Saudi Global Water Innovation Prize Platform Leads Race for Water Solutions

The Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW), launched by the Saudi Water Authority in 2023, continues to strengthen its presence as one of the fastest-growing innovation platforms worldwide.

With over 600 submissions across just three editions from universities, research centers, and start-ups, it has become an international platform that brings together scientific ideas and application-ready technological solutions.

The prize launched its first edition with 85 participating entities, expanded to 199 in 2024, and achieved a qualitative leap in 2025 with 316 participating entities, following a continuous upward trajectory that reflects its transformation from a specialized award into a global platform attracting elite research minds from across continents.

The third edition in 2025 saw unprecedented growth, as submissions surged from 540 entries from 56 countries in 2024 to more than 2,570 entries from 119 countries in 2025, an increase exceeding 400% in one year. This wide global turnout produced 36 innovative projects from 22 countries that qualified for the final stage, with results to be announced on Monday, December 8, in Jeddah.

This growing international presence reflects the significant confidence the prize has earned, becoming a prominent destination for leading universities and research laboratories from pioneering countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, and Morocco, as well as a growing number of start-ups presenting innovative solutions in water management, desalination, treatment, and reuse.

The figures highlight the accelerated growth of the prize in just three years, as the number of participating countries more than doubled, applicants increased by over 375%, and participating entities rose from 85 to 316, strengthening the prize's position as an international platform that attracts scientific excellence and accelerates the transition of innovations from laboratories to real-world application.

GPIW is the largest prize of its kind in the water sector worldwide, aiming to foster innovation, adopt modern technologies, and support the next generation of innovators. The prize is supervised by an international jury of leading experts, entrepreneurs, and academics from around the world, ensuring the selection of solutions with the greatest potential to deliver real impact on the future of global water.