Aquatech Named Semifinalist in XPRIZE Water Scarcity Competition

Aquatech has been named a semifinalist in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, a global initiative designed to accelerate the development of scalable, reliable, and energy-efficient desalination technologies capable of addressing growing water scarcity challenges worldwide.

Selected as one of 20 semifinalist teams advancing in Track A: System-Level Innovation, Aquatech joins a global group of organizations working to redefine the future of seawater desalination through practical, deployable technologies designed for long-term impact.

Launched by XPRIZE in partnership with The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, the five-year, $119 million competition aims to drive advancements in desalination that improve affordability, operational performance, and sustainability while expanding access to clean water globally. 

The competition comes at a critical time for the water sector. According to XPRIZE, approximately 80% of the global population experiences severe water scarcity, with global water demand projected to exceed available supply by 40% by 2030. 

Aquatech’s advancement to the semifinal stage reflects the company’s continued focus on integrated desalination and water recovery technologies capable of supporting industrial, municipal, and regional water resilience strategies.

Track A of the competition focuses on system-level desalination innovation, challenging teams to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance operational scalability for real-world deployment.

Semifinals testing will continue throughout 2026, with finalists expected to be announced in 2027.

Aquatech is proud to contribute alongside fellow innovators helping advance the next generation of desalination and water infrastructure technologies.

Learn more about the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition here.