Saudi Arabia honors winners of Innovation
Saudi Arabia honors winners of Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment,Water and Agriculture H.E. Eng. AbdulrahmanAl-Fadhli honored on Saturday the winners of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination. The minister presented the grand prize to Syed Shah from Aqua Membranes, USA, for the project titled “Changing reverse osmosis through 3-D printed spacers.”
Five other winners were also given away with the prizes. All the six winners made their presentations before the announcement of the grand prize. Special prizes were also distributed on the occasion.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment,Water and Agriculture Eng. AbdulrahmanAl-Fadhli honored on Saturday the winners of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination. The minister presented the grand prize to Syed Shah from Aqua Membranes, USA, for the project titled “Changing reverse osmosis through 3-D printed spacers.”
Five other winners were also given away with the prizes. All the six winners made their presentations before the announcement of the grand prize. Special prizes were also distributed on the occasion.
The award distribution ceremony was held in the presence of Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdul Karim, and a number of senior officials and other distinguished dignitaries. The event is being held on the sidelines of the second edition of the Innovation in the Desalination Industry Conference that will run from September 30 to October 3, 2023 at the Jeddah Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Other winners of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination are the following: Arian Edalat from Active Membranes, USA for project titled “Next Generation of Desalination Membranes;” Quantum Wei from Harmony Desalting, USA for the project “Batch Reverse Osmosis;” Nick Heineman from Desolenator, the Netherlands for the project “Desolenator: Transforming the Industry through a World-First Solar-Thermal Desalination Solution that works at Scale;” Hany Said from Mega Vessels Water Inc. USA, for the “Mega Vessel” project; and Mohamed Anwar from Schneider Electric, France, for the project “Desalination Plant Digital Twin Powered by Dynamic Process Simulation;”
The winners were picked from among a total of 105 competitors, who represented 27 countries. They included innovators from research centers and universities, as well as entrepreneurs and employees of companies operating in the water desalination industry from around the world.
While appreciating the support of the wise leadership forthe water sector, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Al-Fadhli congratulated the winners who have proven their mettle that enabled them to bag the prizes after becoming its first edition a resounding success. The minister noted that the prizes are being instituted in integration with the comprehensive water strategy, which works to blending trends, policies, legislation and practices in the water sector.
Al-Fadhli stressed the pioneering role of Saudi Arabia in addressing water issues regionally and internationally. In this regard, he praised the announcement of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman to establish a global water organization, to be based in
Riyadh, which contributes to strengthening cooperation among countries and stimulating a collective response to water challenges.
On his part, SWCC Governor Eng. Al-Abdul Karim commended the participants in the award competition, in a way supportive to the vibrant move of the water sector under the leadership of Minister of Environment,
Agriculture and Water, in support of the efforts and initiatives that enhance and stimulate innovation in the field of the desalination industry. This is out of a desire from SWCC to support and encourage innovation, providing a supportive role that contributes to stimulating innovative projects based on their social responsibility.
Eng. Al-Abdul Karim stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to working on the sustainability of water resources in view of the corporation’s leading position in the world by producing 11.5 million cubic meters per day as the largest water producer in the world, and getting access to pure water resources, by integrating the efforts of countries and organizations to address water challenges in a comprehensive manner. This is through exchanging and enhancing technical experiences, innovation, research and development, and enabling the establishment of priority quality projects and facilitating their financing, in an effort to ensure the sustainability of water resources and enhance access to it for all.
Al-Abdul Karim praised the award-winning innovations as an achievement that benefits humanity and represents the vision of SWCC to be part of the Kingdom’s ambitious move that depends on adapting technology to the highest international standards to serve it.
The prizes, with a total value of $10 million, focused on topics related to environmental aspects of desalination industry, opportunities for reducing energy consumption, reducing capital and operational costs, using new technology, opportunities for transformation in business models, and future analytical studies related to innovation.
The announcement of the award comes at a time when SWCC supports this fruitful trend and encourages national and international companies to support this initiative, especially when it is participating in building large-scale desalination plants.
