Nothern Netherlands joins forces

Northern Netherlands joins forces to drastically reduce drug residues in water

The northern Netherlands is taking an important step towards a cleaner environment and a healthier living environment with the official launch of the project “Northern Netherlands leads the way in reducing drug residues in water.”

A broad consortium of SMEs, knowledge institutions, healthcare institutions, and government bodies will work together intensively for three years to develop concrete, scalable solutions. The decision has now been made and funding has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Northern Netherlands Partnership (SNN), together with co-financing from the provinces of Drenthe, Groningen, and Friesland and the municipalities of Assen, Leeuwarden, and Groningen. The total project budget is €2.34 million, half of which is subsidized by SNN.

A unique collaboration for an urgent problem

Medicine residues in groundwater and surface water are a growing problem. Due to the aging population and increase in chronic conditions, medication use will rise significantly in the coming years. This poses a growing threat to the health of the environment and people, especially in the Northern Netherlands, one of the most aged regions. What makes this project unique is that parties from the water technology sector, the Life Science & Health sector, and the healthcare sector are working together with SMEs to find innovative solutions.

Under the leadership of coordinator TCNN, these domains will be brought together, resulting in a powerful acceleration in both knowledge development and the actual application of innovative solutions.

Project objectives

Led by work package leaders Water Alliance, LIFE Cooperative, CEW, and UMCG, the partners will focus on addressing existing problem areas. For each problem area, SMEs will be sought that can offer solutions based on four interrelated pillars:

  • Advanced water treatment: development and application of new technologies to effectively remove drug residues from water.
  • More sustainable medicines and administration: innovation in pharmaceutical products and forms of administration that are less harmful to the environment.
  • Improvement of prescribing behavior and medication adherence: awareness and education to prevent unnecessary medication use.
  • Active knowledge sharing: intensive collaboration, communication, and dissemination of best practices within the region and beyond.

Impact after three years

During the kick-off, participants emphasized the ambitions they are pursuing together:

  • A structural connection between the water, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors
  • Measurable reduction in medication use through more conscious prescribing
  • Sustainability as a natural part of medication use and policy

In addition to these social benefits, the aim is to create 75 new jobs and provide targeted support to at least 30 companies. The solutions developed can also be applied nationally and internationally. This integrated approach makes the Northern Netherlands a national and international leader in the fight against drug residues in water.

Partners

The project is a collaboration between: TCNN (lead partner), LIFE Cooperative, Wilhelmina Hospital Assen, Martini Hospital, Isala Hospital, University of Groningen, UMCG, Frisius MC, Water Alliance, Centre of Expertise Water Technology (CEW), Wetterskip Fryslân, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, Province of Groningen, Province of Drenthe, Province of Fryslân, SNN, and Medicijnresten uit Water Noord-Nederland.