Innovation Award
With the InfraTech Innovation Award, InfraTech encourages innovative ideas for the construction, maintenance, renovation and sustainability of infrastructure, such as waterways, railways, cables and pipelines, IT infrastructure, roads, industrial complexes and heat transport pipelines.
From mid-May 2026, companies, public authorities and partnerships can submit their innovations. The submission period closes at the end of September 2026.
The award has three categories:
- Sustainable Collaboration: submissions jointly submitted by supply chain partners, where collaboration contributes to the resilience and future-proofing of projects or the sector as a whole. This may relate both to the collaboration between partners and to the impact on achieving sustainability ambitions, such as climate neutrality, circular practices and adaptive solutions for climate and water challenges. From 2027 onwards, it will also be important that submissions contribute to themes such as climate adaptation and water quality, with subthemes including water safety, climate resilience, water quality, biodiversity and nature.
- Process Innovation: submissions in which an innovative process (such as manufacturing, transport, logistics, assembly, digitalisation or financing) has been developed. This concerns processes realised through the innovative combination or sequencing of activities to deliver existing or new products and/or services.
- Product Innovation: submissions in which an existing product is improved (for example in terms of performance, usability or material selection) or a new product has been developed.
Minister Barry Madlener of Infrastructure and Water Management presented the award on 15 January 2025 at the Rijkswaterstaat pavilion in Hall 6.
Winners of the 2025 Innovation Award
Product Innovations
Boskalis Nederland B.V. - Buoycrete stabilisation
This innovative concrete solution extends the lifespan of quay walls by 30 years and combines sustainable material use with efficient installation methods. Buoycrete stabilisation uses a specially developed concrete mix that is not only environmentally friendly but also resistant to demanding hydraulic engineering conditions. This provides a solution that supports both sustainability and cost reduction within the sector.
Process Innovations
Dura Vermeer & Heijmans - The Nature Ladder
A process innovation that promotes biodiversity and climate resilience in construction projects by placing behavioural change and leadership at its core. The Nature Ladder is inspired by the Safety Ladder and helps companies work in a more nature-inclusive way step by step. The concept demonstrates how small changes in working processes can have a significant impact on nature and the environment.
Sustainable Collaboration
Province of Gelderland - Collaboration for sustainable road maintenance: Asphalt Recycling Train
An innovative solution in which reclaimed asphalt is recycled directly on site, contributing to more sustainable road maintenance. The Asphalt Recycling Train consists of a series of advanced machines that work seamlessly together to heat, loosen, process and reapply the asphalt. This process significantly reduces CO? emissions and minimises transport movements, resulting in a positive environmental impact.
Jury Members of the 2025 Innovation Award
- Arno Visser (Chair of the jury and Chair of Koninklijke Bouwend Nederland)
- Martin Wijnen (Director-General, Rijkswaterstaat)
- Joop Polfliet (Director of Public Works, Urban Management, Municipality of Rotterdam)
- Mark Harbers (Chair of Techniek Nederland)
- Marcel Hertogh (Chair of Infrastructure Design and Management, Delft University of Technology)
- Judith Kavelaars (Chair of Young NLingenieurs)
