RFAs: Treatment and Removal of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Drinking Water

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 their powerful global network to find new ideas, talent and investment opportunities quickly and efficiently. Solutions at Technology Readiness Level 3 or higher are sought for use in applications including:

• Point of use / Point of entry drinking water
• Process monitoring of small commercial systems
• Industrial applications
• Municipal water supply
• Well water

Benefits

• 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

Key Success Criteria

• TRL 3 or higher (Feasibility Demonstration: Initial development of technology has been completed. Basic components of the technology are well understood. Minimum: Laboratory Scale)
• Low cost
• Long lasting
• Low energy usage
• Rapid response

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.
• They’re looking for companies:
  • in Water, Sensors, Water Treatment, Water Quality, Water Management, Water Supply, Quality Monitoring
  • located in Africa, Asia, Australia/NZ, Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Europe, Middle East, North America, South America
  • incorporated or not
  • prototype, users or paying users stage
  • have raised funding or not
  • currently raising or not raising funds
  • have revenue or not

For more information, visit The Water Council.