Business Wire

HCL Group and UpLink Open Applications for its Third Global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge

Share

HCL Group, a global conglomerate, and UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, announced the third challenge of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, the “Tackling Water Pollution Challenge.” This announcement was made during the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia. The application deadline for submission is 31st August 2024. The winners will be announced in January 2025, and the top 10 winners will receive a total financial award of 1.75M CHF. Detailed information and eligibility requirements can be accessed through the following link.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521731615/en/

To view this piece of content from mms.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Sundar Mahalingam, President of Strategy at HCL Corporation, unveils Challenge 3 of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative at the World Water Forum in Bali (Photo: Business Wire)

Important Dates to Note

21 May to 31st August 2024

Open for submissions

1st September to 1st November 2024

Review and selection process

January 2025

Announcement of the Top Innovators

The Innovation Challenge aims to empower changemakers who are pioneering groundbreaking technologies, strategies, and approaches to conserve, manage, and protect water resources. HCL has pledged US$15 million over five years till 2027 to bolster entrepreneurs focusing on water-related endeavors. The challenge will focus on the intersection of the quality and environmental impacts of water, with the key aspects including:

  1. Preventing contamination of water at source- Source control aims to prevent or minimize the introduction of pollutants and contaminants at their source. Solutions may be aimed at contaminants from industry, agriculture, stormwater etc., and could include real-time monitoring and sensor networks, advanced filtration, and nature-based solutions.

  2. Monitoring and treating onsite industrial wastewater- Water is a core component in many industrial processes from manufacturing, cleaning and sanitation, mining, and cooling. Technological solutions offer a way to monitor water quality and reduce water contamination, minimize environmental impacts and move towards zero liquid discharge for industries.

  3. Optimising urban infrastructure public water and wastewater treatment systems- Water and wastewater treatment infrastructure upgrades are expensive and the costs are climbing. This area will target a broad range of technological solutions that can unlock value by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance.

  4. Offering water quality solutions for households- The convergence of environmental awareness, cost considerations, regulatory pressures, and health concerns is driving the increasing popularity of personal water quality solutions among individuals and households. Technological solutions may include portable water testing, point-of-use water purification, and apps for crowd-sourcing water quality data.

While launching the challenge, Sundar Mahalingam, President of Strategy at HCL Corporation said, "At HCL, we understand the power of innovation, and through our partnership with UpLink, we are empowering Aquapreneurs to scale their solutions and drive meaningful impact. The first two editions of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative have demonstrated remarkable success, with participating entrepreneurs showcasing solutions that address critical water challenges. The Aquapreneurs from the first challenge have raised $54.5 million grants and venture capital funding since joining the cohort. This validates the effectiveness of the initiative in nurturing and supporting innovative ideas that address critical water challenges. We are, therefore, thrilled to announce the third challenge, aiming to engage a broader network of Aquapreneur globally.”

John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum, added, “At UpLink, we believe innovation and collaboration are key to overcoming the complex water challenges facing our planet. UpLink and HCL Group will tap into the world’s brightest entrepreneurial minds working in this sector to help minimize the problem of freshwater loss by connecting them to essential resources, experts, and funding. The Tackling Water Pollution Challenge will ensure that the most scalable solutions are deployed to ensure that this vital resource is sustainably available to all.

Evaluation and selection criteria for 3rd year includes:

  1. Business viability
    1. Demonstrates a financially sustainable business model with a clear revenue approach.
    2. Presents a funding history and potential for investment.
    3. Identifies and manages external risks effectively.
    4. Shows alignment with market demand locally or globally.
    5. Has a legal entity and operational plan for financial sustainability.

  2. Commitment to Deliver Impact
    1. Shows sustainable impact benefiting multiple sectors including society and the environment.
    2. Aligns with long-term water agenda goals.
    3. Utilizes a robust framework for impact measurement and verification.
    4. Transparently tracks metrics and adheres to relevant standards.

  3. Solution Novelty and Replicability
    1. Offers unique aspects in product/service, pricing, partnerships, or business model.
    2. Provides evidence of concept feasibility and replicability across different contexts.

As water scarcity and pollution continue to pose significant threats to communities and ecosystems globally, the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative seeks to harness the power of innovation to create sustainable solutions. Selected participants will receive mentorship, funding support, access to networks, media visibility, and other resources to scale their initiatives and maximize their impact.

