Advancing industrial resiliency and sustainability, together. |
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Water + Energy Forward is a consortium of 40+ organizations addressing the water-energy-waste nexus at small and medium-sized manufacturers and wastewater utilities in Wisconsin and beyond.
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Who We AreWe are universities, nonprofits, manufacturers and wastewater utilities collaborating on economically feasible solutions to water and energy challenges. Together, we are working to:
Water + Energy Forward was initiated by The Water Council, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Milwaukee. |
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our workWe envision a future where our manufacturing and utility sectors pioneer cutting-edge, scalable solutions in water and energy efficiency, enhancing resilience to climate change impacts and promoting sustainable growth across the globe. Our work has three tracks:
We warmly welcome you to our in-process website and invite you to read more below or click here for answers to frequently asked questions. |
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Lead partnersClick here to learn about the individuals leading our engine. |
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What is an innovation engine?Water + Energy Forward is a proud aspiring innovation engine through the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines program. Innovation Engines exist to advance critical technologies, address national and societal challenges, foster partnership, promote and stimulate economic growth and job creation, and spur regional innovation and talent. In 2023, the NSF awarded an inaugural NSF Engines Development Award to The Water Council and its partners, which commenced work to build the collaborative effort that has become Water + Energy Forward. Read more about the NSF grant and anticipated milestones to come. |
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NSF Development GrantIn May 2023, the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded an NSF Engines Development Award to The Water Council to begin work on what has become Water + Energy Forward. Read the news release we issued at the time, which covers the nature of the award and the work we set out to do over its two-year period. The award’s official title is “Advancing Water & Energy Technologies for the Manufacturing & Utilities Sectors (WI, IL), Award No. 2304153.” Later in 2023, Insight on Business magazine featured this news—and the work it has made possible—in a story titled “Engine of innovation: New-look NSF program bolsters Wisconsin as a hub for water and energy.” In August 2024, we submitted what the NSF terms a “pre-proposal”—highlighting in detail the next steps we propose in fulfilling the vision we established in the first two years under the original Development Award. Our hope is to be selected for a larger grant from the NSF that will, together with funds raised from other sources, support Water + Energy Forward’s work over the next decade. |
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Laying the FoundationWe determined Water + Energy Forward, based in Wisconsin, will address water, energy, and waste technology innovation with a particular focus on helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reduce water and energy material risks and convert waste to value. Upon receiving an NSF Engines Development Award in 2023, The Water Council and its partners started laying a foundation for collaboration across industry, utilities, universities, nonprofits and more. Through focus groups held around the region, we zeroed in on small and medium manufacturers and utilities and identified three primary sectors as our initial focus areas:
All three are water-intensive and offer meaningful opportunities for positive change at the water-energy-waste nexus. The NSF award requires prominent focus on what it terms “use-inspired research & development,” which is the first of our three main tracks. Track 1: Use-Inspired R&D Track 2: Innovative Financing Track 3: Inclusive Workforce |
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Water + Energy Forward in the News
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