies, including areas such as chemical and biological treatment of water.
• Water Distribution Systems
  • AAU, DTU and VIA host world-leading research environments specialised in various aspects of water management and the design of water distribution systems, including areas such as advanced digital water systems (smart water), monitoring and control system analysis, practice-oriented research on how water resources and the composition of the distribution system interact with optimal utility design.

Wastewater

Scientific strongholds in water treatment technologies are found at AAU, DTU, AU, and SDU.

• Wastewater treatment technologies
  • A large group of researchers at AAU conducts fundamental research on microorganisms in engineered ecosystems.
  • DTU Sustain has a research group that carries out leading research within new materials for membranes, as well as the use of enzymes to increase the effectiveness of membranes.
  • At AU, the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering focuses on chemical and biological treatment of water, including microbial technologies and chemical approaches.
  • A relatively high share of SDU’s water tech research is focused on water treatment technologies, including the development of advanced materials and processes for water purification, waste reduction, reuse of wastewater, and conversion of waste.
• Sewage systems and treatment plants
  • AAU is world-leading within wastewater process engineering. The Urban Pollution group is specialised in the design and operation of sewer systems and technologies for predicting maintenance, asset life, and solutions to odor and corrosion.
  • DTU has a strong track record in research into the design and modelling of sewage systems.
  • SDU houses a few researchers with broad knowledge on the design and modelling of wastewater systems. Key themes include models for material flows in urban environments and the design of resilient and sustainable urban wastewater systems.
• Water resource recovery and GHG-emission reduction
• • AAU is world-leading in the field of microbial ecology of wastewater treatment and re-source recovery systems. Research focuses on ways to recover valuable substances that bacteria produce in the sludge at wastewater treatment plants.
  • At AU, research in resource extraction from wastewater focuses on new technologies that enable the recovery and valorisation of extracellular polymeric substances from microbial biomasses.
  • A research group at DTU has a strong focus on modelling GHG emissions, which, together with the data collected from sensor-based measurement systems, can be used to quantify the effectiveness of mitigation measures used at the level of wastewater treatment plants.

The important role of water technology

The report emphasizes the critical role of water technology in addressing societal challenges such as polluted water resources, climate change, and the green transition. At the same time, water is increasingly playing a key role in industries such as food, health, and energy, as well as in the operation of future PtX energy plants.

Global leading position

Denmark globally holds a leading position in water technology research with the highest annual number of publications per million inhabitants. However, the report highlights that this leading position is challenged, considering increased water technology research in Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Fragmentation and vulnerability

The report identifies the risk of losing ground to competitors unless efforts are made to unite, prioritize, and support Danish water technology research.

Necessary action

The report identifies improvement potentials in five key areas that can strengthen the conditions for water technology research in Denmark. This includes the need for a long-term national strategy, increased emphasis on strategic research, strengthened incentives for research institutions, supportive regulations for utility companies, and the development of a strong talent base.

The Grundfos Foundation, IRIS Group, and Water Valley Denmark.

Jesper Borg
Head of Research and Education, Water Valley Denmark
jbc@watervalleydenmark.com