Deputy Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured 10 winners from eight countries at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, which is worth USD 1 million. The Award was launched by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to encourage research centres, individuals and innovators from around the world to find innovative and sustainable solutions for clean-water scarcity around the world, using solar power. The award is overseen by the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. It has three main categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research and Development Award, and the Innovative Youth Award.
The award ceremony was attended by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; UAE Minister of State HE Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber; and UAE Minister of State for Higher Education HE Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi.
The ceremony was also attended by several ministers, directors of government departments, ambassadors, consuls, public figures, officials from the public and private sectors, local and international universities, and research centres, and students from national and international universities. The innovative ideas and projects presented by the winners from around the world were highly-praised and commended.
Winners of the Award came from eight countries that included UAE, Qatar, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, and Greece
The first place in the Innovative Research and Development Award – National Institutions category, was jointly-shared by Khalifa University for a dual-disinfection-modified biosand filter, coupled with solar pasteuriser system, and Masdar Institute at Khalifa University for a solar desalination process using a perforated black fabric under solar collector.
The first place in the Innovative Research and Development Award - International Institutions category, went to the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), in cooperation with the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA), for a solar-powered desalination technology based on TNO’s high-efficiency membrane distillation concept.
The first place in the Innovative Projects Award went to the Elemental Water Makers from the Netherlands, for a solar-powered Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant to produce drinking water.
Dr. Marta Vivar from Spain won the Innovative Youth Award for a hybrid solar photovoltaic-photochemical system for water disinfection and electricity generation.
In his keynote speech, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia, welcomed the guests to the UAE, the land of peace, happiness, and positivity, and the country of giving that assists all those in need and decreases their suffering, wherever they are, regardless of nationality, race, or religion.
“The UAE was ranked the world’s top development assistance donor in 2016 relative to its national income, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The UAE has become a centre for helping the needy wherever they are, in adherence with the teachings of Islam, Arab traditions, and the principles instilled in the hearts of Emiratis by the Founding Fathers. Today, our wise leadership, headed by President of the UAE His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates, follow the same path,” said Al Tayer.
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