The Water Council launches a commercialization initiative that will match manufacturers, utilities and the agricultural industry with promising water and water-related technology research and innovations for advancement into the marketplace. As part of an expansion of The Water Council, the ICE (Innovation. Commercialization. Exchange.) Institute will aggregate, evaluate and connect emerging technologies that address water issues across a wide range of industries.
Working in partnership with the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and Alliance for Water Stewardship – North America, the ICE Institute will reportedly serve as a technology-vetting program, providing:
- Access to a broad spectrum of innovations within federal and university research labs;
- A nationwide scouting team to identify emerging technologies and processes;
- A detailed database and clearinghouse of pre-screened innovations powered by the Global Water Port, a web-based research and data dashboard, allowing members to evaluate options applicable to their specific needs; and
- Product matching and development teams to connect users to promising technologies to advance to market.
“Water technologies are often a generation behind, due to a variety of factors, including lack of federally led channels or venture capital, siloed research in university and federal labs, and lack of awareness and resources among small and medium businesses,” says Rich Meeusen, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Badger Meter and co-founder and co-chair of The Water Council. Meeusen adds, “While water technology solutions may readily be available in labs across the country, industry is likely unaware of the research nor can they easily access this work.”
The ICE Institute focuses on an array of water intensive issues and processes common to all industries and translates solutions between sectors. Its pipeline provides prioritized needs, assessed technologies and routes to market. In March of 2016, The Water Council made a commitment during the White House Water Summit to develop a channel of access to Federal Labs’ water and water-related technologies. By partnering with the FLC and the U.S. Water Partnership, the ICE Institute will make water technologies from federal labs more accessible through the Global Water Port, according to IChemE.
For more information, visit: www.thewatercouncil.com/ice
