Honouring Leaders in Water Innovation

On 10th February the WEX Global Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner brought together the water and energy community to celebrate innovation and water-positive impact worldwide, honouring solutions that are shaping a water abundant future.

The winners of this year’s categories, selected by an international panel of expert judges from across the water and energy sectors (full list of judges), are:

Innovation in Water and the Circular Economy:
Conseptec GmbH, for its affordable, fully recyclable ceramic ultrafiltration membrane solution.

Innovation in Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience:
Onunda, recognised for its circular decarbonisation of sludge and biosolids through advanced thermal treatment.

Innovation in Digital Transformation in the Water Sector:
Surphase, celebrated for leading the way with digital innovation transforming water systems.

Innovation in Watershed Restoration, Climate Resilience, and Water Positive Innovation:
Heart Water, recognised for its decentralised infrastructure solutions boosting water security resilience.

Videos of each winner, along with the shortlisted entries can be seen here »

Innovation Forum
Earlier in the day, the WEX Global Innovation Forum, sponsored by Aqualia, showcased pioneering solutions in the water sector. The winner, REDStack, and close runner‑up, Waterise, were announced at the WEX Global Awards Ceremony.

Outstanding Community Contribution Awards
The WEX Global Awards not only celebrate outstanding projects, but also the power of collaboration, community, and climate‑positive action across the global water sector. This year the Outstanding Community Contribution Awards went to:

World Water Film Festival, for celebrating the human story of water through powerful storytelling.

Water Alliance, for creating an innovation ecosystem that nurtures and enables people with great ideas to scale them into real-world water solutions.

Cox, for creating a successful international water and energy utility that has risen phoenix-like from the ashes of Abengoa into a globally thriving organisation delivering solutions to water and energy challenges for communities worldwide

Saudi Fund for Development, for their commitment to International Sustainable Development and it’s impact on the lives of many people living in some of the most challenging environments across the global

Mark Barker CEO of WEX Global remarked that

“I was incredibly encouraged to hear from the judges about the growing number of high-quality entries this year, which made selecting winners increasingly challenging. The closeness of scoring across all categories reflects both the exceptional standard of innovation in our sector and the rising prestige of the WEX Global Awards, which are judged by an independent panel of expert judges representing multiple continents.”

The 2026 WEX Global Awards highlighted not only the groundbreaking technologies and initiatives driving a water-positive future but also the spirit of collaboration and community across the sector. From innovative solutions to climate resilience, the winners exemplify how innovation, commitment, and shared purpose can create meaningful global impact.