The Prize winners were announced during the Innovation Driven Desalination event that took place at the Ritz Carlton Hote in Jeddah, on 30 September 2023.
The conference attracted the most important decision-makers in the industry: policymakers, off-takers, project developers, leaders of research institutes and senior executives from across the supply chain.
The inaugural GPID – Global Prize Innovation in Desalination has made a groundbreaking impact, featuring over 500 researchers and start-ups from 22 countries, and receiving 100+ applications.
Highlighting 49 innovative start-ups, 36 research institutes, and 4 industry associations, the event culminated in 32 shortlisted applications, 3 special mentions, 6 impact category winners, and one grand prize winner. This event marks a significant leap in sustainable water solutions and desalination technology.
The inaugural GPID – Global Prize Innovation in Desalination has made a groundbreaking impact, featuring over 500 researchers and start-ups from 22 countries, and receiving 100+ applications.
Highlighting 49 innovative start-ups, 36 research institutes, and 4 industry associations, the event culminated in 32 shortlisted applications, 3 special mentions, 6 impact category winners, and one grand prize winner. This event marks a significant leap in sustainable water solutions and desalination technology.
Researchers, start-ups, research centers, corporate R&Ds, universities
shortlisted from a diverse array of global participants for the GPID
from projects around the world
Global roadshow (Riyadh, Madrid/Alicante, Rome, Berlin, Cyprus, Sao Paulo, Granada)
selected from among GPID participants
Start-ups, research institutes, industry associations
participating in the Global Prize Innovation in Desalination
recognized in unique categories
Researchers, start-ups, research centers, corporate R&Ds, universities
from validated projects around the world
each accompanied by a detailed overview
Global roadshow (Riyadh, Madrid/Alicante, Rome, Berlin, Cyprus, Sao Paulo, Granada)
selected from among GPID participants
Start-ups, research institutes, industry associations
from validated projects around the world
recognized in unique categories
chosen from all GPID participants
To help in building a Sustainable World by driving Innovation; bringing about next- generation Desalination & water treatment; accelerating the advancement of research, technology and social science disciplines related to Water; enabling research institutions, organizations, NGOs, companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs to build a better future
Researchers, start-ups, research centers, corporate R&Ds, universities
from projects around the world
each accompanied by a detailed overview
Global roadshow (Riyadh, Madrid/Alicante, Rome, Berlin, Cyprus, Sao Paulo, Granada)
selected from among GPID participants
Start-ups, research institutes, industry associations
participating in the Global Prize Innovation in Desalination
recognized in unique categories
chosen from all GPID participants
To help in building a Sustainable World by driving Innovation; bringing about next- generation Desalination & water treatment; accelerating the advancement of research, technology and social science disciplines related to Water; enabling research institutions, organizations, NGOs, companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs to build a better future
Extraordinary impacts resulting from regulatory changes (policy makers)
Outstanding achievements in scientific and technical R&D in the field of water desalination (research)
Changes with positive effects in business models (companies)
NGOs’ projects with significant value generated
Women in water desalination (awards for women entrepreneurs, executives, members of public institutions with a major impact on or because of water desalination)
Specific projects in less developed countries
Other categories might be defined by the Jury.
Special Mention Winner
Special Mention Winner
Special Mention Winner
The global roadshow on water desalination is a series of five events held at major innovation centers, research centers and universities around the world. These events are designed to discuss the latest developments in water desalination technology while showcasing the GPID.
The first event is in Spain (Alicante and Madrid, 20-22 February 2023) and the second in Italy (Rome 23-24, February 2023).
Overall, the global roadshow on water desalination is a valuable opportunity for researchers, teams of researchers, companies to understand the importance of the GPID.
The concept of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination (GPID) was announced at Evolve 2023, in Fairmont Riyadh, on January 16th-18th 2023.
Tom Pankratz is a Houston-based independent consultant and the editor of GWI’s weekly Water Desalination Report. He has served as an expert advisor on some of the world’s largest and most technically advanced desalination projects and has been appointed to serve on committees by the National Academy of Sciences, WHO, Middle East Desal Research Center and Australia’s Nation Center of Excellence in Desalination. He is a former vice president of CH2M Hill and director of corporate projects for USFilter/Veolia Water.
Ben Tam is CEO at Isle, a global consultancy focused on accelerating innovation related to water and climate change. He is a water sector professional with a background in science and innovation. Starting with a PhD in biochemistry he worked at Anglian Water, fulfilling a variety of operational and technical roles in water and water networks. At Isle, Ben has a focus on strategic consultancy projects with water utilities to develop innovation plans and overcome the difficulty in implementing innovative
VP Future Economies Sector at
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), (KSA)
She is a distinguished scientist affiliated with the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) at MIT and an Assistant Professor at the King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST). With a PhD in Cyber Security from the University of Oxford, Dr. Nouh boasts over a decade of experience in Digital Tech and cybersecurity. Currently serving as the Director of KACST’s Joint Centers of Excellence Program and Co-Director of the Centre for Complex Engineering Systems at KACST and MIT, Dr. Nouh plays a pivotal role in advancing research and innovation at the intersection of technology and society.
