The Chinese market for Water Technologies is estimated to become the World’s largest Market for Water Technology by 2025, if not already having this position. The growth rate during 2016-2020 was estimated to be 28%, implying substantial public and private investments of a substantial scale. The Chinese market for Water Technologies is estimated to be among the largest in the World, estimated at $100 bio in 2016, and with an expected growth rate 2016-2020 to be 28% (Global Water Intelligence, 2017). Both public and private investments are of a substantial scale. The public investments are directly related to Government regulatory initiatives and adjoined investment programs.
CEWP has during the recent years organized a series of Business and Innovation Program Events, particularly aiming to help European Companies in getting access to the significant Chinese Market for Water Technologies. The Business and Innovation Program has provided insights on current and, in particular, future market requirements for water tech solutions, taking into account key game changers – upcoming regulatory changes, circular economy and digitalization
This CEWP PI Lot 5 Final Business Program Report presents the results of the events and webinars and a number of background analysis documents prepared by the Program.
You can download the CEWP Business Program Overview Report [here].
The report draws up the main conclusions of the EUCCC Position Paper 2021/2022 and key findings and recommendations of the EU SME Centre, IPR Centre, especially with regard to addressing market barriers and securing intellectual property rights.
Further, you can download the CEWP Business Program “Technology Cases and Company Presentations” Report [here].
This separate report presents case stories and lists of company presentations. During events and webinars, with a total number of 25 during 2018-2022 and 173 presentations have showcased the Best Available Technologies for a number of water challenges in the industrial, urban and rural water segments in China and Europe. About 1.750 water experts from governments, research and business have attended the events and webinars, and contributed to the discussions and also networked and made new contacts during 2018 and 2019, until this was hampered by the pandemic.
List of events and webinars:
- May 3rd-5th, 2018, IE Expo, Shanghai, China
- June 27th-28th, 2018, CWEC Expo, Shanghai, China
- November 7th, 2018, side-event at HLM, Beijing, China
- December 4th, 2018, SLUSH, Helsinki, Finland
- April 12th-13th, 2019, Qingdao, China
- April 14th, 2019, IE Expo, Shanghai, China
- November 5th-6th, Aquatech, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- November 8th, 2019, side-event at HLM, Guimaraes, Portugal
- November 7th-8th, 2019, Business Expo, Guimaraes, Portugal
- November 11th-12th, EUPIC Twin Fair, Chengdu, China
- November 13th-14th, EUPIC Twin Fair, Qingdao, China
- March 16th, 2021, webinar
- March 30th, 2021, webinar
- April 29th, 2021, webinar
- May 18th, 2021, webinar
- June 2nd-4th, 2021, Aquatech, Shanghai, China
- June 9th, 2021, MWR Expo, Wuhan, China
- November 2nd-4th, 2021, Aquatech, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- March 29th, webinar
- April 19th, webinar
- May 24th, webinar
- September 13th, Side event IWA World Congress, seminar and webinar
- November 3rd, MWR Water Security Business Program, webinar
- December 12th, webinar
- December, 15th, Asia-Pacific Smart Water Utilities Summit, Singapore
Below you can also find summaries of the thematic focuses – Industrial Water in 2018-2019, Urban Water in 2020-2021, and Rural Water in 2021 – as well as link to main events and background reports.
Industrial Water – Priority Market Segment 2018-2019
In 2018-2019, CEWP hosted four Business and Innovation Program Events and prepared/identified a number of background documents /1-5/ on industrial water use with the aim of helping European Companies in getting access to the significant Chinese Market for Industrial Water Technologies and of facilitating establishment of innovation-oriented relation-building between Chinese and European experts.
Report with conclusions and main findings from events about Industrial Water (2019): HERE
Specific Market Report about China Industrial Wastewater Policy Overview and Opportunities for EU SMEs in Qingdao & Chengdu Area, this report was elaborated for CEWP by the EU SME Centre in 2019: HERE
Urban Water – Priority Market Segment 2020-2021
During 2021, the CEWP Business Program organized a series of webinars focusing on Urban Water Management.
The program was launched at side-events @Aquatech Amsterdam on November 5th-6th, 2019. Due to the Pandemic, follow-up events were not held until 2021. You can learn more about the launch events here.
