Ofwat has launched its first innovation challenge of 2023 with £4 million up for grabs to progress innovative ideas that help solve common challenges in the water sector.
This is the first time since the £200 million fund began in 2020 that entrants do not need to enter in association with a water company. Ofwat wants to attract ideas from industries dealing with similar challenges to the water and wastewater sectors.
The fund, launched as part of the PR19 price review, will now open the sector up to novel insights and thinking for the benefit of consumers and the environment, the regulator said.
“Water affects everyone, and it’s time we see what the water sector can learn from astronauts, farmers, data specialists, architects and planners,” David Black, chief executive of Ofwat said: “This is about preparing the water sector for the future, and I look forward to the ideas that come out of it.”
Innovators can apply for up to £50,000 to develop ideas and will be supported and mentored by water companies. Larger bids up to £450,000 will be available to 10 entrants with ideas that can be turned into pilot schemes.
Ofwat said sectors with “high potential for innovative crossover” are energy, cities and transport, construction, agriculture and farming, and digital, data and internet of things.
John Russell, senior director at Ofwat, reflected on the success of previous funding rounds: “Our £200 million Innovation Fund has already supported projects that detect and fix leaks, capture carbon emissions from water processing plants to convert them into fuel, and remove fertilisers from waterways to be re-used in our food system. Now, we’re broadening the opportunity to innovators in any industry that can make a difference to improving the water system for all of us.”
As well as the financial incentives, the fund gives participants access to expert mentoring and capacity-building support from water companies for scaling solutions for the extensive water network in England and Wales.
Entries are open until 5 April. The next round of the competition will run later this year.
The regulator has said innovation funding will continue in the 2025-30 price review after the successes the current competition has spawned.