More than 4 400 student innovators from 150 countries have proposed new solutions to water and sustainability threats in this year’s Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge.

Teams from the Philippines and Algeria were the grand prize winners of the 2024 edition of the yearly programme which invites high school and university students worldwide to develop solutions to the world’s biggest water challenges, says global water technology leader Xylem.

The young innovators were tasked with tackling three critical water problems: reducing ocean plastic waste, raising awareness about sustainability and water conservation, and lowering indirect greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions with enhanced water purification methods.

“As global water challenges escalate, it is more important than ever to provide a platform for the next generation of innovators. We are thrilled with the water conservation solutions that this year’s challenge winners have proposed,” said Xylem sustainability and social impact VP Austin Alexander, noting that the work of these and other young innovators would have a major impact on the water sector for years to come.

This year’s grand prize winner in the high school division was “Team AGWE – God of Water: Be Empowered. Take Action.”

The team, from the Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science in the Philippines, developed the concept for an experiential tool, which uses augmented reality to inspire action on water conservation.

The grand prize winner in the university division was “The Blue: Immersive Water Conservation Learning Experience.”

The team, from the University of Boumerdes in Algeria, developed its idea for a dynamic and gamified learning experience focused on topics ranging from the benefits of rainwater capture to the importance of wastewater management.

Challenge participants were supported by volunteer mentors from Xylem, and nearly 260 teams worked on projects that were evaluated by judges from Xylem and global nonprofit organisation EarthEcho International.

The winning teams, which were announced during a virtual awards ceremony on June 20, share a $20 000 prize pool and can join the Xylem Ignite Innovation Incubator to further develop their solutions.

Participants in the incubator programme will be paired with experienced water industry mentors from Xylem and receive grants to develop their projects further over a six-month period.

The Global Student Innovation Challenge, which is now in its fourth year, is part of Xylem Ignite, a global youth programme designed to build a strong network of passionate student leaders and empower them to drive change in the water industry.

Student participation in the programme has grown nearly sevenfold since its inception in 2021, and the number of countries represented has tripled.