Ofwat launches £40m programme to scale proven water innovations with grants up to £1m

Ofwat has launched a new £40 million programme to help water companies scale proven innovations from trials into routine, large‑scale use, offering grants of up to £1,000,000 per project.

Who can apply

The programme is open to water companies in England and Wales. Certain activity streams also accept bids from suppliers, academics, non‑governmental organisations and other sector participants.

Programme purpose and design

• Budget: up to £40 million across the programme, running as a trial to 2030.
• Funding: grants of up to £1 million per project.
• Priority: projects that have previously received support from Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund are prioritised.
• Model: an early adopter / fast follower approach — a few companies lead initial roll‑outs and others replicate using shared learning and evidence.
• Focus: remove systemic barriers to wider adoption (data, skills, processes, organisational culture) to accelerate replication across regions and asset types.
• Timeline and reference: applications remain open through 31 March 2027 (reference S54893).

Why it matters

The scheme is designed to move successful pilots and demonstrations into routine use, speeding deployment of tested tools and approaches that improve environmental outcomes, operational efficiency and progress towards net‑zero.

Practical tips for applicants

1. Show clear, verifiable evidence of previous trial outcomes and performance.
2. Provide a credible, staged plan for scaling and replication across assets/regions.
3. Explain how you will address barriers (data sharing, skills gaps, process changes, culture) in the deploying organisations.
4. Quantify expected environmental and operational benefits with measurable KPIs.
5. Demonstrate governance, risk management and cost‑benefit evidence to reassure assessors and investors.
6. If relevant, highlight prior support from the Water Innovation Fund and how this funding advances routine adoption.

For full programme details and application guidance, see the source: Ofwat Water Innovation Implementation Programme on GrantFinder.