The International Water Association will open a North American regional office at Milwaukee’s Global Water Center as part of a larger effort to drive new water-focused innovation.

The city of Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University are joining together in a formal partnership with The Water Council, and have made a commitment to create or attract 75 water-focused entrepreneurs in the next five years, and train up to 400 students per year in water-related fields at the Milwaukee universities.

“IWA’s decision to locate their North American office in Milwaukee reaffirms the global leadership of this region’s water technology industry, and enables The Water Council and our members to expand our reach to water professionals across the world,” said Rich Meeusen, co-chair of The Water Council and chairman, president and CEO of Badger Meter Inc. in a press release.

View the full story by the Milwaukee Business Journal