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As part of the event you can choose from one of seven study visits on offer in and around Rotterdam. You can check out each one below.
Themes: Water, energy transition.
The Rotterdam region is 6 meters below sea level. During this visit, you will learn more about the Dutch water system, the Dutch Water Authorities, and how Europe is involved within the work of Water Authority Schieland and the Krimpenerwaard.
Themes: Circular economy, SME Innovation.
BlueCity is a model city for the circular and blue economy and home to 55 entrepreneurs. BlueCity’s mission is to accelerate the transition from the linear to the circular economy through entrepreneurship. Based in a former swimming pool at the river Meuse, it is a meeting place for pioneers and enterprising minds, where they develop a framework for action, whether to grow their impact, live a zero waste life or develop a future-proof material.
At the Innovation Dock you will become acquainted with the history of the Rotterdam Dry Dock Company and RDM Rotterdam as an innovation location. You walk among the companies that develop in a historic location in the areas of robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, drones and IoT.
Themes: Climate adaptation and nature.
The climate is changing, which has a major impact on urban life. Rotterdam is facing a sea level rise, heavier downpours, and long periods of hot weather. The city isn't equipped yet for these circumstances, but Rotterdam works hard to become climate-proof. Within the LIFE program the city received European funding for the Urban Adapt project. In the river Meuse this had led to some great results.
Themes: Social innovation, social entrepreneurship.
The regional ERFD program “Opportunities for West” (Kansen voor West) made European subsidies available to a so-called Local Action Group (LAG), consisting of residents, entrepreneurs and representatives of social organizations. The LAG calls on initiators from the neighborhood to submit innovative proposals on themes such as health, safety, work, climate and energy transition. The same group then decides which proposals will or will not be honored. In other words, the district decides how and what the subsidy money is spent on.
Themes: Water management, climate change adaptation, community engagement.
Rainlevelr is a partnership between the Water Authority Delfland, the Municipality of Westland, Glastuinbouw Nederland and individual Greenhouse farmers. Together they contribute to keeping our feet dry in a region mostly below sea level, by making room in their rainwater basins before a heavy rainfall. During this study visit you will go to one of the participating Greenhouse farmers and the Delfland office, from where everything is controlled. You will get an explanation about the technology behind it all, the reliability of the system and how we get farmers to participate.
Themes: Water-related infrastructure, SME innovation.
AquaSmartXL is a Rotterdam based innovative startup. They digitalize water related infrastructure by using in house developed aquatic drones and robots. Besides inspection and surveillance services, they are able to deliver a digital twin with detected geo-referenced damages. The company (AquaSmart Engineering) is a technology partner in the Interreg North Sea project DIOL.
Themes: Climate-proof urban environment.
VPDelta is an innovation programme for a climate-proof environment. Part of their work are the Fieldlabs, where ideas can be tested and scaled up to advance the innovation procces. The Fieldlab Blijdorp Zoo is one of them, where entrepreneurship, research and education come together.
With more then 1,5 million visitors each year, Blijdorp offers an excellent opportunity to make the public more aware of the important functions of water. For example, experiments are being done with decentralized purification through swamp vegetation and with building blocks made from natural materials that both break waves and form a habitat for plants and animals.