SPRING 2022 TECH CHALLENGE NOW OPEN
We are accepting applications now through May 8 for our spring 2022 Tech Challenge. The topics are:
Elimination of high operating expenses in sludge management costs: Overall intent is to address and minimize sludge management costs for small- to medium-sized wastewater treatment plants, which can be quite appreciable due to high costs for aerobic digestion and/or sludge hauling costs. Areas of potential focus may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Appreciable improvement in efficiency and automation of sludge thickening, digestion and dewatering processes
- Minimizing volume/mass of produced sludge through process improvements, including upstream treatment process changes/enhancement
- Cost-effective process enhancements to produce Class A bio-solids, which can be used as a fertilizer, other beneficial causes or environmentally friendly disposal
Non-turbine energy harvesting: Solid state methods to recover energy from thermal, pressure, parasitic losses or other non-turbine energy harvesting approaches are desired. Applications in both small scale (in home or building) and large scale (water distribution and collection systems) will be considered. Supporting technologies that store energy are also of interest. Potential uses for the energy recovered include:
- Extend battery life/recharge batteries needed for data transmission in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)
- Powering meters and sensors
- Powering actuators for valves and other equipment
Click the link below to register for our Water Tech Hub, learn more about this round’s topics and apply.
LEARN MORE & APPLY |
TECH CHALLENGE MATCHES PROMISING INNOVATIVE WATER TECHNOLOGIES TO COMPANIES SEEKING NOVEL SOLUTIONS—ACCELERATING INNOVATION FOR ALL
The semi-annual Tech Challenge program connects water innovators to innovative water users through topic-specific open innovation contests. Tech Challenge finalists win the opportunity to present their innovation to company sponsors to compete for prize money, access to corporate R&D resources and the opportunity to partner on the development, marketing, licensing or sale of the technology or idea. Tech Challenge company sponsors save time in surfacing water and water-adjacent technologies by tapping into our powerful global network to find new ideas, talent and investment opportunities quickly and efficiently.
HOW TECH CHALLENGE WORKS
Targeted topics are selected by sponsoring companies, with challenges held each spring and fall. Water technology innovators from anywhere in the world—including inventive individuals, university students or researchers, water professionals or private sector and government labs—are invited to apply. After the close of the competition, applications are reviewed by our corporate R&D team sponsors. Winners are chosen and get the opportunity to present to sponsors and compete for:
- A top prize of $10,000
- Opportunity for potential joint commercialization with market leaders
- Access to sponsoring companies’ R&D team expertise and feedback
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