The UK water sector ought to give extra focus to the themes of delivering resilient infrastructure methods and defending and enhancing pure methods, in line with a survey concerning the UK 2050 Water Innovation Technique.
Spring, the water innovation centre of excellence, launched the sector-wide survey in July 2023. The purpose was to hunt views to tell the long run route of the Water Innovation Technique, which was printed in 2020 by all UK water and wastewater firms and comprises seven key themes.
A complete of 109 members responded to the survey, giving their views on the effectiveness and relevance of the present themes, what areas they see as working properly, and the place changes may very well be made.
For the query, ‘Which innovation technique themes do you are feeling the water sector must focus extra on?’, 55 respondents answered ‘Delivering resilient infrastructure methods’, with 52 answering ‘Defending and enhancing pure methods’.
All responses can be set out in an insert to the primary technique doc, which can be redistributed to stakeholders and obtainable to view on the Spring web site – www.spring-innovation.co.uk/
The suggestions can be thought of throughout a refresh of the technique, which can guarantee it stays related and helpful to as we speak’s water sector. Spring, which was launched in 2021 to help the sector in delivering the technique’s ambitions, will work with water firm companions and wider sector stakeholders to plan the following steps.
The UK 2050 Water Innovation Technique was created with the widespread function of offering transparency on water sector innovation ambitions. It was the primary time the sector had outlined its imaginative and prescient for collectively delivering transformative innovation, and greater than 250 individuals from each inside and out of doors the sector had been consulted as a part of its growth.
Spring managing director Carly Perry mentioned, “I’d wish to thank all those that took the time to finish our survey to assist form the long run route of the UK 2050 Water Innovation Technique. The doc is below steady monitoring and analysis to make sure the innovation themes are nonetheless related and the sector is specializing in the proper areas.
“Within the three years because the technique was printed, the wants of the sector have modified. That’s the reason Spring, as custodians of the technique, felt it was vital to hunt present views. Your responses will assist inform an up to date technique, making certain all companions are aligned as we transfer ahead as a sector.”
To additional help the supply of the technique, Spring has launched a brand new affiliate mannequin to attach current excellence from water professionals and keep away from venture duplication.
Perry explains, “There may be an ecosystem of organisations and initiatives delivering particular ambitions inside the Water Innovation Technique and with 200-plus ambitions to work in direction of, collaboration is required to keep away from duplication of efforts.
“The aim of the Spring Affiliate Mannequin is to attach the present initiatives, ensuring Spring doesn’t give attention to the identical drawback areas as others. Aligning on this manner will unlock worth, enhance the velocity at which we as a sector deal with our ambitions and fulfil one of many founding ideas of Spring – connecting current excellence.”
Spring has formal agreements with 12 associates together with British Water, Future Water Affiliation, Ofwat, Water Business Discussion board, Water Analysis Centre (WRc) and Water Providers Affiliation of Australia.
Lila Thompson, chief government, British Water, mentioned “British Water is proud to be working in affiliation with the innovation platform, Spring. Collaborative working throughout the sector and provide chain helps take away obstacles and delivers innovation at tempo. Solely by working collectively can we create a extra sustainable water sector, for now and within the future.”
James Gardener, setting and know-how supervisor, Water Providers Affiliation of Australia, mentioned: “The Water Providers Affiliation of Australia is delighted to kind an affiliation with Spring, marking the graduation of a collaborative partnership aimed toward advancing water innovation methods by a shared dedication to studying and development.”
Go to the Spring web site and social media channels for extra on the UK 2050 Water Innovation Technique, survey responses and affiliate mannequin www.spring-innovation.co.uk
