Funding now available for innovative water projects
Innovative water projects in Australia can now apply to Victoria’s Smart Water Fund Open Innovation Stream for financial support.
Until 8 April 2011, the Smart Water Fund will accept applications from businesses, research institutions and individuals across Australia, for funding to support projects that investigate new technologies and approaches to water management, and demonstrate a benefit to Victoria’s water industry.
“We’re releasing this funding as part of our continued commitment to support innovation in the Victorian water sector, through investment in projects that have tangible returns whether they be water savings, cost savings or improved sustainability outcomes,” said Smart Water Fund CEO Christine Cussen.
The Smart Water Fund will consider applications in the range of $100,000 – $500,000. Projects should deliver knowledge, products or solutions that:
- Contribute to sustainable urban water management; and
- Are valuable to the Victorian water utilities and the customers they serve.
Current Smart Water Fund projects include a Country Fire Authority industrial ecology project that uses wastewater from the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Hospitals for volunteer training activities; a University of Melbourne Web2.0 tool that allows gardeners to become more water efficient and share local plant and garden knowledge; and an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project at Kingswood Golf Club, which is now capturing approximately 56 megalitres of stormwater to be used to maintain golf greens.
The Smart Water Fund is the Victorian water industry’s flagship centre for funding and managing collaborative research in the water sector. Since 2002, it has invested $25 million in research and innovative water technologies that meet the strategic priorities of the water industry.
For more information on the Smart Water Fund, visit www.smartwater.com.au. To view criteria and download an application pack, see Open Innovation Stream.
