The Trial Reservoirs Initiative, an award-winning model accelerating water innovation, has officially transitioned into an independent not-for-profit organisation under the newly formed Tech Ascend Foundation. The change enables access to new funding streams, including grants, philanthropic donations and mission-aligned sponsorship, and dramatically expands the scale and speed at which high-impact water technologies can be de-risked and adopted globally.
Launched by Isle in late 2021 following frustration at the persistent under-representation of water in climate discussions, the initiative has already funded 19 pilots addressing water usage for climate change and in utilities and industry. Its success rate – 73% – is nearly triple the sector average. By removing the barriers that often prevent innovation from taking off, the Trial Reservoirs Initiative has created a dependable pathway for de-risking proven technologies and helping businesses and utilities adopt emerging best practices.
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
“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 Trial Reservoirs 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.
To explore partnership, sponsorship, or trial opportunities, contact Dr Jo Burgess at jo.burgess@isleutilities.com.
