Aarhus makes a splash as Europes new HQ for water innovation
EIT Water selects Denmark to lead Europe’s next 15 years of water technology development.
When Europe goes looking for answers to its biggest water and climate challenges, it will now turn to Aarhus. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology has appointed the city as the headquarters of EIT Water, a major new innovation network that will shape the continent’s water, climate and marine ecosystem solutions for the next decade and beyond.
A 140-partner powerhouse chooses Denmark
EIT Water is built on the Allwaters consortium, led by Aarhus University with support from the Poul Due Jensen Foundation. With 140 partners from 30 countries, the consortium brings together companies, universities and public organisations in one of the most ambitious water innovation alliances Europe has seen.
Winning the EU competition to host EIT Water puts Denmark right at the centre of Europe’s water innovation agenda. And it underscores a trait global investor increasingly value: Denmark’s ability to turn collaboration into competitive advantage.
Innovation, entrepreneurship and talent… at scale
EIT Water will activate a full ecosystem spanning research, education, startups and corporates. Over its 15-year mandate, the platform is expected to deploy several hundred million euros into:
- Next-generation clean water technologies
- Climate adaptation solutions
- Sustainable resource and ecosystem management
- Talent development and entrepreneurial acceleration across Europe
In other words, the water innovation pipeline will now have a distinctly Danish accent.
Why Aarhus? The place where global water challenges meet Danish know-how
Denmark’s water sector is internationally recognised for low-cost, low-loss, low-carbon operations. It is also home to global flagships like Grundfos, Danfoss, Kamstrup and a fast-growing cluster of digital water innovators. Add strong public frameworks, a collaborative research culture and a national ambition to lead the green transition, and you get a testbed that companies love for commercialising new technologies.
Aarhus in particular brings together:
- Vandets Hus – now the EIT Water HQ
- Water Valley Denmark – a fast-emerging innovation district
- Universities and utilities at the forefront of digital water, wastewater recovery and energy-positive treatment
- A talent pool trained in one of the world’s most data-driven public water systems
It is a combination that helps global companies accelerate R&D, pilot real-world solutions and scale them across Europe.
A Nordic Co-Location Centre to anchor regional collaboration
Alongside the headquarters, Aarhus will also host the Nordic Co-Location Centre, connecting partners in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. With additional centres in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain and the UK, companies entering the network gain a true European launchpad.
For investors, that means easier partnership access, stronger market pathways and a plug-and-play network across key EU ecosystems.