Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBSince 2017, Fraunhofer IGB has been cooperating with India in the field of water management. We have succeeded in establishing many good relationships with Indian partners. Together we have produced promising results which lay the foundation for our continued engagement in India. With its large population and strong economic growth, India is an important partner in many global challenges and cooperation in research and development is a key to sustainable development of the country – with potentials also for German partners.
Technicians from Jumo and the drinking water plant in Solapur are installing the sensors.
© Jumo GmbH
Water management in India
Wastewater treatment plant in India.
Strategic water management needed
Within the "Smart Water Future India" project (2017–2019), funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), we assessed the water management situation in the South Indian city of Coimbatore, on which basis we derived recommendations for decision-makers in the city. Together with the local stakeholders, we developed a concept to foster and deepen the Indo-German cooperation on water – the Water Innovation Hubs.
At the same time, we conducted a feasibility study on joint water projects with the City of Solapur in Maharashtra. The study was conducted on behalf of Umwelttechnik BW who support the state partnership between Baden-Württemberg and Maharashtra.
Workshops were organized in both cities to discuss the challenges for water supply and sanitation. One result of this was that a strategic approach has been lacking so far, but that data is needed for this, which is not always available.
Pilots for successful Water Innovation Hubs
In Germany, the IGB also participated in the Regional Forum India of the German Water Partnership initiative and networked with companies that are already active in the field of water management in India or want to get involved in the future. In the currently running AQUA-Hub project (BMUV, 2020–2023), Water Innovation Hubs are now being piloted in the two cities of Coimbatore and Solapur, where German technology is being used to monitor water quality and quantity. These examples show how Indo-German cooperation benefits both sides. In September 2022, Umwelttechnik BW and IGB organized a delegation visit to Solapur where the first results could already be presented.
Actions for sustainable neighborhoods
As part of the "Morgenstadt Global Smart Cities MGI" project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) within the International Climate Protection Initiative (IKI), the IGB has been active in Kochi (Kerala) since 2019. Until now, a comprehensive city analysis, a strategy development report as well as proposed measures have already documented and handed to the local stakeholders.
Currently, a pilot implementation of measures for an integrated sustainable city district is in progress, in which PV systems, green infrastructure and nature inspired wastewater treatment are being implemented in a state school as well as in the adjacent city district. These measures were discussed and prepared at a workshop in April 2022 with the stakeholders concerned.
A nature-inspired wastewater treatment is being built at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kochi.
Mounting for nature inspired wastewater treatment at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kochi
Dr. Markus Wolperdinger and Dr. Marius Mohr on their delegation trip to the L&T company in April 2022
Delegation trips to India
A clear signal of the importance of cooperation with India for the IGB were two trips by the institute's director, Dr. Markus Wolperdinger, before (March 2020) and immediately after (April 2022) the pandemic-related travel restrictions. One focus of the trips was in particular on initiating projects directly with Indian industries, for example with the infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and the operator of the airport in Bangalore.
Further trips to India are also planned for 2023. One project that is being driven forward together with companies from the German Water Partnership network is the construction of a demonstration sewage treatment plant, which is to be modernized with German technology and turn wastewater into reusable service water.
MOU between Fraunhofer and CSIR
Fraunhofer has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to strengthen cooperation between India and Germany in the fields of battery technologies, water management, production technologies and sustainable building technologies as part of the 5th German-Indian intergovernmental consultations on November 1 − 2, 2019, in New Delhi. In the field of water management, IGB scientist Dr. Marius Mohr is leading the collaboration with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), one of the 38 institutes of the CSIR.