Ofwat launches £4m competition for innovations from outside the water industry

Ofwat has launched a new third strand of its innovation fund: the Water Discovery Challenge, which is for innovators from outside of the English and Welsh industry.

The £4m fund offers up to 20 innovators £50,000 to develop their ideas and expert mentoring from water companies. Up to ten of these will go on to win a further £450,000 to turn their ideas into pilots.

The Water Discovery Challenge was opened to entries last week, and the launch webinar attracted around 400 registrants. It runs until 5 April. Ofwat said it is looking for "bold and ingenious innovation that can help solve the biggest challenges facing the water sector today and in the future”.