Deadline: April 30, 2021.

Suqia’s goal is not limited to the provision of potable water to those in need. We also identify how innovative and sustainable technologies can be part of the solution to the global water crisis. We understand that the scale of the water crisis demands different approaches that extend beyond giving water. This is why, in line with the UAE’s goal to become a knowledge-based economy with a strong focus on technology, R&D and innovation, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched a USD1 million global award to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award supports research and development of new and innovative technologies that produce, distribute, store, monitor, desalinate and purify water using renewable energy to support the global position of the UAE in developing solutions for challenges that are faced by poverty- and disaster-stricken communities worldwide.

CATEGORIES

The Award is comprised of 4 main categories that target pioneering organisations, research centres, individuals, educational institutions, and innovators from all around the world to motivate participants to come up with innovative, renewable energy powered solutions with the aim to either produce, distribute, store, monitor, desalinate and/or purify water:

A. INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AWARD: The individual applying to this category should have developed one or more contributions to enable innovative technological solutions to address water scarcity, which can use renewable energy to produce safe drinking water in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The applicant should submit an overview of their research and implementation contributions towards the aims of the award, along with all relevant supporting documents (scientific publications, patents, prototype photos and descriptions etc.)

ELIGIBILITY

Individual applicants

B. INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AWARD: The project submitted by the applicant must be an innovative and prototyped, piloted or deployed solution, with the ability to demonstrate measurable results. The project must be developed and executed by the applicant with the aim of extracting safe drinking water from natural sources in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The project should be able to operate exclusively on renewable energy once deployed in the field without affecting its economic viability. The project should preferably be a solution that is easily installed, operated and maintained without the need for highly specialised skills and tools and should be able to operate reliably in different and harsh ambient conditions, using low cost and maintenance friendly technology.

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals or teams from non-profit, educational and academic institutions and research centres that are independent or annexed to governmental or semi-governmental organisations.

C. NNOVATIVE CRISIS SOLUTIONS AWARD: The applicant’s project must be an innovative system or management system to offer emergency relief by providing clean and safe drinking water in communities that have been affected by internationally declared crises, such as natural disasters, or catastrophic events. The project can consist of a single system or a pool of multiple systems deployed by the same organisation in different locations or communities, and have the ability to be deployed within 48 hours. The project must have been field deployed in an emergency and proven to have aided at least 1,000 people in need of fresh water during the initial critical phases of humanitarian assistance

ELIGIBILITY

Small enterprises, research institutions, and NGOs

GUIDELINES

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how effective they have been in delivering intended objectives and demonstrated performance supported by facts and figures on how it has been successful in achieving the evaluation criteria. For example, for the Technology & Process Design criteria, entries must showcase results associated with increased water production and quality such as decreased salinity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), turbidity and/or other water quality measurement/parameters. 

• a. The application should be sufficiently detailed and clear to enable the Application Team to analyse properly and to form a view on all elements of the application.
• b. Applications shall display environmental impact assessment for implementing a given water production, desalination, filtration, purification and/or management project.
• c.Application must show how money is saved through a life cycle cost analysis that outlines its payback period and internal rate of return (IRR).
• d. Applications shall highlight innovative and creative aspects by demonstrating the applied process, technology and employed methodology.
• e. Applications shall showcase successful examples of efficient water production projects that can be replicated and reproduced elsewhere by outlining market needs and ease of use.
• f. Participants shall highlight over involved stakeholders such as partners, sponsors, customers, audiences or end-users during the development and/or after completion of the technology submitted in their applications. Participants shall also highlight the raised awareness and, where feasible, demonstrate shared knowledge with others.
• g. Applications shall demonstrate plans for continuous improvement in the future.
• h. Projects applied for “Innovative Project Award” and “Innovative Crisis Solutions Award” must be owned by the Organization/Company applying for this category and is existing under a registered trade license.
• i. Projects applied for the “Innovative R&D Award” should be owned by the entity(ies) sponsoring the project (academic/research/corporate institution) and to be submitted by the project lead(s) and endorsed by the sponsor institution(s).

OFFICIAL LINK: https://suqia.ae/awards