The Water Council has opened its spring Tech Challenge with topics chosen by industry leaders to help solve challenges in the water sector.

The semi-annual Tech Challenge is open to anyone with a novel solution for the selected topics, including researchers, individuals, entrepreneurs, startups and established companies. This session’s topics, selected by program sponsors A. O. Smith Corporation, Badger Meter and Watts Water Technologies, are:

Participants compete for a prize of up to $10,000 and, more importantly, the chance to get their innovation in front of leading water technology companies with the potential for further partnership down the road. All finalists present directly to research and development representatives from the sponsor companies.

Applications are due May 19. Visit thewatercouncil.com/TechChallenge for more information.

Since launching the Tech Challenge in 2019, The Water Council has awarded $180,000 in funding to 18 innovators from nine countries. The fall 2023 Tech Challenge received a record number of submissions from eight countries.

“The Tech Challenge allows The Water Council to do what we do best – identify solutions, encourage water innovation and make connections that help the entire water technology sector thrive,” said Karen Frost, The Water Council vice president of economic development and innovation.