The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) renewed its invitation for those interested to apply for the 2nd Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, with a deadline for applications of 1 September 2019. The award is worth USD1 million in prizes; it encourages research centres, individuals, and innovators around the world to find sustainable and innovative solar-powered solutions to water scarcity and pollution. Under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), Suqia is supervising the award, which has three main categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research & Development Award, and Innovative Individual Award.
“This global award affirms the UAE's commitment to innovation and sustainability, and the search for sustainable solutions to address the scarcity and pollution of potable water globally. This year’s award is particularly important during the Year of Tolerance, announced by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The Year of Tolerance is an extension to the Year of Zayed 2018, as it carries the values taught by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who extended a helping hand to the needy all over the world to alleviate human suffering, regardless of gender, race, colour or religion. Our wise leadership exemplifies these principles. The award reflects our efforts to actively contribute to addressing the global water crisis by inviting companies, research centres, individuals, and innovators around the world to find solar powered solutions that produce clean drinking water,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.
“We affirm the importance of this award in supporting global efforts to provide clean drinking water to the thirsty around the world. Suqia continues its efforts to provide safe drinking water to communities suffering from water scarcity and pollution, in cooperation with local and international organisations. And we continue our research and development efforts to create sustainable solutions for the solar powered desalination and purification of water. By the end of last year, over 9 million people in 34 countries had benefited from Suqia’s projects, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who launched the 50-Year Charter and stated that ‘Charity is indeed a major factor in the happiness of societies and the continuity of progress and prosperity’,” added Al Tayer.
The Innovative Projects Award category targets private, government, semi-government, and non-government organisations. It has two sub-categories: the Large Projects Award with prizes totalling USD 300,000, and the Small Projects Award with prizes totalling USD 240,000. The Innovative Research & Development Award category targets individuals and teams from academic institutions and research centres that are independent or annexed to government or semi-government organisations. It has two sub-categories: the National Institutions Award and the International Institutions Award. Each sub-category is worth USD 200,000. The Innovative Individual Award has two categories: the Youth Award, which targets young adults between the ages of 15 and 35 with a prize value of USD 20,000; and the Distinguished Researcher Award with a prize value of USD 40,000. Terms and conditions, evaluation criteria and general guidelines for applications are available on Suqia’s website.
“The world–renowned Award relies on the highest international standards to assess the applications submitted by participants. This shows the UAE, and its institutions, is a destination for excellence and innovation. Participants can apply for the second Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award and review the terms and conditions for applying on Suqia’s website (www.suqia.ae),” said Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia.
