Tech Challenge Frequently Asked Questions

Any water technology corporation or business with water-related needs interested in uncovering new innovations to complement their R&D or innovation activities would be a good prospect for the Tech Challenge.

Through our biannual innovation cyles, we bridge the gap between corporate needs and global solutions through a streamlined challenge process:

1. Define: Corporate sponsors identify and prioritize their key water technology interests.
2. Activate: We launch a global call for solutions across our network of industry, water hub, startup ecosystem and academic partners.
3. Deliver: We surface the most promising innovations for real-world application.

Annual Tech Challenge sponsorship is $75,000 USD (plus membership in The Water Council). This comprehensive fee covers winner prize pools and full programmatic and technical support from The Water Council for two challenge rounds per year.

Why Sponsor if You Already Have an Innovation Team?

1. Uncover the Unknown. Despite internal efforts, our sponsors find that over 90% of applicants are new to their radar. We fill the gaps in global discovery and expand the reach of your radar.
2. Exceptional ROI. The cost of sponsorship is significantly lower than the overhead of hiring and supporting additional full-time scouting staff.
3. Strategic Alignment. Don't replace your team—empower them. We provide the "lead generation" for innovation, allowing your professionals to focus on R&D and commercialization.

We strictly limit participation to six sponsors. By keeping the circle small, we ensure The Water Council can provide the personalized, value-added support your innovation discovery requires.

Sponsorship involves two annual strategic meetings and active participation in the evaluation process. We handle the heavy lifting of scouting and logistics, while your team focuses on the high-value work: reviewing applications, providing technical input and interviewing top candidates.

You do. Each sponsor identifies an internal team of experts – from engineering to strategy – to review the pipeline. This ensures the evaluation process is tailored to your specific technical needs while maintaining the highest level of corporate IP security.

We provide end-to-end support by handling the complexities of global innovation discovery. From technical vetting and marketing to NDA facilitation and meeting logistics, The Water Council provides a seamless, professionally managed competition framework designed to deliver value without the administrative burden.

Our previous challenges have spanned the most critical sectors of water technology. Past topics include:

• Smart Infrastructure & AI: IoT water quality sensors, leak detection, and AI for pipe networks and systems.
• Contaminant Detection: Specialized sensors for heavy metals and disinfection byproducts.
• Advanced Materials: Anti-corrosion, anti-fouling, and anti-scale coatings and materials.
• Operational Efficiency: Energy harvesting for pipe networks and solutions to eliminate high OPEX in aerobic wastewater treatment.
• Process Control: Microbial control and inline sensing technologies.

During the application and interview process, all information is expected to be non-proprietary but of sufficient technical detail to evaluate. After the challenge concludes, we invite corporate sponsors to enter into non-disclosure agreements with specific applicants if in the interests of both parties.

Access to the full applicant pipeline is a benefit reserved for active sponsors during their specific challenge rounds. To protect the strategic interests of our partners, prior application data is not shared. However, we encourage everyone to explore our publicly announced winners from past cycles.

The global reach of the program continues to expand each round. Exposure to new technologies is a consistent outcome for our sponsors with approximately 90% of applicants being previously unknown by the sponsors.

“Our participation in Tech Challenge widens our access to innovators who have ideas but haven’t explored marketing their solutions through traditional channels yet,” says Rebecca Tallon, engineering director for water treatment at A. O. Smith Corporation. “It’s been a valuable way to extend our R&D efforts for innovations that would have taken much longer to find on our own.”

We don’t just run challenges; we build partnerships. The Water Council leverages its entire global network to provide year-round support for our sponsors. We stay constantly attuned to your priorities, proactively identifying and introducing you to innovations that can drive your business forward.

We provide the platform; you build the partnership. The Water Council does not participate in investment or financial relationships with Tech Challenge participants. This ensures that any licensing, R&D or investment discussions happen directly between the sponsor and the innovator, allowing for a clean and transparent business brokering process.