Innovate UK, the UK Government’s national innovation agency, has launched a bilateral initiative to address water security challenges in South Africa and the UK.
The ‘UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network’ is spearheaded by the organisation’s Global Alliance Africa project in South Africa. Its primary goal is to drive innovation within the water and wastewater sectors, specifically targeting issues relating to water availability, quality, monitoring, management, and recycling.
This will be achieved by connecting, supporting and funding collaborations between water industry innovators, enablers, policymakers, and investors in both markets.
The Global Innovation Network is being launched as both South Africa and the UK seek to address pressing Water security challenges:
In South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation found that nearly half of local water supply systems are contaminated with bacteria, while over two-thirds of wastewater treatment plants face failure risks. Additionally, almost half of clean water is lost due to leaks, driven by factors like ageing infrastructure and increased demand from a growing population. These challenges result in severe water shortages and compromised water quality, as evidenced by recent events in Johannesburg.
Similarly, despite its reputation for wet weather, the UK’s water sector grapples with comparable issues. Drought conditions have affected large parts of England and Wales in recent years, exacerbated by heat waves across Europe. Moreover, the country’s ageing pipe network contributes to significant water loss, with one fifth of drinking water disappearing through undetected leaks. These challenges underscore the need for proactive measures to ensure water security and supply in both regions.
“Water security extends to the heart of our societal wellbeing, economic development, and environmental sustainability. It is against this backdrop that we decided to launch the Global Innovation Network, recognising that, while we may have very different contexts, there is an opportunity to share our collective knowledge and trial homegrown solutions in each other’s markets,” says Marisa Naidoo, Innovate UK Business Connect’s Country Lead for South Africa.
This will be accomplished through a variety of activities, including facilitating access to collaborative research and development funding; establishing new channels for knowledge exchange; organising ecosystem immersion and expert tours between South Africa and the UK; and offering leadership programmes to enhance innovation capacity and inclusive and sustainable decision-making.
These activities will focus on innovation in four core areas of application, namely:
- Innovative Technology for Water Security – introducing technologies with the potential to enable real-time water monitoring and proactive management strategies.
- Smart Solutions for Wastewater – creating cleaner waterways and circular economies through innovations in water treatment and resource recovery.
- Data-driven Water Management – using data analytics to inform water resource risk analysis and decision-making.
- Empowering Women in the Water Sector – empowering women in water and strengthening the sector’s capacity for innovation and inclusive decision-making.
For more information on the UK-South Africa Water Security Global Innovation Network’s objectives, initiatives, and participation details, visit: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/programme/uk-south-africa-water-global-innovation-network/