Background / Context
Water is one of the defining challenges of our generation. Growing demand, climate change, population growth, urbanization and industrial development are placing increasing pressure on water resources worldwide, making the need for innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions more urgent than ever.
Established by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) is an international initiative designed to identify, recognize and accelerate breakthrough innovations addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the global water sector.
Since 2023, GPIW has run an annual global open call covering the full water value chain and bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, technology developers, utilities, industrial players, investors, policymakers and institutions committed to advancing water innovation.
The Prize has grown rapidly across successive editions:
- 2023: 105 applications from 22 countries and 85 organizations.
- 2024: 540 applications from 56 countries and 199 organizations.
- 2025: 2,570 applications from 119 countries and 316 organizations.
The fourth edition, launching in 2026, builds on this momentum and introduces opportunities for innovators across different stages of technological maturity.
GPIW aims to accelerate transformative innovation capable of improving water security, increasing resource efficiency, strengthening climate resilience and supporting a more sustainable and water-secure future.
The Challenge
Water is a defining challenge of our generation.
Today, 2.1 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, while global water demand is projected to increase by 20–30% by 2050. At the same time, climate change is accelerating water stress across every continent, placing additional pressure on already constrained water resources.
Despite the scale and urgency of the challenge, investment in water innovation remains critically underfunded compared with what is needed to develop, validate and deploy new solutions at scale.
Meeting future water needs will therefore require more than incremental improvements. It will require new technologies, approaches and business models capable of producing, treating, reusing, conserving and managing water more efficiently, while reducing environmental impact and increasing the resilience of water systems.
The challenge is not limited to one technology or one part of the water cycle. Innovation is needed across the full water value chain and at every stage of technological maturity, from scientific research and proof of concept to pilot validation, commercial deployment and large-scale implementation.
Through the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW), the Saudi Water Authority seeks to help bridge this innovation gap by identifying, recognizing and accelerating promising solutions with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable, resilient and water-secure future.
What GPIW Is Looking For
GPIW is looking for high-potential innovations capable of addressing critical water-sector challenges and delivering measurable environmental, economic and societal impact.
The Prize welcomes solutions at different stages of maturity:
- Track A – TRL 1–3: Research & Proof of Concept
- Track B – TRL 4–7: Development & Demonstration
- Track C – TRL 8–9: Proven Impact and Ecosystem Leadership
For Tracks A and B, applications may address six areas across the water innovation spectrum:
1. Advanced Water Production & Desalination Technologies
Breakthrough technologies improving the production of potable, industrial or fit-for-purpose water through desalination, advanced treatment or alternative water production systems.
2. Water Reclamation, Circular Economy & Zero Liquid Discharge
Solutions enabling water, wastewater, brine and valuable resources to be recovered, reused, recycled or circulated within industrial, municipal, agricultural or commercial systems.
3. Water Efficiency, Conservation & Consumption Management
Technologies, systems and interventions that reduce water demand, improve water-use efficiency, prevent losses or optimize consumption.
4. Digitalization, Automation & Smart Water Management
Digital, automated and data-driven innovations improving the monitoring, operation, control, prediction, optimization or management of water systems.
5. Environmental Sustainability & Water Resource Conservation
Innovations protecting, restoring, conserving or improving the long-term sustainability of water resources, ecosystems, watersheds and groundwater systems.
6. Accessible & Cost-Effective Wastewater Solutions
Practical, affordable and scalable wastewater treatment and management solutions designed to improve access, reliability, operational simplicity and safe reuse.
Track C includes three dedicated Special Mention categories:
- Most Innovative Idea in Water Technology
- Venture Capital Deal of the Year in Water Tech
- Most Impactful Lab / Accelerator in Water Tech
Each project, innovation or nomination may be submitted under one category only.
Evaluation Criteria
Depending on the selected Track, applicants should demonstrate:
1. A strong scientific or technical foundation, with a clear explanation of what differentiates the innovation from existing approaches.
2. Evidence appropriate to its Technology Readiness Level, such as experimental results, simulations, laboratory validation, prototypes, pilot results, field deployments or demonstrated operational performance.
3. A clear contribution to solving an important water challenge, for example by improving water availability, quality, reuse, efficiency, affordability, resilience or environmental sustainability.
4. Measurable performance and impact, supported wherever possible by quantitative indicators, testing, validation data or real-world evidence.
5. Scalability and feasibility, including a realistic pathway toward wider implementation, adoption or commercial deployment.
6. Long-term viability, considering cost efficiency, infrastructure requirements, implementation capabilities, partnerships, market demand and the capacity of the team to execute.
7. An ambitious yet achievable vision, with the potential to contribute meaningfully to the future of the global water sector.
