The Water Council And Supporting Sponsors Announce Third Tech Challenge Competition

Challenge creates faster R&D path for corporate teams and water technology innovators

The Water Council, along with corporate sponsors A. O. Smith Corporation, Badger Meter and Zurn, a Rexnord company, today announced the third Tech Challenge competition with focused topics on leak detection technologies and energy harvesting from water networks.

The Tech Challenge was launched in 2018 to identify cutting-edge freshwater technologies or ideas with a high potential for commercialization or implementation. Finalists have an opportunity to win money, access to corporate R&D resources and a chance to partner on the development with corporate sponsors on the marketing, licensing or sale of the winning technology or solution. Since the first round of challenges, more than 40 applicants from nine countries have participated; a number of which have continued engagement with our corporate sponsors.

“The value of these connections goes beyond the application and the selection stage,” said Karen Frost, vice president of economic development at The Water Council. “The ability to meet face-to-face with corporate R&D teams adds long-term value to an applicant’s network, even after the competition concludes.”

The third round of Tech Challenge competitions seeks innovative solutions that address the following:

• Sensors and enabling technologies for leak detection
• Energy harvesting from small and large-scale water networks

Anyone with an innovative technology or solution that addresses the listed topics is encouraged to apply. Prospective technologies or solutions can be submitted from entrepreneurs, university students or researchers, professionals already working in water-dependent industries, private sector and government labs or inventive individuals from any location in the world.

Tech Challenge topics, application criteria, entry forms and other Water Council program details are available at watertechhub.com. Applications are being accepted through May 3, 2020, with finalists selected shortly thereafter.