News – Blog
Innovation in the water sector
20 December 2022
Innovative thinkers solving complex problems in the water sector
How a series of challenges are making positive ripples in the water sector of England & Wales.
Through Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, we have been delivering a series of innovation competitions to improve the UK water sector.
By design, we hope that these competitions will deliver transformative benefits for customers, society and our natural environments for years to come.
Water Breakthrough Challenge 3
The third round of the Water Breakthrough Challenge (‘Breakthrough 3’) launched in October 2022, with approximately £38 million available for innovative entries boosting collaboration in the water sector in England and Wales and delivering long-lasting benefits to water customers, society, and the environment.
After the success of the first two rounds, which saw £61.5 million awarded to a range of transformative projects, the team expect to see more cutting-edge entries into Breakthrough 3 aligned with the Fund’s strategic innovation themes.
With the first Catalyst stream now closed, the Transform stream is open for entries until 2 February 2023.
Find out more about the challenge here
New Year, New Challenge
The Water Discovery Challenge will welcome entries from all sectors and all types of organisations, domestic or international.
Unlike previous Innovation Fund competitions, organisations are not required to partner, or receive sponsorship from, a water company to enter.
Applicants must meet the following assessment criteria:
- Category 1: Positive impact for water customers, society, and the environment
- Category 2: Innovation enablers and innovative solutions
- Category 3: Capacity, capability, and commitment to deliver
- Category 4: Ability to succeed, to be sustainable and/or gain wide adoption across the water sector
The Water Discovery Challenge will open for entries on Wednesday 25 January 2023 for approximately 10 weeks.
Entrants will be selected for participation by late Spring 2023.
Find out more about this new challenge, and how you can get involved here
Past challenges from the Ofwat Innovation Fund
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The Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC) 2021
The primary objective of the Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC)was to encourage new ways of working that went beyond business-as-usual innovation practices in the water sector, in particular, increasing and improving collaboration and building partnerships from within and outside the water sector.
11 winning entries shared in £2.16 million to deliver their initiatives
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The first Water Breakthrough Challenge
This challenge aimed to spark ambitious innovation and enable new approaches and ways of working, equipping the water sector to address the big challenges it faces, driving far-reaching and long-lasting benefits to customers, society and the environment across England and Wales now and into the future.
Individual entries to the first round of the Water Breakthrough Challenge bid for between £1 million to £10 million from the Innovation Fund.
Nine winning entries are now sharing in £36 million to deliver their innovative initiatives.
https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/news-updates/2021/announcing-the-winners-of-the-first-water-breakthrough-challenge/
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The second Water Breakthrough Challenge
This comprised two streams to attract innovators to tackle two different problems.
The Catalyst Stream aimed to encourage new ways of working that go beyond business-as-usual innovation practices in the water sector, in particular, increasing and improving collaboration and building partnerships from within and outside the water sector.
13 winning entries are now sharing in £5.2 million.
The Transform Stream aimed to spark ambitious innovation and enable new approaches and ways of working, equipping the water sector to address the big challenges facing the sector, driving far-reaching and long-lasting benefits to customers, society and the environment across England and Wales now and into the future.
7 winning entries are now sharing in £20.2 million.
https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/news-updates/2022/catalyst-winners-announced/
