RESTRUCTURE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
January 2010
As a consequence of a restructure in the Board of Aquaporin A/S, H.H. Hallager will assume the position of Chairman of the Board.
H.H. Hallager has been a board member of Aquaporin for the last years. He is furthermore Deputy Chairman of the Board of M. Goldschmidt Holding A/S, M. Goldschmidt Invest A/S and M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S, and Member of the Board of Innovision A/S. H.H. Hallager is formerly Managing Director of the Organisation of Manufacturers of Heating, Water and Energy Products as well as Secretary General for the European Organisation.
Former Chairman, Jens Lage Hansen, will continue as Deputy Chairman of the Board.
FILTECH 2009
September 2009
Hosting the International Conference and Exhibition for Filtration and Separation Technology Wiesbaden, Germany, will be welcoming researchers and scientists concerned with designing, improving, purchasing, selling or researching filtration and separation equipment and services.
More than 150 Exhibitors will feature the latest innovations and up-to-date filtration and separation technology. 200 papers from 34 countries will provide a representative survey of current research findings and state-of-the-art developments for the solution of separation targets in a wide range of sectors.
Aquaporin will be presenting a poster showing its aquaporin membrane technology™.
Learn more about Filtech 2009
EUROMEMBRANE 2009 CONFERENCE
August 2009
Montpellier, France, will be hosting this year's EUROMEMBRNE 2009 conference during the days of September 6-10.
Scientists from all over the world within the area of membrane science and technology will meet up to exchange new ideas and latest research. The programme also features expert and keynote lectures as well as poster presentations by students and young researchers.
Aquaporin's contribution to the conference is the presentation of the poster: Development of a biomimetic scaffold for transmembrane protein incorporation.
Read more about EUROMEMBRANE 2009.
A FACE OF INNOVATION
June 2009
HiT Barcelona has invited Aquaporin - as one of the faces of innovation - to speak at their World Summit Innovation Marketplace targeted at constituting an open meeting space where leading investors get close to entrepreneurs from around the world creating new, high-potential projects and start-up business.
The event spans two days, June 18th and 19th, in Spain's second largest city, Barcelona.
Under the overall topic "Solving the World's Water Needs through Innovation" Aquaporin will be sharing its experience of being an innovation driver whose new Aquaporin membrane technology™ capable of purifying water to a new standard is expected to help reshape the world.
Read more about the conference here.
DANISH CLEANTECH COMPANY HONOURED FOR ITS WATER TECHNOLOGY
Press Release April 29th, 2009
Danish cleantech company Aquaporin A/S, Copenhagen, has been honoured with a Distinction Award i the category ”Water Technology Idol 2009” at an international water environment conference in Zürich, Switzerland, April 27-28th, 2009. Amongst others the conference was visited by former US Vice President and Nobel Prize Laureate, Al Gore.
The conference titled ”Water Meets Money” was organised by The International Desalination Association Global Water Intelligence. Danish Aquaporin was nominated for the honourable award of ”Water Technology of the Year” as one of only six international companies, and took home the “Distinction Award” in the category.
The award is seen as an international acknowledgment of Aquaporin’s unique and revolutionary membrane technology used to purify water by use of nature’s own method. Development of the new technology has not yet been finalised, but the market already has large expectations to this. The target is to create the cleanest water in the world for industrial use, and an aquaporin membrane for desalination of seawater.
The Zürich conference welcomed participants from all over the world to discuss and find solutions to the great challenge of raising capital for the water industry. Danish Aquaporin and the other nominees in the competition were given the opportunity to present their company and technology in front of the audience. Furthermore, Aquaporin was invited to join the gala dinner on the first evening of the conference, which included the company of Al Gore who is appreciated for his engagement in the climate debate.
