United Utilities has started the countdown to Innovation Lab 3 - 20 suppliers from around the world have been pitching their ideas for a place in the water company’s tech incubator programme.
For the third year running, the North West-based utility is on the hunt for new ideas that can be co-developed and brought to market for the water sector. Despite COVID restrictions, United Utilities has received a record number of applications
However, instead of suppliers travelling from across the world to United Utilities’ Warrington HQ, the Coronavirus pandemic means this year’s Pitch Day which took place yesterday has been a virtual affair.
Globally, more than 450 suppliers were scouted for Innovation Lab 3, and 103 of these submitted their ideas to United Utilities for consideration – a 58 per cent increase on last year despite the coronavirus pandemic. These were narrowed down to a shortlist of 20 who were pitching at the event.
Just over half of the 20 suppliers presenting their ideas are from the UK, with the rest from Europe, the USA and Australia.
United Utilities Head of Innovation Kieran Brocklebank explained that the event was becoming a highlight in the company’s calendar:
“Every year we are blown away by the sheer ingenuity and creativity that’s out there waiting for the water industry to tap into it. We know that getting a foot in the door is often the greatest challenge for these suppliers. So for those who make it onto the programme, once we start working together we can really nurture some of these game-changing ideas and take them to the next level.”
The ideas fall into a number of categories: Systems Thinking, Circular Economy, Future of Water and Wild Card.
Kieran added:
“We’re very excited to hear more from the shortlisted companies. There are no large corporate suppliers this year, all are either new startups or SMEs. They will be pitching new ideas that could help us become more sustainable, more customer focused and more effective at protecting the health of our assets. We will need a couple of weeks to assess the pitches and then we’ll be ready to announce this year’s participants.”
The technology incubator programme is run in conjunction with L Marks and has successfully launched a number of new suppliers into the water market since it began in 2017.
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