Abu Dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has witnessed the launch of a partnership between the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative and XPRIZE. This collaboration introduces the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition with an investment of $150 million and a prize purse totaling $119 million.
The five-year global competition is designed to stimulate worldwide innovation in enhancing the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of water desalination technologies. The initiative underscores the urgency of addressing water scarcity, a challenge that affects billions globally, driven by factors such as population growth, governance issues, pollution, and climate change.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, emphasized the need for new, efficient solutions to prevent dire scenarios related to water scarcity. The initiative aims to fast-track the development and deployment of groundbreaking technologies through international cooperation and targeted investment.
The announcement ceremony was held at the historic Niqa Bin Ateej Water Tank, attended by dignitaries including H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and other sheikhs, ministers, and senior officials.
Global water scarcity poses severe risks, including humanitarian crises, food insecurity, mass migration, and potential conflicts over water resources. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, part of a broader UAE-led effort, seeks to catalyze a concerted international response to this escalating threat.
The initiative’s partnership with XPRIZE, a leader in organizing large-scale competitions to solve humanity’s biggest challenges, aims to encourage scientific and entrepreneurial innovations for sustainable and equitable water solutions.
For more information on the initiative and the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, including full prize details, visit their official websites.
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