Discover Opportunities in the Portuguese Water Sector
Portugal is known for its rapid adoption of new water technologies and offers ample possibilities to test innovations in real-life settings. The Portuguese water network is accessible, collaboration-oriented and open to international partnerships. This creates strong opportunities for innovative Dutch companies in the start-up and scale-up phase.
During this one-day mission, we bring together a select group of Dutch companies with leading Portuguese utilities, innovators and knowledge institutions. Together, we will explore current challenges, digital transformation, and opportunities for collaboration across the water value chain.
Why participate?
- Collaborate with Portuguese frontrunners
- In-depth content and practical insights
- A network that opens doors
- Last year, this was our highest-rated mission of 2024
What to expect?
- Keynotes on the EU Water Resilience Strategy and data-driven innovation
- Breakout sessions on drinking water and wastewater, with Portuguese experts
- Site visits to the Wat(t)er FabLab, the Integrated Command and Operations Room and the Frexio Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
- Pitches by all participating companies
- Plenty of networking opportunities
Practical information
Location: Porto, Portugal
Date: 12 December
Time: 09:30 – 21:30 (including networking reception and dinner)
Costs: €150 for Dutch participants. This includes lunch, dinner and local transport. Travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense. We are currently working to arrange a central hotel where you can book at a discounted rate. Participants will be informed as soon as more details are available.
Additional Dutch networking dinner: If you arrive on 11 December as a Dutch organisation, you are welcome to join a shared dinner with the other Dutch companies that evening. This is included in the participation fee.
Programme – click to expand
09:30 Reception and welcome
The Water Tech Mission 2025 starts at the Águas e Energia do Porto Campus with a warm welcome. Enjoy coffee and tea, a welcome address by Rúben Fernandes (Executive Board Member, Águas e Energia do Porto) and a one-minute introduction round. During this introduction, each participating organisation briefly presents themselves, their background, expertise and goals for this mission.
10:45 Keynote – EU Water Resilience Strategy on Water: deployment of an EU-wide Action Plan on Digitalisation
By Steven van Rossum, Programme Manager, Valuing Blue BV – WTEX10
11:15 Keynote – Turning Data into Decisions
By Carlos Vaz, Board Member & CCO, Byme; Programme Director, Porto Business School; Partner & Head of Ecosystems, The Loop
11:45 Short break
With coffee and tea
12:00 Breakout sessions
The group is divided into two sessions. Each session starts with two ten-minute presentations, followed by open discussions where participants and speakers build on practical themes and challenges.
Room 1: Drinking Water
Harnessing AI and Machine Learning for Optimal Water Network Efficiency: Non-Revenue Water Management Programme
(Flávio Oliveira, Head of Water Supply, Águas e Energia do Porto)
AI in AdDP’s Cybersecurity: ActiveAI Security
(Carlos Fernandes, CIO and CISO, Águas do Douro e Paiva)
Room 2: Wastewater
AI-Driven Urban Drainage: Porto Water Resilience in Action
(José Almeida, Head of Urban Drainage, Águas e Energia do Porto)
Optimising Asset Decisions Through Multicriteria Evaluation
(Teresa Bastos, Head of Unit of Asset Management, Águas e Energia do Porto)
13:15 Networking lunch
We enjoy an informal lunch with sandwiches and finger foods. The perfect setting to continue the conversation.
14:30 Site visits
Visit to the Wat(t)er FabLab, the Integrated Command and Operations Room, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
15:15 Elevator Pitches by Water Alliance members
The elevator pitches offer the perfect moment to showcase your technology or approach and establish valuable new connections.
16:00 Inspiration sessions
Towards Smarter and Greener Wastewater Utilities: Embracing the New EU Directive
(Rúben Fernandes, Executive Board Member, Águas e Energia do Porto)
Digital Transformation at Águas de Gaia
(Águas de Gaia)
17:00 Tour and reception with drinks at the Port Wine Cellars in Gaia
20:00 Farewell dinner
Partner organisations
Thanks to our close collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, and with support from the WTEX10 programme and several Portuguese organisations, we have developed this strong and valuable programme. Our Portuguese partners include:
- Águas e Energia do Porto The municipal company responsible for water and energy services in Porto, host of the mission and technical visits.
- Portuguese Water Partnership A network organisation collaborating with public and private partners across the Portuguese water sector.
- Dutch Embassy in Portugal Supports trade relations and bilateral cooperation between the Netherlands and Portugal.
Participation Form – Water Tech Mission Porto 2025
Organiser of this event
- Agnes Dirksen
- +31 (0)623600393
- Manager Marketing & Communications
- a.dirksen@wateralliance.nl
