EIT WATER ANNOUNCES FOUNDING CEO
EIT Water has announced the appointment of Mikael Kamp Sørensen as its founding Chief Executive Officer, taking up the role on 1 September 2026. EIT Water is the newest Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
Mikael joins EIT Water from DHI, a globally recognised research and technology organisation specialising in water and environment, where he has held senior leadership roles since 2007, including as Managing Director of DHI subsidiaries. During 2021-26 he served as Executive Vice President for global business units within offshore energy, ports and water resources.
His career spans the full breadth of water, marine and maritime expertise: from freshwater hydrology and water resources management to marine ecosystem assessment, offshore energy, ports and coastal resilience. He brings a proven track record of scaling scientific innovation into commercially sustainable solutions, having consistently delivered significant revenue growth while building high-performing teams across Europe and internationally.
Mikael also brings direct experience of EU innovation frameworks, having participated in Horizon Europe and FP7 programme steering committees and managed innovation portfolios involving European Space Agency funding. He holds an MSc in Physical Geography from the University of Copenhagen and sits on the Board of the Water Branch of the Confederation of Danish Industries.
Commenting on his appointment, Mikael Kamp Sørensen said:
"Europe's water challenge is not a future problem, it is unfolding now, across river basins affected by droughts, degraded marine ecosystems and cities increasingly exposed to flood risk. There is no lack of water domain knowledge in Europe - what has been missing is a dedicated innovation engine to translate European expertise into scalable and commercially viable solutions. I see that EIT Water has the unique capability to be that engine, and I am honoured to take on the role of building it. I have spent twenty years ensuring that world-class water research translates into real-world impact., and I am deeply motivated by the mission to create a leading water innovation community for Europe - driving entrepreneurship and technology deployment to deliver tangible impact across the water, marine and maritime sectors on behalf of EIT Water and with our Members."
Hedwige Nuyens, Chair of the EIT Water Supervisory Board, welcomed the appointment:
"The appointment of Mikael as our founding CEO marks a pivotal moment for EIT Water. His unique combination of deep water domain expertise, commercial leadership experience of scaling innovation within complex European frameworks, and strong people management skills, is exactly what this organisation needs as we move from our foundation phase into full operations. Mikael's energy, ambition and track record of turning scientific excellence into tangible impact will be instrumental in building EIT Water into Europe's leading innovation community for water, marine and maritime systems. I am delighted to welcome him and look forward to working closely together to deliver the impact that Europe’s WMM sectors so desperately need."
A leader for the challenge ahead
Europe's water, marine and maritime sectors and ecosystems face unprecedented pressures, from ecosystem degradation and pollution to climate-related extremes and resource scarcity. EIT Water was established to unite innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers across Europe to address these challenges through coordinated, place-based innovation.
As founding CEO, Mikael Kamp Sørensen will lead the organisation through its critical transition from startup to full operations in 2027, overseeing the delivery of EIT Water's 7-year strategic agenda, building financial sustainability and establishing the partnerships needed to drive systemic change across Europe's water innovation ecosystem.
He succeeds Hero Prins, who has served as Interim CEO during EIT Water's Start-up Grant Agreement phase in 2026, guiding the organisation through its foundational period including the establishment of its governance structures, regional hub network and first operational programmes.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
- Mikael Kamp Sørensen will take up the role of CEO on 1 September 2026.
- EIT Water is delivering its activities through a network of 8 regional hubs across Europe representing 29 countries, with a Head Office in Aarhus, Denmark.
- EIT Water is currently in its EIT Start-up Grant Agreement (SUGA) phase during 2026, with full operational Launch expected in 2027.
- EIT Water will shortly be opening to new Members. If your organisation is interested in joining, please register your interest on the EIT Water website here.
Media contact: communications@eitwater.eu
About EIT Water
EIT Water is Europe's innovation community for water, marine and maritime systems. We connect industry, innovators, researchers, educators and policymakers to tackle the most urgent water challenges - from scarcity, drought and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline.
By bringing together the right expertise, investment and partners, we help new ideas flow into real-world solutions that strengthen Europe's water resilience, support the blue economy and protect ecosystems from source to sea.
EIT Water is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
About the EIT
The EIT is an EU body and an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Institute supports dynamic pan-European partnerships, called EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, among leading companies, research labs and universities. Together with its leading partners, the EIT Community offers a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship activities across Europe: entrepreneurial education courses, business creation and acceleration services and innovation-driven research projects.