Wis. guv to take Milwaukee water effort overseas
27 July 2009
Jim Doyle will be traveling to Israel in November to attend the WATEC Israel 2009 international water conference, as part of his effort to boost Milwaukee’s role as a global “freshwater hub” for industry and research, the governor told attendees at the Water Summit III conference held here July 20.
According to a press release from the Milwaukee 7 Water Council, the regional group organizing the conference, the 250-plus attendees also heard US Sen. Russ Feingold, D-WI, talk about recent passage by the Senate of his E4 Initiative that will help the state compete for federal funds to promote water-related economic development.
Earlier this year, the United Nations named Milwaukee one of 14 cities worldwide comprising the Global Compact Cities Programme, which seeks to improve the quality of urban life through partnerships among business, government and other parts of society. Milwaukee is the only one of those 14 cities focusing exclusively on all aspects of water quality. The latest Water Summit, the third held by Milwaukee in as many years, brought together leaders of business, academia and government to promote the city as a center of water-related research and engineering activity.
This year’s Water Summit also heard keynote speaker Assaf Barnea, president and CEO of an Israeli water technology incubator, Kinrot Ventures, give a global perspective on business opportunities in water. A number of other speakers and
breakout sessions throughout the day discussed the Milwaukee region’s freshwater research, education and economic development position.
Summit co-chair Rich Meeusen described the event as “an ideal place to pool the water industry brainpower we have in the southeastern Wisconsin community.”
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