Transformational change has been promised by the water sector as part of its 2050 Innovation Strategy which will see a centre of excellence hub for sharing innovative practices come to life from spring next year.
The strategy, developed by water companies together with the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) and engineering consultancy ARUP, sets a vision to deliver value for consumers and the environment.
Following a consultation period from July that saw more than 150,000 people within and outside the water sector across Europe contribute, the strategy says its central plank – the centre of excellence – will:
- Make innovation needs clear and visible;
- Generate value through collaboration, connections and engagement not just publishing data and information;
- Strike the balance between competition and collaboration with intellectual property rights as a key consideration;
- Be unbiased, inclusive and accessible to all;
- Develop a measure of success that facilitates the end-to-end innovation process;
- Be clearly governed, but the process for this is under consideration;
- Make failure a culturally acceptable part of the innovation process.
The strategy has been designed to evolve as needed and is not become a dogma for delivery of either the innovation fund or the centre of excellence.
Work is underway to decide on the governance, financing and deliver of the centre of excellence.
The scope of the Innovation Strategy covers providing water and essential services expected by society; protecting and enhancing the natural world; delivering resilient infrastructure systems; achieving net-zero carbon; taking a responsible, whole life approach to consumption and production; and enabling a diverse workforce that is future-ready.
Steve Kaye, chief executive of UKWIR, said: “There are some great examples of UK water companies collaborating regionally, nationally and globally. What this strategy does is help to bring the sector’s priorities into sharper focus, provide a gateway for those interested in contributing and working with us, and create an enabling environment where together we can do more.
“However, this is only the start of the journey, we now need to galvanise organisations, large and small, to help implement the strategy and deliver its ambitious objectives.”
Ofwat’s innovation fund, which was announced as part of PR19, will see £200 million allocated over five years via two annual competitions.
A Dragons Den-style competition called the Innovation in Water challenge is due to launch in January 2021 to encourage supply chain businesses to get involved.
The main competition, which will run in April, will be open for water companies and other stakeholders to collaborate and pitch large strategic projects.