Cooperations

German Water Partnership e. V. (GWP) is the only network representing the German water sector with an international focus. It brings together around 300 members – from small and medium-sized enterprises, industry associations, and scientific institutions to municipal operators, and global technology providers. GWP connects stakeholders from business, science, and politics, fosters the exchange of knowledge and innovation, and strengthens the international competitiveness of the German water industry. Since 2008, the network has been making an active contribution to a sustainable water future and global climate resilience – with proven expertise and future-oriented technologies “Made in Germany.”

ABREMA (Brazilian National Waste and Environment Association) represents the leading companies across Brazil’s solid waste management and environmental services value chain. The association drives national campaigns to eradicate open dumpsites and accelerates the transition to safe, modern waste management systems. Abremas’ work champions the development and fair valuation of carbon markets to advance solid waste valorization and scale biomethane production. Through innovation, technical standards, capacity building, and evidence-based advocacy, they deploy proven technologies to accelerate dumpsite remediation, advance circular economy solutions, and foster green business growth nationwide.

Centered around IFAT Munich as the world’s leading trade fair, the IFAT network includes 11 additional events across Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East – making it the world’s largest platform for environmental technologies. These trade fairs foster innovation, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities across the sectors of water, recycling, and circularity. As a global driver of change, IFAT actively advances the transformation toward sustainable technologies.

Our goal is a climate-neutral society. Innovative technologies and models are the way to achieve this. The National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) pursues this goal, taking a programme- and technology-neutral approach as a federally owned company working on behalf of top-level federal agencies. NOW analyses, advises and steers, conveying and transferring its knowledge at the intersection of policy, manufacturing and research, at a national and international level. Acting on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) as a programme partner for the Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI) funding programme, NOW GmbH implements the focus topic of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within decentralised energy systems. Within this framework we foster synergies with other fields of action, such as circular economy.

As a federal enterprise, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH assists the Federal Government in achieving its goals in international cooperation and sustainable development. As a service provider for international collaboration on sustainable development and international educational work, GIZ is involved in activities in around 120 countries focused on a livable future. With more than 50 years of experience gained across many fields within economic and labour development, energy and environmental topics, and the promotion of peace and stability, GIZ has become a trusted partner for the German Federal Government, institutions of the European Union, the United Nations, private enterprise and governments of other nations.

Verband kommunaler Unternehmen e.V. (VKU) is the German Association of Local Public Utilities of municipally determined infrastructure undertakings and economic enterprises. These are companies that provide services of general interest in Germany within the framework of local self-government. Working in the context of an economic system driven by competition, they serve the interests of citizens by maintaining a service structure that counteracts the forces of market concentration and forms an integral part of Germany’s social market economy. VKU is the association for local public utilities, which do not primarily pursue private commercial objectives but are guided by public welfare obligations. In our democratic system, they operate under local self-administration to serve “citizen value”, i.e. to meet the needs of the local community.

The PREVENT Waste Alliance serves as an international ‘think and do tank’ for circular economy practitioners. As a platform for knowledge exchange and international cooperation, it brings together organisations from the private sector, academia, civil society and public institutions. PREVENT’s mission is to advance the circular economy in low- and middle-income countries by minimising waste, eliminating pollutants, and maximising the reuse of resources in the economy worldwide.

The Lateinamerika Verein e.V. (LAV), founded in 1916 by Hamburg and Bremen merchants and politicians, is the network and information platform for people, institutions and companies interested in Latin America. The LAV offers targeted information and supports encounters and networking with Latin America. In addition to conferences, lectures, socio-political and cultural events and trips, the Latin America Day is the most important annual event for the promotion of German-Latin American relations. The gala dinner is a unique event at the highest level due to the presence of Latin American heads of government. The LAV addresses relevant political, social, cultural and economic micro- and macroeconomic issues in order to deepen relations between Germany and Latin America.

The German Biogas Association (Fachverband Biogas e.V.) is the leading industry association for the biogas sector in Germany, representing around 4,700 members from business, science, and practice. With more than 40 dedicated staff members based in Freising and Berlin, the association serves as the central voice of the industry, advocating for the expansion and sustainable use of biogas technology. It represents the interests of its members vis-à-vis policymakers, authorities, and the public, and is actively involved at the national, European, and international levels. The association operates across the agriculture, energy production, and circular economy sectors – linking these fields through its commitment to a future-proof biogas industry. In addition, it participates in international projects to share knowledge and experience related to biogas, thereby making a vital contribution to establishing biogas as an integral part of the energy transition.

Germany Trade & Invest is the Federal Republic of Germany’s international economic promotion agency. We help international companies set up business in Europe’s largest economy. Our experts offer free confidential advice and project support to companies interested in expanding to Germany.