”We are very proud to receive a distinction award in competition with some of the world’s most exciting cleantech companies. We see this as an important recognition from the industry. Our membrane technology has a huge potential because it is based on living cells from water channels. This will probably be the first water purification technology in the world able to purify water 100%. We could not wish for a better forum than this to market ourselves,” says CEO Peter Holme Jensen, Aquaporin A/S.
Read more about the conference: www.watermeetsmoney.com
Further information:
CEO Peter Holme Jensen, Aquaporin A/S
phone +45 28 10 52 72
phj@aquaporin.dk
www.aquaporin.dk
50 MOST PROMISING CLEANTECHS
April 2009
In a new initiative launched by Cleantech Scandinavia and Cleantech Group Nordic, cleantech start-up and growth companies in the region have be assessed - and 50 of them selected to be included on the list of 50 most promising cleantech companies from Nordic.
At this first 2009 event, Aquaporin is proud to be amongst the 50 companies active in developing and promoting innovative environmental technologies within cleantech having fulfilled the three main criteria of:
- innovation and uniqueness of technology
- relevance to the market and market potential
- execution potential
The list was officially announced on April 30th at the European Cleantech Forum in Copenhagen, at which occasion a new Nordic Cleantech 50 publication was also released.
This publication is available online, but more importantly will be distributed to the global cleantech community of investors, industrial actors and professionals with the purpose of highlighting the cleantech innovation environment in the Nordic region.
“We of course embrace the chance of branding Aquaporin even further in connection with our new status as one of the most promising in our field,” says CEO Peter Holme Jensen. - This will help strengthen our already well-established position on the market and open new investors’ eyes to the opportunity of participating in Aquaporin’s next investment round.
Read more about the event and the organisation behind it at www.cleantechscandinavia.com
AQUAPORIN SELECTED BY THE ARTEMIS PROJECT™ AS A TOP 50 WATER COMPANY
April 2009
Top Innovators in Global Water Technology were recognized on Earth Day, April 22nd 2009, when the Artemis Project™ announced its Top 50 Water Companies Competition winners. This award distinguishes Aquaporin as one of the leading companies helping to build one of the great high-growth industries of the 21st Century. Aquaporin was selected by a panel of industry experts based on an integrated matrix of four criteria:
- technology
- intellectual property and know-how
- team
- market potential
- The Artemis Project’s Top 50 Water Companies Competition winners have excelled in key strategic areas in the emerging advanced water technology sector, says Laura Shenkar, Principal of The Artemis Project. - We are excited to spotlight these innovative companies for the first time on the world’s stage and congratulate them for their achievements in introducing the solutions that will reinvent the water landscape.
Aquaporin is proud to have received yet another prestigious title in its industry - and consequently a qualified recognition of its technology and business strategy.
As the leading authority on applying advanced water solutions to business operations, The Artemis Project™ specializes in developing holistic water management strategies for major corporations. The Artemis Project™ also supports product launches of advanced water technology into business operations worldwide, and actively participates in water industry events and supports environmental policy initiatives.
Please visit www.theartemisproject.com for a full list of the 2009 Top 50 Water Companies Competition winners.
AQUAPORIN; A WATER TECHNOLOGY IDOL
April 2009
Behind the title “Blue, Green & Gold – The Future of Water, Finance & the Environment” lies a prestigious conference organised by The International Desalination Association & Global Water Intelligence in Zürich April 27th & 28th 2009.
The interesting sub-title of the event “Where Water meets Money” invites participants from all over the world to discuss and suggest solutions to the challenge of finding money for the water industry.
The conference also includes a celebration of the best of the best in water through the Global Water Awards 2009. And last but not least, Aquaporin is proud to be nominated for the special award of Water Technology Idol competing against 5 other companies in having its unique desalination technology named Water Technology of the Year.
As a consequence of its nomination Aquaporin's CEO has been invited to the Global Water Awards Gala Dinner with participation of The Honourable Al Gore and several other significant industry players and experts in finance and economics.
