This year, Drenthe is with a company in the Chamber of Commerce Innovation Top 100. Watter from Assen is the only representative from our province on the list. An election determines which company from the list of 100 will soon be able to call itself the most innovative in the Netherlands.
At Watter they are delighted with their place in the top 100. “We are in the list for the fourth year in a row,” says Wattter director Alfred Koop. “That shows that we are doing well. Maybe only makes us the most innovative company in the Netherlands,” he adds with a wink.
Watter develops machines and technologies that make disinfectants on location. Companies that use Watter products are active in sectors such as health care and various forms of animal farming.
“With our technology, the user on location water and salt is converted into a powerful, biodegradable disinfectant. As a result, the user always has exactly enough effective means, without transport, storage and waste from packaged, chemical agents,” explains Koop.
Although Wattter has been nominated for four years in a row, that does not mean that the company is carrying out the same trick every year, Koop assures. “Every year we have to prove that we will continue to innovate. This year we will participate in an application that is just different than in previous years.”
This time Watter, together with a company from Bedum, developed a specific application that helps dairy farmers to lower the risk of mastitis (inflammation of the udder tissue, ed.) Via automatic and continuous disinfection of milking robots.
In comparison with Groningen, Drenthe scores relatively lean on the list. The Noorderburen are on the list with six companies, five of which are located in the city of Groningen.
Despite the words of Broekhuizen, Koop thinks it is a pity that his company is the only Drentse nominated. “There are so many beautiful and innovative companies in Drenthe, we are not the only one,” he says. “I think it’s a missed opportunity to reward others.”
Until October 21, the public can vote for the nominated companies. There are prizes in eleven individual categories, ranging from care and sustainability to education and technology. The award ceremony is then on November 14.