Ofwat, the English and Welsh water regulator, have awarded £5.2m to highly innovative initiatives using robotics, smart sensors, open data and novel engineering to improve water quality, reduce pollution, and enhance services for customers.
Ofwat award over £5m in latest Water Breakthrough Challenge
Ofwat, the English and Welsh water regulator, have awarded £5.2m to highly innovative initiatives using robotics, smart sensors, open data and novel engineering to improve water quality, reduce pollution, and enhance services for customers.
The 13 innovations are the winners of the Catalyst Stream of the second Water Breakthrough Challenge, part of a series of competitions from Ofwat, run by Nesta Challenges with Arup and Isle Utilities, designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the water sector, for the benefit of customers, society and the environment.
Entries to the Water Breakthrough Challenge were led by water companies in England and Wales, who were encouraged to partner widely with technology providers, startups, academia and industry to propose highly collaborative initiatives.
Up to £34 million of additional funding is due to be awarded through the Transform Stream of the challenge later this Spring.
The next round of the Water Breakthrough Challenge will open in Autumn 2022, and Ofwat will be consulting on changes to this and future competitions soon.
You can read about the 13 Catalyst stream winners on Ofwat’s website, and register your place to attend a showcase of all Water Breakthrough Challenge winners on 10 May 2022.