A desalination technology developed at Columbia University, which received recognition at the 2024 Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW), is progressing toward commercialisation through the company Cetos Water.
The research team, led by Dr. Ngai Yin Yip, La Von Duddleson Krumb Associate Professor in Columbia’s Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, received GPIW awards in 2024 for both its technical innovation and its potential long-term impact in the water sector. The technology is now moving toward real-world deployment through a partnership with Cetos Water.
“It’s a huge leap from lab experiments and theoretical models to what could soon be a full-scale, commercial desalination proposition,” said Dr. Yip. “Winning GPIW gave us validation and visibility, and Cetos Water is helping make commercial rollout a reality.”
Cetos Water CEO Shannon Knee attended the 2024 GPIW awards in Saudi Arabia, where discussions with water industry leaders, academics, and startups led to pilot planning opportunities. The company has since advanced its fundraising efforts and is working on its first pilot site.
“Desalination has been beset by approaches that are limited at best,” said Shannon Knee. “Dr Yip and his team have put together a compelling solution and we are proud to be helping them bring that fully to life.”
Dr. Yip’s research group has investigated various approaches to water purification, including desalination, with the aim of overcoming limitations in established methods such as reverse osmosis. GPIW was among the first international platforms to acknowledge the work.
The 2024 GPIW, organised by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), received approximately 540 entries from 56 countries, including submissions from more than 80 universities and research institutions.
“The GPIW programme has been an incredible experience,” Dr. Yip said. “Even beyond the award, it created opportunities to meet other innovators, potential collaborators, and global decision-makers. It is incredibly challenging to address the issues the world is facing around water – nature does not give up its secrets easily – so it is supportive and empowering to meet other people also trying to help. I’m already planning to submit another project in 2025.”
Dr. Yip and his team entered the 2024 competition through Innocentive, an open innovation platform within the Wazoku innovation ecosystem. Innocentive connects more than 700,000 expert solvers—including academics, entrepreneurs, and engineers—with challenges set by organisations, offering cash prizes for successful solutions.
The 2025 Global Prize for Innovation in Water is open for entries until 14 September 2025. The competition offers a total prize pool of $1.8 million, global exposure, and pilot funding, supported by the Saudi Water Authority.
