In October, Greennova Hub participated in the visit of the Brazilian water delegation to Denmark, as part of the Brazil–Denmark Water Network project. The network brings together partners from both countries to strengthen cooperation in water management, circular economy, and climate adaptation. The visit marked an important step in developing joint projects capable of turning common challenges into concrete and applicable solutions.
Learning from Danish Experiences
During the week, workshops held at Clean’s office in Copenhagen focused on collaboration and project development, allowing Brazilian and Danish experts to identify funding opportunities and discuss concrete collaborations on sustainable technologies and circular solutions.
The delegation also took part in a walk and talk at Copenhagen Harbor, where Danish partners showcased the city’s work in water management. We observed how Copenhagen separates rainwater and wastewater, preventing floods and keeping the harbor clean enough for swimming.
For Greennova Hub, the visit was a living example of how long-term planning and investment in environmental technology can produce tangible results. We discussed, among other topics, how similar solutions could be adapted to Brazilian conditions – for instance, in improving water quality in Guanabara Bay.
“One of the topics that interest us most is sustainability in ports. Copenhagen has a very attractive harbor where people can swim, and we want to bring that knowledge to Rio de Janeiro. Guanabara Bay is almost twice the size of the Øresund, but it is completely polluted due to deficient waste management infrastructure. We need to find solutions that clean the water and improve the quality of life of local communities.”
– Lais de Rezende Valença, Project Manager, Clean
Exchange of Experiences and Cooperation
Throughout the week, Greennova Hub worked alongside partners from Clean, SEAS – Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (Rio de Janeiro), Firjan SENAI, OceanPact/OceanImpact, Aalborg University, University of Southern Denmark, and Roskilde University, sharing knowledge and discussing opportunities for future collaboration.
The atmosphere was marked by curiosity and mutual respect. Brazilian and Danish experts compared approaches to waste management, environmental monitoring, and climate adaptation, identifying areas where existing initiatives could be developed into joint research and demonstration projects.
“Denmark is a small country with great innovative power, and Brazil has a larger area to test solutions and so much local knowledge that Denmark can benefit from — there is a lot of knowledge to share.”
– Lais de Rezende Valença, Project Manager, Clean
This exchange highlighted a key point: innovation occurs when countries learn from each other and develop solutions that work globally.
“The most valuable aspect of the Brazil–Denmark Water Network project is the exchange of knowledge and perspectives. Thanks to Clean, we have an open dialogue and the opportunity to discuss future projects and common directions here in Denmark.”
– Jacek Fiutowski, Associate Professor, SDU
Discussions also addressed how the circular economy can change our view of resources. Several participants noted that waste can become a resource if handled early in the process.
“Plastic that ends up in the environment does not always stay where it was produced – and that is a global challenge. In Denmark, we do not see many plastic bottles thanks to the deposit system – this is an example of how regulation can have a positive effect on the aquatic environment.”
– Claudia Lorenz, Assistant Professor, RUC
These observations showed how local solutions can inspire global action. At the same time, Brazilian partners emphasized that Denmark’s experience in technology and data can be applied to large-scale challenges, particularly in coastal areas.
“There are some of the best researchers here in Denmark working on topics highly relevant to Brazil. We are bringing local Brazilian challenges here to develop high-impact solutions.”
– Thiago Santiago Gomes, Specialist in Technology Management, FIRJAN SENAI
Closing at the Brazilian Embassy
The week concluded at the Brazilian Embassy in Denmark, with a presentation of results and discussions on the next steps of collaboration. The conversations clearly showed that Denmark and Brazil — despite geographical differences — share challenges and ambitions. Together, they can develop new solutions that improve local water and waste systems while contributing to global progress in sustainability.
About the Brazil–Denmark Water Network
The Brazil–Denmark Water Network strengthens strategic cooperation between Denmark and Brazil in the field of water management. The network aims to translate research and innovation into practical solutions (TRL 3–7) and identify funding opportunities for international collaborations.
The project is led by Clean in Denmark and Greennova Hub in Brazil — both members of the International Cleantech Network — and includes partners such as Aalborg University, University of Southern Denmark, and Roskilde University.
The project is co-financed by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science.
