Successful 48th FiW Research Advisory Board in Cologne

Actively shaping research transfer with current topics in water management

Research transfer and innovation networks are the focus of our Research Advisory Board. The 48th meeting took place last week at the Cologne-Stammheim wastewater treatment plant at the Stadtentwässerungsbetriebe Köln at the invitation of Chairwoman Ulrike Franzke. In addition to a handover of the baton, we presented four research topics and consulting services of FiW. The event was rounded off with excursions under the motto “Wastewater culvert of the century on the Rhine” and “The sewage treatment plant as a building block for climate protection”.

Research Advisory Board

Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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The 48. meeting saw the handover of the baton: After 19 meetings, Dr. Frank-Andreas Weber was warmly bid farewell as outgoing CEO by Ms. Ulrike Franzke and Dr. Gesa Kutschera on behalf of all members. His successor, Dr. Jutta Niederste-Hollenberg, will take over the management of FiW on July 1 and continue the successful format of the FiW Research Advisory Board.

FiW colleagues presented selected new consulting services to the committee and discussed their market potential:

  • Cost- and energy-efficient use of battery storage systems at the WWTP Cologne-Stammheim (Fabio Voith)
  • Technical asset assessment as a component of the maintenance strategy for water management plants (Dr. Henry Riße, Dominik Nottarp-Heim)

New impulses and advice

Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Research transfer and networking: Impressions of the 2025 summer session.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Many thanks to Mr Dominik Nottarp-Heim (Hessenwasser GmbH & Co. KG), who supported the second presentation as a guest with his expertise from the drinking water sector. We then discussed the following research topics in a World-Café format:

  • From standard parameters to microbial characterisation: new methods for online quality assurance in water reuse (Sebastian Kerger, Sofia Andres-Zapata)
  • Digital urban twins as a tool for climate adaptation: launch of a Horizon Europe mission (Mark Braun)

We would like to thank all members for the active and lively discussion and the resulting impetus and advice for our work.

 

Excursions

Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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Excursion to the StEB Cologne.  © Martin Braun / FiW e. V.
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The following excursions provided an insight into the major construction site of the once-in-a-century Rhine wastewater culvert. At the same time, a second group learnt about current energy projects at the sewage treatment plant in Cologne-Stammheim on the subject of “The sewage treatment plant as a building block for climate protection” and visit the new biogas treatment plant for feeding treated sewage gas into the city of Cologne's gas network. We would like to thank our colleagues from StEB Köln for the exciting guided tours and the successful organization of our research advisory board.