Read more about the Water Meets Money Conference and the Global Water Awards 2009
LECTURE IN DNF
April 2009
Thursday April 16th, CSO Claus Nielsen will be giving a lecture on biomimetic membranes for purification of water to a quite different forum compared to the scientists and researchers with whom Aquaporin surrounds itself on a daily basis.
The vision of Danish National History Society is to promote common interest in all aspects of nature. Aquaporin has been invited to speak to the members with a lecture focusing on how nature inspires us to develop a new and more effective water purification technology - the biomimetic filtration.
Read more on www.aki.ku.dk/dnf
AQUAPORIN CSO PANELING UP WITH PROMINENT NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS
March 2009
The company will be exclusive when Aquaporin’s Claus Hélix Nielsen participates in this year’s Stockholm Meeting March 24th.
Two Nobel Prize winners will be sharing their research expertise with the audience – one of them Peter Agre rewarded for his finding of aquaporin which paved the way for a multitude of biochemical, physiological and genetic studies of water channels.
Representing the industry, Aquaporin has been invited to exemplify and illustrate the commercial use of Peter Agre’s discovery through its unique aquaporin membrane technology.
The conference aims at providing a powerful platform for demonstrating how much society has to gain from science, and the participation will undoubtedly contribute to establishing Aquaporin in the industry as an important “one to watch”...
Read more about Stockholm Meeting 2009
MEMBAQ PARTNERS MEET UP IN PARIS
February 2009
Next partner meeting in the EU supported MEMBAQ framework has been arranged to take place in Paris March 19-20th.
The project partners counting Aquaporin, DHI, Veolia Water and several international universities will continue discussing their research and work progress with regards to the incorporation of aquaporins in membranes for industrial applications.
See details on the project and the teams involved here.
PRESENTATION TO THE DANISH MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
January 2009
Thursday January 22nd CSO Claus Hélix Nielsen will attend the membership meeting of the trade association Danish Environmental Technology in Copenhagen during which he will present Aquaporin's contribution to new technology with significant export perspectives and a potential of solving global environmental problems.
Fulfilling these requirements, the aquaporin membrane technology has a well-argued need for public financial support to enhance further development, tests and demonstration. As such, Aquaporin has been chosen to present its case at the meeting.
Amongst the audience you will find the Danish Minister for the Environment, Mr. Troels Lund Poulsen whose ministry continuously supports the promotion and marketing of Danish environmental technology on the global market place.
BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY 53RD ANNUAL MEETING
February 2009
With more than 6,000 attendees, the Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of biophysicists around the world. More than 3,000 abstracts are submitted each year and the programme includes symposia, workshops, mini-symposia, subgroup programs, and the national lecture, as well as educational exhibits, exhibitor presentations, and committee events.
This year too, representatives from Aquaporin will be travelling to Boston to engage in networking and exchange of knowledge during the week commencing February 28th.
Read more about the organisation and the event at www.biophysics.org
DANISH WATER FORUM
November 2008
At an open meeting on December 16th in Odense, Danish Water Forum – a network of Danish water organisations aimed at highlighting Danish expertise and knowledge and facilitating concerted actions - wishes key movers in the industry to discuss innovation in the water sector and the process of moving from idea to product.
Danish Water forum intends to create focus on the challenges and opportunities that new entrepreneurs like Aquaporin face in the water sector today - in relation to attracting investors and overcoming obstacles and barriers on the path towards commercial success.
Speakers from DHI, SEED Capital and Grundfos will talk about innovation and financing whilst Aquaporin’s CEO, Peter Holme Jensen, has been invited to present the company’s case story to the audience.
Read more about the organisation and the event at www.danishwaterforum.dk
A CALIFORNIA-DENMARK APPROACH TO CHALLENGES IN WATER
October 2008
With the Innovative Water Solutions Workshop October 23rd and 24th at the prestigious Berkeley University, California and Denmark will be one step closer to co-operation in the field of renewable energy.
