Data science domains and water issues
In DigiShape, governments, companies and knowledge and educational institutions work together on digital innovations in the water sector. We share relevant developments with each other at an early stage and form consortia to take them further. We share the results open source, so that the entire water sector benefits from them. This is interesting for launching customers, who in this way do not invest in the development of just one party, but apply it broadly to the entire water sector.
The DigiShape flywheel for innovation
- DigiShape partners initiate new projects
- Third parties can think about innovative solutions at any time, but especially during the DigiShape days
- This often leads to participating in DigiShape projects, which creates new collaborations
- The data, code, knowledge and results used and developed in the projects are shared with the DigiShape community
Pre-competitive cooperation
Precompetitive refers to a stage where organizations or companies collaborate on research and development before there is direct competition. In this phase, they share knowledge, technologies and innovations that are not yet commercial and from which they can benefit together, without providing a competitive advantage for a specific party. In this way, we help the sector move forward broadly, for example by developing standards, techniques or basic innovations that ultimately benefit everyone.
DigiShape events
To create networking opportunities and exchange knowledge (capacity building), DigiShape organizes a number of knowledge meetings every year. During these meetings, the partners and the network share the latest developments. This stimulates discussions that lead to new joint proposals or the strengthening of existing proposals. In addition to these DigiShape days, webinars are also organized, both for partners and for the wider community.
Community
DigiShape aims to strengthen the development and implementation of innovations in the field of data science in the Dutch water sector. That’s why we invite not only our partners, but everyone to actively participate in DigiShape events, share their ideas and suggestions, and collaborate on projects. Together we create a powerful collaboration that leads to real impact. That’s the DigiShape community!
The innovation funnel consists of four phases. First, we build an active network around a theme, in which people from different domains meet and inspire each other. End users are preferably part of this network. They then work together to develop ideas. As soon as an idea is concrete, a consortium is formed to experiment in an accessible way. This leads to a proof of concept, which can be further scaled up into a promising innovation. Sometimes an idea turns out not to be ready for the market. This conclusion prevents unnecessary investments and gives room to focus resources on ideas with the best chance of success.
Partner network
DigiShape is essentially a partner network. This means that the partners determine the focus and activities. In principle, any government, company (large companies, SMEs, startups) and knowledge or educational institution can become a partner of DigiShape. By signing up, organizations indicate that they want to actively contribute.
Seedmoney projects
Every year we make a call for seedmoney projects within the community. These are fresh, promising initiatives that are in line with our domains and in which partners work together on a first proof of concept, prototype or experiment.
Selected projects usually receive a contribution of 50% of their project budget, with a maximum of 10,000 euros. These projects are carried out by a collaboration of at least two DigiShape partners, are innovative in nature and are led by young employees of the partner organisations. Each year, specific topics can be chosen as the focus for the seedmoney call.
View the proposals submitted in 2025. New proposals can be submitted to david@digishape.nl until 16 September 2025 via this template: Procedure and template seedmoney project DigiShape 2025 (pdf).
Knockout criteria
- The project fits within one of the DigiShape domains.
- The project has upscaling potential and a clear innovation component.
- The project is being carried out by at least two collaborating DigiShape partners.
- The maximum contribution to projects is 50% of the project costs, up to a maximum contribution
from Digishape of 10,000 Euro (ex VAT). The co-financing (of 50%) may be provided in kind against
commercial rate. - The results of the project are freely available.
- There will be follow-up within and outside the network.
Assessment criteria of the jury
- The proposal or plan of action is of high quality in terms of scope,
scientific quality and innovation. - The seedmoney project lays the foundation for greater development
for which additional funding will be attracted at a later stage. - Potential end users are involved in the project.
- The triple helix (public-private science) is safeguarded.
- Junior researchers are involved in the implementation.