The Trial Reservoirs Initiative, a trailblazer in accelerating water innovation, has taken a significant step forward by transitioning into an independent not-for-profit organisation under the newly established Tech Ascend Foundation. This shift is not just a change in structure; it’s a strategic move that could reshape the water sector’s approach to innovation and climate resilience.
By becoming a not-for-profit, the Initiative unlocks new funding avenues, including grants, philanthropic donations, and mission-aligned sponsorships. This financial agility is expected to dramatically expand the scale and speed at which high-impact water technologies can be de-risked and adopted globally. The Initiative’s success rate of 73%—nearly triple the sector average—demonstrates its effectiveness in bridging the gap between innovation and implementation.
Launched by Isle in late 2021, the Trial Reservoirs Initiative was born out of frustration with the persistent under-representation of water in climate discussions. It has already funded 19 pilots addressing water usage for climate change, utilities, and industry. The Initiative’s model removes barriers that often prevent innovation from taking off, creating a dependable pathway for de-risking proven technologies and helping businesses and utilities adopt emerging best practices.
“Water cannot wait,” said Dr Jo Burgess, Director of the Trial Reservoirs Initiative. “As climate pressures mount, the gulf between best practice and common practice is no longer a technical problem, it’s a time problem. Becoming a not-for-profit gives us the structural flexibility to move faster, allow us to secure and replenish the core funding reservoir, reduce barriers to entry and sponsorship, and scale our impact across the water sector.”
The Initiative continues to oversee three dedicated evergreen funding pools: the Climate Change Trial Reservoir, supporting mitigation technologies for utilities and adjacent industries; the Advanced & Industrial Trial Reservoir, targeting solutions in resource recovery, emerging contaminants, waste-to-energy, and decentralisation; and the US Utilities Trial Reservoir, supporting US-based trials in partnership with utilities led by individuals from underrepresented groups or serving underserved communities.
As a not-for-profit, the Initiative now offers expanded benefits to sponsors, including the potential for tax-effective donations, participation in the strategic advisory board, and secure access to detailed trial data and reporting.
This transition could spark a wave of innovation in the water sector. By removing financial and structural barriers, the Initiative is poised to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, ultimately enhancing climate resilience and water security. The move also sets a precedent for other initiatives to follow suit, potentially leading to a more collaborative and impactful approach to water innovation. The sector is watching closely, as the success of this model could redefine how water technologies are developed, tested, and implemented globally.