NTU Team Secures Grand Prize for Discovery Award at The Global Prize for Innovation in Water Desalination (GPID)

The Global Prize for Innovation in Water Desalination (GPID), established in 2023 by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), now rebranded as the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), serves as a premier platform for recognising and rewarding transformative advancements in water desalination. This initiative seeks to honour individuals and teams driving significant progress in the field of water desalination, while inspiring broader participation in the mission to achieve sustainable water solutions.

SWA’s establishment of the GPID reflects its steadfast dedication to environmental preservation and technological innovation, championing groundbreaking ideas that accelerate global water sustainability. Beyond monetary awards, GPID recipients gain exclusive access to accelerator programmes and piloting facilities provided by SWA and its strategic partners, amplifying the potential impact of their innovations.

In its 2024 edition, the GPID recognised excellence with 14 awards across six categories, and two Technology Readiness Level (TRL) clusters: TRL 1–3 and TRL 4–7. The accolades included two Grand Prizes, each valued at USD100,000, and 12 Impact Medals, each worth USD50,000.

Amid 540 submissions from over 80 universities and research institutions worldwide, the team from Nanyang Technological University (NTU)—comprising Associate Professor Chong Tzyy Haur, Dr. Sim Lee Nuang, and Visiting Professor William B. Krantz—secured the Grand Prize for Discovery Award (TRL 1–3) with their groundbreaking innovation, “Unveiling the Power of Centrifugal Reverse Osmosis (CRO) for Desalination.”

The award was presented at a prestigious ceremony held on November 25, 2024, during the Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underscoring the global recognition of NTU’s pioneering contributions to water sustainability