UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network
Delivered by Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, this Global Innovation Network will focus on water and wastewater due to the economic case for management of water resources both in the UK and South Africa. The network will foster partnerships and collaborations to address water security issues.
About the network
Delivered by Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa, this UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network is a platform that enables interaction and collaboration between South Africa and the UK organisations to harness cross-sectoral opportunities and address challenges within the water sector.
This community of innovation stakeholders is committed to advancing solutions across the water value chain, guided by our mission to ensure water security and sustainability. Our focus spans from implementing Innovative Technologies for Water Security to developing Smart Solutions for Wastewater Management, all driven through collaborative partnerships. We aim to be an integral contributor in the transformation of how we manage water resources, address wastewater challenges, and make informed decisions to safeguard our planet’s most precious resource. This Global Innovation Network also aims to focus on the inclusion of women who are passionate about the water sector.
Objectives
This UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network aims to:
Foster Collaborative Innovation
Establish a platform for collaborative innovation between the UK and South Africa. This collaboration will prioritise co-creating technologies that address end-user needs and streamline implementation processes.
Strengthen Partnership and Knowledge Exchange
Facilitate partnerships between academia, industry, and utilities in both countries to exchange knowledge and best practices in water technology development and implementation.
Address Implementation Challenges
Work together to address shared implementation challenges faced by both countries, and emphasise the human-centric element in technology innovation to ensure alignment with social needs and user-friendliness.
Promote Gender Inclusivity in Water Sector Innovation
Incorporate an objective focused on enhancing the representation and participation of women in the water sector innovation initiatives within the UK-South Africa network.
Focus Areas
Innovative tech for water security
Cutting-edge technologies that ensure water security through real-time monitoring and proactive management strategies.
Smart solutions for wastewater
Advanced technologies that optimise treatment processes and promote resource recovery for cleaner waterways and a circular economy.
Data-driven water management
The integration of data analytics for informed decision-making and proactive risk assessment for sustainable water resource management.
Empowering women in the water sector
Initiatives focused on empowering women in water, through mentorship, and strengthening the sector's capacity for innovation and inclusive decision-making.
UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network Launch
Recording and slides now available >
Related programmes
Global Alliance Africa
Launched in 2019, Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa is an UK International Development initiative, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme aims to build stronger equitable UK-African partnerships to maximise the creation of inclusive market access, funding and investment opportunities, and collaborative innovation between the UK, Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.
Global Innovation Networks
Global Innovation Networks unite some of the best minds and greatest thinkers from across the UK and globally to find answers to some of the world’s most significant challenges. The Networks will facilitate UK, African and EU networks to deliver collaborative research, innovation and funding solutions that address key global innovation challenges.
Join the network
Express your interest in joining the UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network.