You can find PPTs and reports from each of the webinars here.
Also, two physical events were held in Shanghai on June 3rd, 2021, and Wuhan on June 9th, 2021, respectively. You can find more info here.
A Summary Report from the webinar series and the physical events in Shanghai and Wuhan can be found here.
The Urban Water Webinar Series organized by the CEWP Business Program during 1st half of 2021 concluded that challenges facing the Water Sector could to a large extent be addressed, if already existing technical solutions and services were fully utilized. Needs for technological innovation still exists, with the main needs being systemic innovation improving sector integration and allowing for a holistic approach to the full water cycle, e.g. in order to facilitate increased reuse of water.
In addition, state-of-the-art solutions offers stronger resilience to climate change and a better take-up of the potential related to digitalization and circular economy. Digitalization will allow for significant larger amounts of data to be analyzed, hereby de facto leading to actual realization of the intentions behind various concepts about integrated approached developed within the water sector during recent decades. Circular economy-based solutions will in particular imply a stronger integration of water and energy, hereby leading to new business models to be developed.
While state-of-the-art solutions are in general costlier, they have a significantly better Operational and Maintenance costs profile, whereas bulk solutions using simpler technologies are cheaper to procure. However, a.o. due to lack of adequate financing models, economic frameworks promoting long-term sustainability as well as inadequate regulatory frameworks, the cheaper solutions are preferred during a majority of most tender processes. Further, lack of pricing based on true costs of water and energy, as well as total cost of ownership, also adds to the picture of inefficient use of funds in the water sector.
Rural Water – Priority Market Segment 2022
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure is subject to substantial improvements and investments in small and medium cities, as well as villages in rural areas.
What are the investment needs and market opportunities? What are State-of-the-Art solutions, enabling a circular economy approach with wastewater treatment plants becoming Resource Recovery Facilities and water supply facilities having low water leakage rates? What are options for adding a whole water cycle perspective and allowing for substantial water reuse? How to ensure maximum long-term value of government investments in the water sector?
This was covered in webinars and at side-events during 2022:
- Webinar, April 19th, see the program here
- Webinar, May 3rd, see https://cewp.eu/small-scale-infrastructure-rural-areas
- Webinar, May 31st, [program will be uploaded latter]
- Side-event @Aquatech Shanghai, June 8th-10th, [program will be uploaded latter]
Overview of the Chinese Water Tech Market
A comprehensive introduction to the Chinese Water Tech Market can be found here: PIANO Project Report: Water Market in China.
An overview presentation of the Chinese Water Tech Market can be found here: An introduction to the Chinese Water Tech Market
The CEWP China Water Market and Technology Outlook Report 2021 can be downloaded here.
Draft Policy Recommendations for improving market functioning:
To support companies in entering the Chinese Market, the 2 side-events @Aquatech Amsterdam with approx. 60 participants discussed the market potential, challenges and barriers, hereby providing valuable input to the CEWP China Water Market Outlook 2021 Report. The report can be downloaded here.
The report contains a.o. four Draft Policy Recommendations to improve market functioning for fostering a sustainable water sector. The Draft Policy Recommendations will be updated prior to the CEWP Joint Steering Committee meeting anticipated for June 2022.
Organizations offering Business Support Services
The EU SME Center
The EU SME Centre is a European Union initiative that provides a comprehensive range of hands-on support services to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), getting them ready to do business in China. Further info here.
The Center’s team of experts provides advice and support in four areas – business development, law, standards and conformity and human resources. Collaborating with external experts worldwide, the Centre converts valuable knowledge and experience into practical business tools and services easily accessible online.
The China IPR SME Helpdesk
The China IPR SME Helpdesk is a project founded by the European Union to provide free, business-focused advice for European Small and Medium Sized Enterprises on the protection of intellectual property rights in China. Its services include an enquiry helpline (question@china-iprhelpdesk.eu); training events in Europe, China and online; information resources and online services.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce China – EUCCC
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China was founded in 2000 by 51 member companies that shared a goal of establishing a common voice for the various business sectors of the European Union and European businesses operating in China. It is a members-driven, non-profit, fee-based organisation with a core structure of 43 Working Groups and Fora representing European business in China. Further info here.