The recent announcement of the second edition of Water Innovation Challenges takes centre stage as world leaders grapple with pressing global water hurdles. This innovative approach aims at leveraging technology to usher in a greener future. This endeavor is driven by a collaboration between Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and the Royal Embassy of Denmark to India, all under the umbrella of the Indo-Danish Bilateral Green Strategic Partnership initiated in 2020. The mission intends to provide sustainable solutions for water supply both in India and globally, with winners of these challenges set to represent India at the International Water Congress 2022.
About: Driving Green Transition Through Technology
A critical component of this green transition is technology, especially when driven by entrepreneurship. The Water Innovation Challenges, therefore, aims to encourage this very combination but also to implement it practically on-ground.
The Objective: Fostering Innovation for Sustainable Solutions
This initiative seeks out innovative, futuristic solutions to water-related issues. This objective is to be achieved in partnership with public and corporate allies. The project aims to involve young talent from top universities and innovation centers across India, allowing them to apply their technical knowledge and innovative prowess.
Addressing India’s Water Scarcity Issues
For India, this challenge holds particular importance due to massive water challenges prevalent domestically. The scarcity of water has progressively become an urgent policy issue, with problems such as depleting underground water levels, unsafe drinking water, loss of water due to inadequate sewerage systems, limited access to water, and pollution of India’s major rivers from untreated wastewater.
The Green Strategic Partnership: Aiding the Green Transition
In September 2020, India and Denmark entered into a new age Green Strategic Partnership following a virtual summit overseen by both prime ministers. Both countries share ambitious climate goals and are adopting increasingly sustainable practices.
The Green Strategic Partnership provides an ideal framework as it emphasizes the role of international collaboration in expediting the green transition and fulfilling global goals. The partnership aims to broaden economic ties, encourage green growth, and facilitate cooperation on worldwide challenges such as climate change.
Green Growth: Towards Sustainable Resource Utilization
The term ‘green growth’ represents an economic growth model that exploits natural resources sustainably. Danish companies possessing niche technologies and expertise have offered assistance to India in achieving its air pollution control targets.
Broadening Cooperation Scope
Other points of focus under the partnership include tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and cooperating in water efficiency and water loss issues.
Proposals have been made for creating India-Denmark energy parks in areas populated by a large number of Danish firms and an India-Denmark skill institute to train Indian manpower. The Green Strategic Partnership builds upon an existing Joint Commission for Cooperation and existing working groups.