Arranged by Berkeley Water Center and Innovation Center Denmark, business leaders and scientists from leading innovative companies within disruptive water technologies in California and Denmark have been invited to a joint workshop spanning two days.
Aquaporin will be participating in workshops dealing with topics such as "What Denmark Offers in Cutting-Edge Water Research", "What are Danish Researchers and Companies Looking for in Partnerships" and "Out of the Lab and into the Market".
Furthermore, Aquaporin will play an important role in the case study section presenting Aquaporin's current state of research and future perspectives for solutions for the California market.
The event will be concluded by a very relevant discussion on how Denmark can strengthen ties to US companies, investors, utilities and public agencies.
THE OSMOSIS MEMBRANE SUMMIT
October 2008
Global leaders in the fields of systems and membranes for pressure retarded osmosis will be gathered in Amsterdam Oct. 27-28th for The Osmosis Membrane Summit arranged by Norwegian Statkraft, a European leader within renewable energy.
Aquaporin is a recognised player in the area and as such will be participating in this international information hub for researchers and the industry.
Besides an exellent opportunity to engage in serious discussions on the latest technical developments of membranes for pressure retarded osmosis and the future perspectives of creating a new source of renewable energy, Aquaporin expects to use the event to expand its network by meeting up with key expertise in the industry.
Read more about The Osmosis Membrane Summit 2008.
AQUAPORIN SELECTED ONE OF EUROPE'S HOTTEST CLEAN TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
September 2008
CleanTech 100 represents the hottest 100 private cleantech companies in Europe, - selected by an expert advisory panel based on criteria such as growth potential and environmental impact potential.
The exclusive list is being worked out by The Guardian/Library House and Aquaporin is very proud to be considered one of 100 companies expected to change the world in the immediate future.
The selection furthermore involves the opportunity of making a company presentation at Essential Cleantech 2008 in London late September. Aquaporin will be speaking about the development of revolutionary water purification technologies.
Read more about CleanTech 100.
AQUAPORIN SPEAKS AT ESSENTIAL CLEANTECH 2008
September 2008
Aquaporin has been invited to make a company presentation under the title "Developing revolutionary water purification technologies that utilise industrial biotech techniques" at Essential Cleantech 2008, September 25th in London.
The event will be an excellent opportunity for Aquaporin to actively participate in high level face-to-face networking and interaction, as it will bring together some of the most influential movers in the industry.
Addressing key issues such as facing the cleantech industry now and in the future, exploring market fundamentals, investment strategies, new opportunities, consumption and efficiency, the event will form an authoritative voice on the state of play in clean technology.
AQUAPORIN A NOMINEE AT ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
September 2008
Fostering entrepreneurship, Ernst & Young each year celebrates the achievements of business leaders around the world through their “Entrepreneur Of The Year” programme.
Among an interesting portfolio of other Danish entrepreneurial companies, Aquaporin was first nominated in the categories Cleantech and Biotech and later selected one of three finalists in the Biotech category.
The title as Entrepreneur Of The Year is favoured by both national and international players in in the market and provides an outstanding chance to strengthen Aquaporin’s image and profile on a global scale.
During October-November the jury will be evaluating all nominees based on criteria such as business strategy and foundation, ability to use potential, targets, business ethics, company culture, environmental conditions and personnel policy.
The Danish winner will be announced November 27th.
Read more about Entrepreneur Of The Year.
AQUAPORIN PARTICIPATES IN NANOTECH NORTHERN EUROPE 2008
September 2008
Europe’s largest annual nanotechnology conference and trade show, Nanotech Northern Europe 2008, this year takes place from 23rd to 25th September 2008 in Bella Centre, Copenhagen.
The event is an ideal forum for Aquaporin to meet, collaborate and do business with the global nanotechnology community.
