Sector publishes Final Innovation Strategy

The water sector has finalised its first innovation strategy, following consultation with stakeholders over the Summer. The intention to make the industry’s approach to innovation more efficient and effective, while also helping to ensure Ofwat’s Innovation Fund is targeted at projects that will deliver the most benefit for the sector.

The final plan locks in the four principles and seven themes (with minor adjustments) scoped out in the draft, as well as the intention to create a virtual Centre of Excellence to accelerate the progress of innovation.

The draft strategy was launched in July, having been developed by the 19 UK water companies and facilitated by UKWIR and ARUP. It was co-created over the summer with input from hundreds of stakeholders through open workshops, interviews and a digital campaign called ‘fresh thinkers this way’ which helped to reach a wider audience beyond the water sector.

UK Water Industry Research chief, Steve Kaye, said: “What this strategy does is help to bring the sector’s priorities into sharper focus, provide a gateway for those interested in contributing and working with us, and create an enabling environment where together we can do more. However, this is only the start of the journey, we now need to galvanise organisations, large and small, to help implement the strategy and deliver its ambitious objectives.”

The focus will now turn to implementing the strategy and the Centre of Excellence.