Innovate UK Business Connect has announced the launch of the Cross-Sector Water Innovation Network (CSWIN) to drive collaboration and build lasting relationships with sectors interested in working with the water sector.
Innovate UK is collaborating with water regulator Ofwat to deliver the £40 million Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge, as part of the £400 million Ofwat Innovation Fund.
The 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
- water and wastewater systems users
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
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.”
Water Innovation Cross-Sector Challenge
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 - to the extent that no individual actor or sector can rarely solve water challenges independently.
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.
Programme delivery
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
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.
Click here to find out more and to join the CSWIN.
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