HOW TO START 

WAITRO’s new collaborative approach offers every single researcher and employee of WAITRO’s member organizations opportunities to benefit from their membership.

WAITRO’s Open Call for Challenges and/or Project Ideas is the starting point for collaborative projects between WAITRO members in a particular focus area and are embedded into the WAITRO Innovation Ecosystem to accelerate project ideas into game-changing products and services that lead to significant social and economic impact.

There are two ways to respond to WAITRO’s Open Call for Challenges and/or Project Ideas. Both ways can mark the starting point for researchers to kick-start a new project:

SUBMISSION OF CHALLENGES AND/OR PROJECT IDEAS (BY EMAIL)

WAITRO invites researchers of member organizations to narrow down water-related challenges and/or project ideas and submit them in PDF format by 29 November 2019 to d.reinertz@waitro.org; a.wohlrab@waitro.org and burrows@jitri.org.

In case you do not have access to the internet you can also send your documents

by fax to +49-2241-142288

or in written form to

Dominik Reinertz, Schloss Birlinghoven, 53754 Sankt Augustin, Germany

Any document received after the deadline (29.11.2019) will not be accepted for this call. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. All questions concerning this Call for Challenges and Project Ideas shall be addressed to the following e-mail-address: d.reinertz@waitro.org

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 29.11.2019

SUBMISSION OF CHALLENGES AND/OR PROJECT IDEAS (ON SAIRA)

www.saira.eco

Researchers can also upload their challenge and/or project idea directly on SAIRA by 31 January 2020. If you need assistance, please contact d.reinertz@waitro.org or a.wohlrab@waitro.org

DEADLINE: 31.01.2020

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Submitting challenges and/or project ideas as well as using SAIRA is free of charge for WAITRO member organizations. Teaming up on SAIRA is a prerequisite to benefit from further steps within the WAITRO Innovation Ecosystem.

HOW TO BUILD PROJECT TEAMS

After the submission of challenges and/or project ideas, researchers from around the world (WAITRO members) will be able respond to submitted challenges and/or ideas. The matchmaking takes places on SAIRA.

WHAT PROJECT PROPOSALS SHOULD LOOK LIKE

Together with the new partner, researchers develop a joint project proposal. WAITRO fosters applied research and innovation that is conducted to answer practical questions and address water-related challenges that help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Project proposals should focus on an intended outcome that is specific and measurable.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The WAITRO Innovation Award provides (pre-seed) funding for project related activities. WAITRO acknowledges two outstanding project proposals in the field of innovation and supports its implementation through monetary prizes of US$ 25,000! The WAITRO Innovation Award 2020 will reward project proposals focusing on solving water-related challenges around the globe.

BENEFITS 

While we do not expect that 15,000 USD will take a project to completion, this source of seed-funding should enable to get your project off the ground. Selected project teams receive publicity on WAITRO’s website and the opportunity to promote their idea to stakeholders from the scientific and technological research community, the industry, and government and non-governmental organizations at the WAITRO Global Innovation Summit 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa.

On the road to South Africa, project teams get the chance to participate in a series of tailored training opportunities and discuss their ideas in face-to-face meetings. Winners of the awards will be invited to present the evolution of the project after two years at the next WAITRO Global Innovation Summit in 2022. We want to encourage the participation of all qualified applicants for the WAITRO Innovation Award, to join us during the Global Innovation Summit, including those who are not shortlisted for a presentation at the conference. They will receive a 50% discount on the participation fee of the WAITRO Global Innovation Summit 2020.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS  

TEAMING UP ON SAIRA IS A PREREQUISITE FOR YOUR APPLICATION.

Learn more about the  GUIDELINES AND TERMS of the WAITRO Innovation Award.

WHAT TO EXPECT

A detailed needs assessment will be conducted with each of the applicants (project teams) after the selection by the Evaluation Committee. The specific support received depends on the individual needs of the shortlisted projects teams. WAITRO will organize workshops for project teams to help them turn their project proposals into reality. Furthermore, WAITRO will enable face-to-face meetings in target countries to bring project teams a step closer to the implementation.

BENEFITS 

WAITRO gives project teams the opportunity to elevate their project proposals to the next level by providing a chance to meet in person and receiving mentoring from experienced coaches and experts. Project teams refine their project proposals, verify their feasibility and learn how to pitch their project proposals.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Only applicants for the WAITRO Innovation Award are eligible to participate in WAITRO workshops & face-to-face meetings. WAITRO Workshops are organized by the WAITRO Secretariat. Travel (economy class) and accommodation costs of participants are covered by WAITRO.

The event location and time will be announced in May 2020. The workshop language will be English. Each member organization may send up to two project team members to represent the project and meet with team members of the partner organization to further develop the joint proposals.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The WAITRO Global Innovation Summit offers various opportunities to attract financial resources for the implementation of project proposals. Aside from innovative input from presentations, pitches, speeches, and workshops, attendees can expect discussions, new ideas and many opportunities to get to know other WAITRO members, investors and representatives of the industry.

WHEN: DECEMBER 7^th and 8^th 2020

WHERE: CSIR Convention Center, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

DAY 1: PITCH & VOTING BY WAITRO MEMBERS

The pitch at the WAITRO GLOBAL INNOVATION SUMMIT will comprise a pitch deck presentation of 5 minutes max and a 3-minute Q&A-Session. WAITRO members (one vote per member organization) vote for the most innovative project proposals.

DAY 2: WAITRO INNOVATION AWARDS CEREMONY

Awarding of the WAITRO Innovation Award.

BENEFITS

Gain visibility, make new connections, present your project proposals and win the WAITRO Innovation Award. Receive US$ 15,000 for project related activities!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Travel (economy class) and accommodation expenses for finalists (two representatives of project teams) that present their projects at the WAITRO Global Innovation Summit will be covered by WAITRO. Finalists are not required to pay the participation fee. The presentation at the WAITRO Innovation Summit has to be given in English.