The world economic chill is not cooling global warming, says organizers from the international water tech symposium and conference WATEC. This is part of their announcement for the 2009 conference happening this November in Tel Aviv.
I’ve been to a couple WATEC conferences in the past — they happen once every 2 years — and if you are looking for innovation and water solutions for your company, community or state, this is the place to be.
Some 150 ministerial delegations, company directors and business people are expected to visit the 5th International Water Technologies and Environmental Control Exhibition – WATEC Israel 2009 – on November 17-19 at the Trade Fairs and Conventions Center in Tel Aviv.
At the same time, an international conference will examine the need for a sustainable economy to reduce environmental damage, for the benefit of future generations. The conference will address the problems and challenges facing different countries – more efficient water consumption, limiting environmental pollution and the increasing use of alternative energy sources.
Israel’s water guru Booky Oren, event chairperson, (from Mekorot and now Shari Arison’s Miya) says preparations for WATEC 2009 are reflecting the resounding success of WATEC 2007.
“That was the first event of such size and scope, attracting thousands of visitors from Israel and overseas, including representatives from some of the world’s leading water companies. Its international success testifies to the substantial interest in Israel’s water and Cleantech industries,” he says.
According to Oren, the financial crisis is teaching us a vital lesson in what happens when the economy lives for the moment without thinking of the future: “Manipulating and wasting the Earth’s resources, without considering long-term effects, comes at the expense of our future and that of our children.
“Efficiency is the crucial need and Israel is the world’s innovation center in this field. This message is gradually being internalized all over the planet, so we expect record interest in both the exhibition and the conference.”
Some of the conference sessions will be run using a unique model focusing on continents. Guests from the particular countries will present their challenges and commercial and research institute representatives will offer possible technological solutions to these problems.
All the sessions – moderated by commercial attachés from the Israeli Ministry of Trade and Industry – will focus on innovative developments over the last two years.
WATEC 2009 is being organized by the Israel Trade Fairs and Conventions Center and Kenes Exhibitions.
The Exhibition is being held under the auspices of: The ministries of Trade and Industry, Environmental Protection, Foreign Affairs and National Infrastructures, the Government Water Program – Israel NewTech headed by Oded Distel, the Export Institute and the Industrial Research and Development Center. I just interviewed Distel this week, and you’ll soon be treated to a story about his work.
For further details on WATEC, visit: www.watec-israel.com.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist, innovation strategist, and founder of Green Prophet, one of the Middle East’s pioneering sustainability platforms. She has ranked in the Top 10 of Verizon innovation competitions, participated in NASA-linked challenges, and spoken worldwide on climate, food security, and future resilience. With an IoT technology patent, features in Canada’s National Post, and leadership inside teams building next-generation agricultural and planetary systems — including Mars-farming concepts — Karin operates at the intersection of storytelling, science, and systems change. She doesn’t report on the future – she helps design it. Reach out directly to [email protected]
