Faculty starts research on collaboration between water boards and market

The Chair of Public Commissioning is starting a research project, commissioned by the water boards, on the collaboration between the water boards and commercial parties in infrastructural projects. Today, the Faculty, the water boards, and the Hoogwaterbeschermingsprogramma [High Tide Protection Programme] sign a cooperation agreement. This is the first ever collaboration of this type between the water boards and the Faculty.

The research project is focussed on the collaboration between the water boards and commercial parties, previously described in the joint vision ‘The water board market of the future, building blocks for innovation’ [‘De Waterschapsmarkt van de toekomst, bouwstenen voor vernieuwing’]. This document includes, among others, a concrete plan of action with tools to improve the relation between client and contractor in the projects.

The research will be conducted at the Chair of Public Commissioning, part of the department of Management in the Built Environment, under the supervision of professor Marleen Hermans. Goal of the research is to produce a description of the mechanisms governing the water board sector, to contribute to an improved, more effective, and more efficient relation between client and contractor. 

Involved water boards are Noorderzijlvest, Rivierenland, Hollandse Delta and Scheldestromen, and the Hoogheemraadschappen of Delfland and Hollands Noorderkwartier.

(C) Robert van Nimwegen