Her expertise spans key areas, including Cyber Security, Cyber Diplomacy, Data Governance, Threat Intelligence, Cybercrimes, Computational Social Science, and Machine Learning. Dr. Nouh is a sought-after speaker at international conferences, panels, and working groups, contributing her insights to the global dialogue on AI, cybersecurity, and data policy.
Deputy governor for reserch & execution of innovative projects, SWCC (KSA)
He is managing two different sectors at Saline Water Conversion Corporation as the Executive Director of DTRI and a General Manger of Local Competencies Projects in TAP sector, where he focuses on research innovation, development, engineering, procurement, and execution of projects for the desalination industry aligning with the vision and goals of 2030 through SWCC’s capabilities. During the Pandemic (COVID-19) through innovative solutions one of the projects achieved a world Guinness record “Lowest Energy Consumption in the world for water desalination plant 2.271 KWh per meter cubic“. Tariq holds a PMP, certificate Harvard business school, and many other related professional certificates and a bachelor of chemical engineering from Washington State University USA
Dr Wang has over 30 years of experience in in novel membrane development for water and wastewater treatment, liquid purification and gas separation, and in the development of novel hybrid membrane systems and process simulation. Thanks to over 340 SCI tracked journal publications, 30 patented inventions and 3 membrane-based spin-off, Dr Wang was featured among the top 25 leading water researchers globally by Lux Research in 2013, received the prestigious “Alternative Water Prize” from Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) in 2016, and was listed in the Singapore 100 Women in Tech (SG100WIT) 2021.
Deputy minister for research and innovation for the Ministry for Environment Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia
He’s the deputy minister for research and innovation at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining MEWA, he served as vice-president for scientific research support, vice-president for innovation and technology commercialization, director of the Life Sciences and Environmental Research Institute, vice-chair of the Scientific Council, and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (2015-23). He has extensive experience in developing and managing national-scale RDI initiatives backed by knowledge of intellectual property generation, acquisition, management and strong academic credentials.
CEO, Earth Capital (United Kingdom)
Avent is recognised as one of the leading water tech investors in the UK and was named by Business Insider and Tribe Capital as one of the Top 10 female early-stage investors in Europe. With over 25 years’ experience in venture capital and private equity investing, portfolio management and corporate finance advisory, with a particular focus on high-growth technology businesses, she has a strong track record with excellent returns.
Technical Director, IDE Technologies (Argentina)
Internationally recognised expert in the water, desalination and wastewater industry with vast experience in Technology aspects of Mega projects, International Business Development and Product Management. She holds the position of Technical Director of IDE Water Assets (part of the IDE Water Technologies Group), supervising Green Field Desalination and water treatment projects and BOT water sales projects, as well as leading the optimisation of technical solutions for new and existing installations. Among those projects, there is the Sorek 1 mega plant with its revolutionary 16″ membrane approach, India’s largest desalination plant.
Head of Energy, SACYR Water (Spain)
Eva Jalón is the Managing Director of Sacyr Agua a Sacyr’s company specialized in the integral water cycle management. Eva holds a master’s degree in civil engineering, with more than 20 years of experience, and she has been linked to the Sacyr group for the last 14 years, where she has held different positions in all types of PPP management. Now, Eva is focused on the challenge for Sacyr Agua of becoming a benchmark in applied technology, innovation and project finance in water.
Professor of Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (South Korea)
Prof. In S. Kim is Professor of Environmental Engineering a t the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. Prof. Kim focuses his research activity on Membrane, Chromatography, Chemical engineering, Microbial fuel cell and Fouling. His work investigates the relationship between Membrane and topics such as Coating that intersect with problems in Absorption of water and Dielectric spectroscopy. In S. Kim has included themes like Nanofiltration, Membrane technology, Membrane bioreactor, Effluent and Flocculation in his Chromatography study.
Executive Director, American Membrane Technology Association, AMTA (USA)
John Tonner is the Executive Director of the American Membrane Technology Association (AMTA), a professional organization that promotes, advocates and advances the understanding and application of membrane technology. He assumed this position on August 1, 2022. He is also the President of Water Consultants International, a leading desalination consulting firm. He has more than 35 years of experience in the desalination and water treatment industry, working with both thermal and membrane technologies. He has served on various boards and committees related to desalination and water quality, such as the International Desalination Association, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. National Academy of Science.
Project Director, Fitchner (Germany)
Karen Stummeyer is the Project Director of Fitchner’s Desalination Department, where she has been involved in the conceptual and basic design of desalination plants and has supported clients in all stages of the tendering process, from pre-qualification, drawing up specifications to bid evaluation and contract negotiations. Ms. Stummeyer has also participated in some of the major privatization projects in power and desalination projects in the Middle East and particular in Oman and Saudi Arabia, including tasks such as drawing up power and water purchase agreements and tender documents, assisting off-takers in bid evaluation up to contract signing, or acting as owner’s engineer for the developer.
