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Davos– Protecting the world’s freshwater ecosystems is more important than ever as threats from climate change, population growth and consumer demand increase.
To address this escalating crisis, UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s open innovation platform, has partnered with global conglomerate HCL Group to provide two Indians who will share CHF 1.75 million ($1.9 million) from HCL. announced 10 water-focused entrepreneurs, including; A group for expanding innovation.
Access to water plays a key role in food production, education, job creation, health and well-being, and the protection of the natural world, and is essential to achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainability Agenda.
However, global demand for water will exceed sustainable supply by 40% by 2030, with significant implications for the global economy and society.
Ten startups are winners of the Global Freshwater Innovation Challenge, the first of five challenges under HCL and UpLink’s Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative.
Launched in September 2022, the challenge called for innovative solutions to enhance data-driven decision-making, make freshwater more resilient in the face of climate change, and restore water quality around the world. rice field.
Through a $15 million investment over five years, HCL Group is supporting UpLink and the Forum’s Global Water Initiative, launching a series of innovation challenges and building an innovation ecosystem for the global freshwater sector with UpLink.
Ten water-focused entrepreneurs, or “aquaplaners,” will be selected from 227 solutions submitted to the challenge, each receiving CHF 175,000 ($190,000) in key funding from HCL Group. Two of these innovators were selected to present their solutions at his 2023 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
US-based Epic Cleantec is a water technology company leading the water reuse revolution in the urban built environment. Aaron Tartakovsky, CEO of Epic Cleantec, said: Epic is on a mission to ensure our cities are water safe for generations to come. “
Epic aims to use next-generation technologies to promote circular water use and work with policy makers to rebuild urban water infrastructure.
Argentina-based Kilimo uses big data and machine learning to validate, improve, and offset water use in agriculture.
Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Tatiana Malvasio said: In response to this challenge, we set out to create products that help farmers use less water and increase the efficiency of irrigation. “
Kilimo uses artificial intelligence to help farmers optimize irrigation and get compensated for participating in water management initiatives.
Indian entrepreneurs receiving prize money from HCL and support from UpLink include:
NatureDots Private Ltd: AquaNurch (India) — De-risking fisheries and water managers from ecosystem stressors, enabling remote operation and real-time monitoring of farms.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairman of HCLTech, said:
UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s open innovation platform, empowers people and society by empowering start-ups with innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, as outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Designed to unleash an “entrepreneurial revolution” for the planet. (IANS)
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