Topic: Digital and Resilient Water Industry for Urban Centres
Australia, particularly the cities of Sydney and Brisbane, faces acute challenges in water industry: prolonged periods of drought, rising water demand due to population growth, and the need to modernise ageing infrastructure. This is leading to massive investments in smart water solutions, ranging from digital monitoring to water reuse. The trip is aimed at German companies that want to benefit from these developments with their innovative technologies and expertise in water management and the circular economy.
Australia is considered a regional pioneer in dealing with water scarcity and is investing heavily in the resilience of its urban water supply systems. Government and private water suppliers are urgently seeking solutions to increase efficiency and ensure water quality.
Investments are focused on developing circular systems and modernising urban water infrastructure, driven by climate change and population growth.
Opportunities for German companies in the water industry sector:
- Digital network monitoring & leakage management (non-revenue water): Water suppliers such as Sydney Water and Queensland Urban Utilities are investing heavily in reducing water losses. There is high demand for intelligent sensor solutions, acoustic leakage detection and big data analysis for real-time monitoring of pipe networks.
- Water reuse & circular economy: Due to climate change, the treatment and reuse of grey water and treated wastewater is becoming increasingly important. There is demand for advanced filtration and disinfection technologies (e.g. membrane technology, ozonation) and the energy-efficient integration of these systems into urban infrastructure.
- Smart metering & consumer management: The introduction of smart metering (intelligent water meters) to promote water conservation and optimise billing is a growth market. IoT-based metering systems and software solutions for data visualisation and end-user management control are in demand.
- Climate-resilient infrastructure & flood protection: Investments in decentralised rainwater management systems and solutions for the intelligent control of drainage systems and retention basins are urgently needed due to extreme weather events. German expertise in heavy rain management and green infrastructure is highly relevant.
Advantages of participation
- Market and industry information, expert briefing on local market opportunities, including with regard to the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane
- Individual B2B meetings with potential business and cooperation partners in Australia
- Networking with industry players, public and private customers and decision-makers in the sector
- Visits to selected companies, locations and projects and initial contact with potential business partners
- Webinar with target market information for preparation and on the framework conditions for market entry
- Exploration of local market opportunities and business potential, as well as internal delegation networking
- Advice on internationalisation and market entry in Australia from the AHK Australia team
Note on dates and itinerary: The OzWater 2026 trade fair, taking place in Brisbane from 26 to 28 May 2026, can be visited as an individual addition to the business development trip during the week prior to the trip.
