Innovate UK is collaborating with the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) to deliver the £40 million Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge, as part of the £400 million Ofwat Innovation Fund.
This challenge is designed to identify and deliver innovative cross-sector solutions to common challenges across the water environment, driving mutual benefits for the sectors involved and society as a whole.
Through its funding programmes, Innovate UK will deliver innovative cross-sector solutions to England and Wales’ most pressing water challenges, by bringing together industries and stakeholders, including:
- businesses
- research communities
- those utilising water and wastewater systems
Smarter, more resilient water future
Outcomes of these projects will focus on accelerating sustainable growth and shaping a smarter, more resilient water future.
To drive collaboration and build lasting relationships with sectors interested in working with the water sector, Innovate UK Business Connect is launching the Cross-Sector Water Innovation Network (CSWIN).
CSWIN is a new community platform for innovators, supply chain partners, and end-users from all sectors with an interest in the future of the UK’s water system.
The network will act as a single point of access for:
- collaboration
- knowledge sharing
- funding opportunities
- supporting the delivery of the Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge
- removing barriers to joined-up action on water
Expand collaboration
Dr Jo Jolly, Director for Environment and Innovation at Ofwat, said:
Collaboration is vital if we are to find solutions to the challenges we all face and to do so in ways that mean communities and our environment can prosper.
Over 300 organisations from different sectors have already been involved in the Ofwat Innovation Fund, and many transformational projects originated from outside the water sector.
We’re working to significantly deepen and expand on that collaboration through the Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge which will mutually benefit multiple sectors, water customers, communities and the environment.
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Innovate UK to connect with an extensive range of businesses across England and Wales, investing in the innovations and technologies that will drive a real change in how water is managed across multiple sectors.
Challenges
Water is an essential resource, not only for domestic consumers but also for:
- food
- energy
- large industries in the UK
The UK is facing increasing pressure on water resources such as:
- rising demand, including emerging sectors like data centres and hydrogen production
- reducing availability due to climate change and population growth
- increasing water quality pressures
Water is a dynamic resource that interfaces with and connects a range of sectors, such that any individual actor or sector can rarely solve water challenges independently.
A new approach
The Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge is designed to identify and fund key challenge areas and solution opportunities which deliver mutual benefits to the water sector and other collaborating sectors.
Through fostering collaborative innovation projects, the challenge will support business growth and positive environmental and social outcomes, while also influencing policy and regulatory reform.
Cross-sector opportunities
Examples of opportunities could include the following.
Nature based solutions
Bringing together the agriculture, food, and water sectors around regenerative farming and the implementation of nature-based solutions.
These could improve agricultural productivity, reduce flooding risk, and protect water quality from polluted runoff, thereby improving the availability of water resources.
Reducing pollutants
Working with industry to recover potential pollutants at the point of production, reducing pollutants entering the water system.
This allows for increased circularity, enabling more efficient use of resources in industrial processes.
Water-use efficiency
Enabling collaboration between the tech sector, water companies, and local authorities to develop new models and tools that improve the water-use efficiency of data centres.
This helps decrease pressure on water supplies and drive organisations’ environmental goals.
Programme pillars
Delivery of the programme is anchored in three pillars:
- relationships and networks: building connections and communities across sectors
- innovation sharing and adoption: sharing and adopting best practices to accelerate impact
- project funding: supporting collaborative projects through targeted investment
New ways to deliver water improvements
Rob Saunders, Director of Systems Integration Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:
We are excited to work with Ofwat on the Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge, exploring new ways to deliver water improvements.
We want to bring the best research and innovation from across the UK economy, helping other sectors to use it in solving mutual challenges with the water industry.
Cross-Sector Water Innovation Network
As part of the Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge, the CSWIN is key to engaging a broad community of stakeholders with an interest in water from many different sectors.
CSWIN will bring together innovators, enabling sectors, end users, supply chain partners, academia and regulators into a water-conscious community.
The network aims to break down sectoral silos and enable a new way of collaboratively addressing their sectors’ water challenges.
Next steps
The CSWIN will share activities, innovations, best practices, and success stories across sectors, aiming to create a water-conscious community empowered to drive positive change and ensure long-term sustainability.
The network will also signpost members to relevant funding streams and opportunities across the innovation landscape.