DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Elemental Water Makers in Holland and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) were awarded the first places in two categories of a global award that tackles the issue of water scarcity through finding innovative solutions. The award, overseen by The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), includes three main categories: Innovative Projects Award (Small and Large projects), Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions), and the Innovative Youth Award. The two organisations ranked first in the first two categories respectively.
Valued at $1m, the award was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage sustainable and innovative solutions to address water scarcity using solar power. The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) oversees the award under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI).
For the Innovative Projects Award – Small Projects, the Netherlands-based Elemental Water Makers won the first prize for a pure drinking water production using reverse osmosis by solar energy. The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) project was about solar driven desalination technology based on TNO’s high efficiency membrane distillation (Memstill®) concept and won the organisation first prize in the Innovative Research and Development Award (National and International institutions) category.
Sid Vollebregt, managing director of Elemental Water Makers, commented saying: “This recognition by an international award as such buys us credibility to take our project to the next level. Water scarcity is a worldwide problem and we are happy to be contributing to finding solutions that benefit the whole humanity.”
Paul de Krom, CEO of TNO said: “We are extremely proud to be receiving this esteemed award that encourages innovation on a global level. We believe that innovation is the key for grand challenges in societies and our mission is to add value to welfare of societies and support governments and businesses to achieve this goal.”
*Source: ME NewsWire
