3 questions to Hervé de Lanversin, on the rise of Seawards, of which he is co-founder, and his growing involvement in events that promote the visibility of cryoseparation.
Seawards’ presence is increasingly noticed at water management events. How do you benefit from this exposure?
It’s an important lever for us. Taking part in events, whether in Paris at Change Now, in Morocco or in Saudi Arabia with Business France, gives visibility to our innovative seawater desalination method and a real opportunity to meet people. We are in demand because our innovation provides a new response to a critical issue: producing drinking water using a desalination method that is efficient, competitive and, above all, environmentally friendly. Each participation opens doors for us, with qualified contacts and high-level meetings…
You are involved in the Booster Grow Global program in Saudi Arabia, supported by the France Export team. What are your next international steps?
It’s a continuation of our exchanges with Gulf countries, but also a change of scale. The objective is clear: to find a local industrial partner to deploy our desalination units in priority regions where desalination is a vital necessity. We are currently working on an initial prototype in a real environment. The next step will be the commissioning of a pilot unit in Marseille by the end of 2026. This pilot unit will demonstrate the industrial efficiency of the process. Then, in 2027, we plan to install other pilot units in our priority geographical areas, most probably in Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Other sites are under discussion. The support we receive from Business France is invaluable. Organizing a meeting on site when we arrive, with the support of the French government, gives credibility to our approach and enables us to change dimension.
How will this accelerate your development?
In 2025, we’re continuing to develop the prototype under real-life conditions. This phase will validate our technical choices and pave the way for real-life demonstrations. 2026 will be a pivotal year. We need to launch work on the pilot sites, finalize the unit’s design, test the latest innovations and, above all, enter the pre-industrialization phase. We’ll be demonstrating the economic and environmental viability of our solution.
