Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), invites academics and innovators to submit proposals for the upcoming seminar on “Innovations in Wastewater Management: Strategies for Building Water Resilience”, which will take place on the 28-29 November 2024.

Seminar Overview

This seminar aims to foster partnerships between academic institutions, the private sector, and the government while showcasing cutting-edge innovations in wastewater treatment and management. It provides an opportunity for academics, postgraduates, young professionals and entrepreneurs to present research and innovations that have the potential to transform the wastewater sector and address key challenges in building water resilience in South Africa.

Call for Proposals

We are seeking ONE-page proposals from researchers, academics, and innovators who have completed research or projects on wastewater reclamation, recovery, or sustainable management of residual waste. The research should be at an advanced stage, with a proof of concept, and ready for scaling up or commercialization. This call specifically targets innovations that are not yet on the market but have undergone rigorous laboratory/field testing and piloting.

Proposal Guidelines

• Submission deadline: 31 October 2024
• Length: 1 page, outlining innovation, research background, pilot results, and commercial potential.
• Submission should include the authors details: Title, Name, Surname, Affiliation/employer, email address & contact number.
• Proposals should include proof of research success in field or lab tests and indicate readiness for commercialisation.

We are interested in innovations that address the following:

• Water Reclamation and Reuse Technologies
• Innovative solutions for managing Wastewater By-products
• Innovations to Enhance the Efficiency of Aging Waste Infrastructure.

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Selected candidates will be invited to present their innovations on day 2 of the conference, which will focus on cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, a poster session will be held for selected proposals.

Submit your proposal by email here – Submission deadline 31 Oct 2024

Direct any submission enquiries to events@wisa.org.za or ps.admin@wisa.org.za. Due to time constraints faced by the technical committee, we regret to inform you that no extensions to the submission deadline will be possible.