NOM’s strategy to target companies that strengthen the region's existing ecosystems is starting to pay off. Following American company Cobalt Water Global decision to set up their European base in Leeuwarden, Latvian watertech company Spectromarine decided in November to establish its European headquarters at the Water Campus in Leeuwarden. Spectromarine has developed a unique sensor that can monitor membrane filtration performance in real time, even under extreme conditions.
"We had already heard that the Dutch are leaders in water innovation," explains CEO Girts Ozolins. "And after a year and a half of thorough research, we've concluded that this is indeed the case. Friesland — and specifically Leeuwarden — is the heart of Europe's water technology ecosystem. It's the strategic location we need to scale our water tech business globally."
We're actively looking for companies that can strengthen the water technology ecosystem," says Reinder de Jong, Internationalization Project Manager at NOM. "Sensor technology for real-time monitoring is a key focus area and often provides the foundation for process optimization and, by extension, sustainability. When I spoke with Spectromarine about this and later saw their sensor development firsthand at the Deep Tech Atelier event in Riga, it was clear the company would be a good fit for the ecosystem at WaterCampus Leeuwarden. In June, they traveled across Europe looking for a suitable base of operations. They evaluated locations in multiple countries. The excellent facilities at WaterCampus, combined with proactive support from NOM and the municipality of Leeuwarden, clinched the deal."
"This company was founded by three incredibly smart guys," adds NOM Investment Manager Betty Postma. "We're investing in them because we believe in the unique capabilities of their sensor. When a company considers sites all over Europe and chooses the Water Campus ecosystem, that's a huge win for us."
Biofouling
Spectromarine 's technology originated at the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia in Riga. It was here that Girts Ozolins and his co-founders developed a sensor that tackles biofouling which is a major challenge for water treatment plants, desalination facilities and fish farms. "Microorganisms accumulate and hurt membrane and system performance, which means higher maintenance costs and lower efficiency. Our sensor detects or predicts problems in real time, so operators can step in by flushing filters or using chemicals strategically. With accurate, continuous data, you can optimize chemical use, save energy, and extend membrane life. We're talking hundreds of thousands of euros in cost savings for our customers."
For Evelien Walstra from the City of Leeuwarden, the arrival of the Latvian entrepreneurs feels like the culmination of a great initiative. "NOM and the City of Leeuwarden have worked closely together for years, along with partners at the Water Campus. We first met the Spectromarine team during the European Water Technology Week (EWTW) in 2024, where companies could connect with potential sources of funding. That's where things started moving, we're thrilled they chose Leeuwarden’.
Missing Link Program
The fact that NOM not only acquires foreign companies but also actually invests in them is relatively new. "This fits within our 'Missing Link Program,'" explains Postma. "We focus on the priority themes in the Northern Netherlands: green chemistry, energy, smart industry, Life Sciences & Health, and water technology. When we identify a missing link in those sectors — something we believe our ecosystems really need — we try to attract these companies to the region, and where possible, we invest in these companies as well."
That's good news for Spectromarine. But where do Ozolins and his co-founders hope to be in three years? "We want to become a new industry standard for sustainable water desalination," says the CEO confidently. "Our dream ambition is for our sensors to be found in every SWRO facility (Sea Water Reverse Osmosis) in the world within a few years."