About HCL

Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978, well before its global peers. Today, the HCL enterprise has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.3 billion with 227,481 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com

About UpLink

UpLink is the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, dedicated to unlocking an ‘entrepreneur revolution’ to support positive systemic change for people and planet. Launched at the Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in January 2020 with support from Salesforce and Deloitte, UpLink is now a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors and experts, who are collaborating around innovation for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Contact information

For more details, please contact: Dr. Pooja Arora | pooja_sikka@hcl.com

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
24 Martin Lane
EC4R 0DR London

+44 20 7626 1982http://www.businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

U.S. FDA Grants Full Approval of Deciphera’s ROMVIMZA™ (vimseltinib) for the Treatment of Symptomatic Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor (TGCT)15.2.2025 00:50:00 CET | Press Release

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Toichi Takino; “Ono”) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ROMVIMZA™ (vimseltinib), a kinase inhibitor, for adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) for which surgical resection will potentially cause worsening functional limitation or severe morbidity. The FDA previously granted Fast Track designation and Priority Review for ROMVIMZA, which was developed by Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Deciphera”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ono. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250214768549/en/ “The approval of ROMVIMZA provides a new, much-needed, well-tolerated, and effective treatment option for people suffering from TGCT,” said Hans Gelderblom, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at Leiden University Medical Center. “TGCT adversely affects the lives of patients, ca

Venture Global, Inc. Announces Timing of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call14.2.2025 19:17:00 CET | Press Release

Venture Global, Inc. (“Venture Global”)(NYSE: VG) announced today that it plans to issue its earnings release with respect to fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial results before market open on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Venture Global will host a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 9:00 am Eastern Time (ET) on March 6, 2025, to discuss fourth quarter and full year results and provide guidance for the 2025 fiscal year. A listen-only webcast of the call and accompanying slide presentation will be available at Venture Global’s Investor Relations website HERE. After the conclusion of the webcast, a replay will be made available on the Venture Global website. About Venture Global Venture Global is a long-term, low-cost provider of U.S. LNG sourced from resource rich North American natural gas basins. Venture Global’s business includes assets across the LNG supply chain including LNG production, natural gas transport, shipping and regasification. Venture Global’s fir

Asa Gudmundsdottir Wright Award Presented as Plans for New Icelandic Academy of Science & Innovation Announced14.2.2025 17:35:00 CET | Press Release

Iceland’s President, Halla Tomasdottir, presented the Asa Gudmundsdottir Wright Award at a ceremony at the presidential residence. This year’s recipients are G. Fertram Sigurjonsson, Founder and CEO of Kerecis, and Jon Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland. The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to science and innovation in Iceland. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250214199674/en/ President Halla Tomasdottir and Kerecis Founder and CEO Fertram Sigurjonsson (Photo: Business Wire) During the ceremony, plans were also announced for the establishment of the Icelandic Academy of Science & Innovation, into which the award recipients will be inducted as members. The academy will provide a platform for collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, industry representatives, and academia. It will uphold the tradition of the Asa Fund by granting annual awards and aims to

Riskified To Report Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial Results on Wednesday, March 514.2.2025 17:33:00 CET | Press Release

Riskified Ltd. (NYSE: RSKD), a leader in ecommerce fraud and risk intelligence, today announced it will release its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results before the market opens on March 5, 2025. On that day management will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the company's business and financial results. Riskified Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Financial Results Conference Call When: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Time: 8:30 a.m. ET Dial-in: To access the conference call via telephone, please register via this registration link and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we encourage participants to dial into the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time. Webcast: A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the “Events & Presentations” section of the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.riskified.com/. About Riskified Riskified (NYSE:RSKD) empowers businesses to

Elon Musk Talks ‘Tech Support’ Governance as World Leaders Champion Innovation-Driven Reforms at Dubai Summit14.2.2025 16:57:00 CET | Press Release

Wearing a “Tech Support”-printed T-shirt, Elon Musk virtually took to the stage on the final day of the World Governments Summit in a live discussion with H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, to share his vision for improving government efficiency. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250214293771/en/ Elon Musk in conversation with H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications (Photo: Business Wire) Musk emphasized the urgency of streamlining operations, advocating for smaller, more accountable institutions to drive efficiency and economic growth. The World Governments Summit, held in Dubai from February 11-13, brought together global leaders and experts to address critical challenges in governance, healthcare, and trade in the 21st century. Now in its

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye