At Water Knowledge Europe 2025 in Brussels, we interviewed Thomas Track, Head of Water Management at DECHEMA, to explore how the BOOST-IN project is accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
The mission of BOOST-IN is vital: moving water-saving and resource-recovery solutions from the research phase into the European market. While innovation is thriving, Thomas explains that significant “market entrance barriers”—ranging from regulatory hurdles to financial risks—often stall progress. To combat this, DECHEMA is developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that allow circular products to prove their performance and reliability to potential buyers.
A central theme of the interview is the necessity of a strong business case. Thomas emphasizes that for any environmental innovation to be truly sustainable, it must be economically viable. BOOST-IN helps practitioners frame their technologies as smart investments by highlighting the tangible value of recovered nutrients, energy, and reclaimed water.
Finally, Thomas discusses the power of the Water Europe community. By bridging the gap between researchers and practitioners, the network ensures that new solutions are not just theoretically sound, but practical, scalable, and ready for real-world application.
Watch the full interview on YouTube.
