A part of the team behind H2 O Shift, from left to right: Jacob Helleberg Mathiesen, Lars Leth Pedersen, Kenneth Buch (NIRAS), John Hejndorf Kristiansen, Pernilla Hurup Larsen.
At NIRAS, collaboration with startups is a deliberate way of accelerating innovation and bringing new, market-ready solutions closer to our clients. This approach is anchored in NIRAS Green Tech Hub, which provides startups with direct access to NIRAS’s engineering expertise, industrial insight and real-world testing environments.
Located next to NIRAS’s Danish headquarters, NIRAS Green Tech Hub functions as an accelerator of industrial innovation. The hub brings together startups working within areas such as water, energy, building, food & beverage, and data and digitalisation, offering a setting where technologies can be tested, matured and assessed in close interaction with engineering specialists and industry partners.
For NIRAS, the hub serves as a laboratory for emerging technologies with potential relevance for our consultancy and clients. For startups, it provides structured access to engineering expertise, mentoring and networks – creating value on both sides.
“The hub provides a network that we would not be able to build ourselves. It is a direct way to access key stakeholders and collaborate with them,” says Jacob Helleberg Mathiesen, COO at H2O Shift.
In 2025, the water technology startup H2O Shift exemplified the value of NIRAS Green Tech Hub. With its ambition of “zero added chemistry, zero added energy”, H2O Shift has developed an electrostatic water and air treatment technology that prevents scaling, biofilm formation and grease build-up without physical contact or chemical additives.
The technology has sparked strong interest among NIRAS consultants and clients, leading to close collaboration and real-world testing.
“For me, it has been truly exciting to test, follow and help open doors for H2O Shift’s technology – and to witness NIRAS's clients actively embrace the opportunity. It clearly demonstrates that our clients value NIRAS's commitment to innovation and our willingness to push boundaries and contribute new, science-based technologies to the market,” says Kenneth Buch, Head of Department, Process Industry at NIRAS.
At Novo Nordisk, the solution was installed in a cooling water system. Over a six-month period, the installation enabled the elimination of chemical treatment previously used to stabilise the water, supporting the client’s environmental ambitions while maintaining operational stability.
By collaborating with startups based in NIRAS Green Tech Hub, NIRAS engineers gain first-hand insight into new technologies that can later be integrated into client projects. This strengthens client relationships while helping startups move more quickly from development to implementation.
As technologies and markets evolve, adaptability is essential. NIRAS Green Tech Hub supports this through a structured startup roadmap, mentoring and continuous sparring.
“Over the past four years, we have continuously refined the collaboration between the hub and NIRAS. By building a strong mentoring programme, startups gain direct access to deep technical expertise and industry insight, while NIRAS engineers stay closely connected to state-of-the-art technologies,” explains Sophie Bech, Director of NIRAS Green Tech Hub.
“NIRAS supports startups at multiple stages – from certification and life-cycle assessments to product and production development. This creates tangible value for both startups and consultants, while enabling early validation of technology maturity and readiness,” she adds.
The collaboration with H2O Shift also includes installations at two canteens at NIRAS’s Danish headquarters, providing a rapid proof-of-concept and demonstrating the path from technical innovation to practical application.
“Using NIRAS's facilities as a real-life test environment allows H2O Shift to assess new technologies under actual operating conditions. The installations have provided valuable insights into performance, maintenance and operational implications, helping H2O Shift further refine the solution before scaling it to other customers,” says Lars Holt, Head of Global Facility Management at NIRAS.
Looking ahead, H2O Shift is exploring expansion into the UK and Germany, with early customer feedback confirming the relevance of the solution.
“We see opportunities in many directions, which makes prioritisation one of our biggest challenges. That is why we value the partnership with NIRAS as we continue our journey,” says Jacob Helleberg Mathiesen, COO at H2O Shift.