Aquaporin participates with a scientific communication in the session “Water – Nanotechnology and the global challenge of access to clean water” and furthermore in targeted workshops aiming at increasing awareness, promoting dialogue, networking, coordinating policy initiatives and fact-finding - related to the opportunities and challenges of nanotechnology to contribute to the purification of water.
As the conference will feature not only outstanding research work, but also enable companies to convey their visions for the market impact of nanotechnology, this represents an excellent opportunity for Aquaporin to establish itself as market leaders within research and development of its market focus – ultra pure water.
Read more on www.nanotech.net.
INVESTING DKK 37 MILLION TO OBTAIN THE PUREST WATER IN THE WORLD
April 2007
Aquaporin A/S, a Danish industrial biotech company, has received capital funds to complete development of a technologically advanced membrane for purifying water for industrial purposes. Contributing the capital funds were Danish Investment Company M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S and Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation A/S.
Aquaporin will apply the capital funds to complete the development of a unique, revolutionary water filtration technology, expectedly by 2010. The goal is to create the purest water in the world for industrial purposes. Based on the water channels of living cells, the new technology will be the world’s first to result in 100% water purification.
As a result of the capital contribution, M. Goldschmidt Capital’s Chairman, Hans Henrik Hallager, and its COO, Søren Bjørn Hansen, will join the Aquaporin board of directors. Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation will be represented on the board by its Head of Investment, Michael Frank.
"Aquaporin has undergone some exciting changes over the last two years that enabled it to reach some essential milestones. The company is now ready to accelerate its evolution, and we believe this opportunity to ensure the company’s momentum together with M. Goldschmidt Capital is very attractive," said Michael Frank.
More than USD 300 billion market
The global market for water purification is estimated to be worth more than USD 300 billion, and Aquaporin believes that its membrane technology has enormous potential. The company is initially concentrating on developing a membrane for producing ultra pure water for industrial purposes, i.e. the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, computer chips and flat screens, among other things. The market for products used to produce ultra pure water is estimated to be worth more than USD 3 billion worldwide.
"Aquaporin’s technology has extremely promising business potential, and it is also very important in a global perspective. Initially, we will work with Teknologisk Innovation to help fully develop the technology. In the next phase, M. Goldschmidt Capital will, subject to certain assumptions and conditions, contribute additional capital towards commercialising the technology," said Søren Bjørn Hansen.
Aquaporin A/S: A ground-breaking Danish industrial biotech company
Headquartered in Lyngby north of Copenhagen, Aquaporin was founded in 2005 by Morten Østergaard Jensen and Peter Holme Jensen. The company is committed to revolutionising water purification through "white biotech", i.e. bionanotechnology, a high-tech field in which Denmark has taken an early global lead. Aquaporin specialises in developing a highly water-selective membrane.
"Quite simply, we want to copy Nature’s water filtration method. Our technology is based on the water channels in living cells, and it will be the first water purification technology in the world to purify water 100%," said Jensen, who is CEO of Aquaporin.
The technology will be developed in a three-year EU project in cooperation with a number of European industrial and academic partners. Aquaporin has been the prime mover in this EU project, which is coordinated by DHI.
Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation A/S: A leading Danish innovation environment
Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation A/S is owned by the Danish Technological Institute, an innovation environment approved by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation’s mission is to invest in innovative business ideas in the seed phase.
M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S: A proactive new investment company
M. Goldschmidt Capital was founded early 2007 as a subsidiary of the M. Goldschmidt Holding Group. The company executes and manages the group’s direct investments in small and medium-sized Danish businesses. The Aquaporin investment is M. Goldschmidt Capital’s third, and its first venture capital investment.
For additional information please contact:
Peter Holme Jensen, CEO of Aquaporin A/S
Phone: +45 28 10 52 72
Michael Frank, Head of Investments, Syddansk Teknologisk Innovation A/S
Phone: +45 72 20 28 00
Søren Bjørn Hansen, COO, M. Goldschmidt Capital A/S
Phone: +45 33 63 09 00