GPIW aims not only to recognize promising ideas, but also to help accelerate their journey toward greater validation, deployment and impact, connecting innovators with an international ecosystem of industry leaders, policymakers, utilities, researchers, investors and institutions working to advance water innovation.
Applicants must complete and formally submit their application through the official GPIW application portal
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
There is no application fee.
All applications must be submitted in English.
The online application is organized into eight sections:
- Applicant Information
Contact details and information about the applicant and organization. - Innovation Overview
High-level description of the innovation, selected TRL Track, Prize category and water challenge addressed. - Technical Questions
Scientific, technical and developmental information tailored to the selected TRL Track. - Impact & Market
Scale of the challenge, expected or demonstrated impact, target beneficiaries, competitive landscape and barriers to adoption. - Team & Organizational Maturity
Team expertise, intellectual-property status, funding history and key development milestones. - Supporting Materials
- Review
- Declaration & Submit
Applicants may save their application as a draft and return to it before the submission deadline. An application is considered valid only once it has been formally submitted.
Required supporting materials
The following materials must be uploaded as part of the application:
1. Pitch Deck or Technical Summary – Required
- Maximum 20 slides or equivalent.
- Accepted formats: PDF or PPT.
- Maximum file size: 20 MB.
- It should present the innovation, evidence of performance, team and roadmap.
2. Video Presentation – Required
- Duration: 1–2 minutes.
- Accepted formats: MP4, MOV or AVI.
- Maximum file size: 50 MB.
- The video should provide a concise introduction to the innovation and its value.
3. Supporting Evidence – Optional
- Technical reports.
- Pilot results.
- Publications.
- Certifications.
- Commercial references.
- Other relevant evidence.
- Accepted formats: PDF or ZIP.
- Maximum file size: 30 MB.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information submitted is complete, accurate and truthful.
Application and Evaluation Timeline
The GPIW evaluation process is structured in successive stages to ensure fairness, consistency and evidence-based assessment.
Key dates
- Application window: June 4 – September 30, 2026.
- Administrative screening: October 1 – October 10.
- Technical evaluation and shortlisting: October 10 – October 31.
- Shortlist notification and finalist coordination: November 1 – December 7.
- Board Jury review: from November 1.
- Winner announcement: December 7, 2026.
The GPIW Award Ceremony will take place as part of the Innovation Driven Water Sustainability (IDWS) Conference, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, December 7–9, 2026.
Awards & Recognition
GPIW offers a financial prize purse, dedicated recognitions and potential post-award piloting support.
Grand Prizes
Two Grand Prizes will be awarded:
- 1 winner from Track A.
- 1 winner from Track B.
Impact Medals
USD 50,000 per winner
Twelve Impact Medals will be awarded:
- 6 winners from Track A.
- 6 winners from Track B.
Special Mentions
Track C offers up to 6 non-monetary recognitions, with up to two recognitions in each category.
Post-Award Pilot Development
Following the award announcement, selected winning innovations may be considered for separate piloting support coordinated by the Saudi Water Authority with the Water Technologies Innovation Institute and Research Advancements (WTIIRA).
Pilot support may be considered for:
- The two Grand Prize winners.
- Up to two Impact Medal winners.
Selected innovations may receive up to USD 250,000 per innovation to support agreed pilot-related costs.
This funding is not an unrestricted cash grant and will be subject to an agreed scope, budget, timetable and separate contractual arrangements.
Pilots are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia.
Participation in or successful completion of a pilot does not constitute procurement approval and does not guarantee future commercial deployment, investment or purchasing.
Confidentiality
GPIW recognizes the importance of protecting applicants’ confidential information.
Application materials will be used solely for purposes related to the administration, assessment, promotion and delivery of the Prize.
Access to non-public application materials will be limited to individuals and entities with a legitimate role in the Prize process, including:
· The GPIW Working Group.
· Technical Jurors.
· Board Jurors.
· Authorized support personnel.
Individuals involved in the evaluation process are required to comply with confidentiality obligations.
GPIW may publish or communicate non-confidential information about shortlisted applicants, finalists, winners and recognized nominations for public announcements, ceremony materials, reports, media communications and promotional activities.
Intellectual Property
Participation in GPIW does not transfer ownership of an applicant’s intellectual property.
All background intellectual property, know-how, data, inventions, designs, software, methods, processes, trade secrets and other intellectual assets submitted by an applicant remain the property of the applicant or the relevant rights holder.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they hold all necessary rights, permissions and authorizations relating to the submitted innovation, project, initiative or nomination.
Applications must not infringe third-party intellectual-property rights, confidentiality obligations, contractual restrictions or applicable laws and regulations.
Where post-award piloting support is provided, any intellectual property, data, know-how, improvements, inventions or other results arising from pilot activities will be addressed in a separate pilot agreement.
