H.D.M. Sombekke MSc (Heleen)

Heleen Sombekke – Program Director UPPWATER & Business Developer MST

Since 2025, I have been seconded three days a week (typically Tuesday through Thursday) to TKI Water technology as Program Director of UPPWATER (www.uppwater.nl). In this role, I lead the coordination of a 10-year, €340 million national initiative aimed at accelerating growth in the water technology sector and in water-intensive industries. Supported by €135 million from the Dutch National Growth Fund, UPPWATER covers the entire innovation chain—from fundamental research to scaling and market development—enhancing both technological progress and market adoption of water innovations.

In addition, I work 1.5 days per week for the Department of Membrane Science and Technology (MST) (www.membrane.nl) at the University of Twente, where I serve as coordinator for external collaborations and business developer. My responsibilities include acquiring and initiating new research projects in the field of water and membrane technology, strengthening strategic partnerships, and increasing the visibility of MST through communication channels such as our website and LinkedIn. One of my proudest achievements in this role has been the realization of the WaterLab on the Hogekampplein.

Water technology is my passion. I particularly enjoy working at the interface of academic research and industry, and I actively contribute to valorisation activities, such as pilot implementations and field labs that translate research into practice. I have extensive experience in initiating and managing interdisciplinary projects, including EU, EFRO, and Interreg programs.

I hold an MSc in Civil Engineering, specializing in Water Management, from Delft University of Technology (1990). Since then, I have worked in various roles across the Dutch water sector. From 1990 to 1999, I was a project manager at KWR, focusing on environment, residues, and technology. I then joined Waterboard Vechtstromen, where I worked on integrated water cycle projects. From 2004 until mid-2019, I held several positions at Wetsus, the European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology.

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University of Twente

Horst Complex (building no. 20), room ME322
De Horst 2
7522 LW Enschede
Netherlands

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