A valuable resource that will help innovators navigate, access and engage with the UK and Ireland water sector’s innovation ecosystem has launched.
Developed by Spring, the UK and Ireland water sector’s innovation centre of excellence, the Water Innovation Strategy Ecosystem Guide aims to provide a clear view of innovation across the sector, outlining the roles of utilities, regulators, funders and partners helping innovators identify and access the wide variety of available support.
Designed for innovators within and beyond the water sector, the guide is a navigational resource, mapping how ideas move from concept to real-world adoption and scaling. The team behind the initiative hopes it will also enable cross-sector collaboration, helping innovators from industries such as energy, nuclear, oil & gas and agri-tech to remove barriers to innovating in the water sector.
Carly Perry, managing director, Spring, said: “Spring is pleased to launch the Water Innovation Strategy Ecosystem Guide and living database on behalf of the water sector in the UK and Ireland.
“Working with a range of partners, we have created a practical tool for connection to help innovators – whether from utilities, academia, supply chains, start-ups or entirely new sectors – navigate the complex water innovation landscape more effectively.
“The result is a two-part resource: a high-level view of the innovation ecosystem and an ever-evolving database of companies and available support. Spring is proud to act as custodian of the Ecosystem Guide, maintaining it as a live resource, enabling feedback and supporting its use as a shared reference point.”
The Ecosystem Guide was developed as a companion to the Water Innovation Strategy 2050, of which Spring is also custodian and which is owned and driven by UK water companies.
Since the Strategy was published in 2020, innovation activity has grown, and the landscape has become harder to navigate. There are now more organisations involved, new forms of collaboration and evolving regulatory and environmental pressures, making it less clear who does what and where to go next. In response to this shift, the Ecosystem Guide aims to make it easier for innovators to engage with the industry and each other.
The guide defines six key functions – categories of support available to innovators – within the water innovation ecosystem: research & development, funding & investment, testing, implementation & adoption support, regulatory support & oversight and communication, collaboration & networking. Each function has its own section in the guide, detailing what it does, when to engage and how to get the most value.
The accompanying live database of organisations and support mechanisms is designed to grow as the sector evolves, ensuring the guide remains current and inclusive. Organisations can submit or update their details via an online form – helping maintain an accurate picture of the innovation landscape.
Perry added: “The guide is not a rewrite of strategic priorities – it supports the existing innovation strategy, making the innovation process clearer and helping innovators find the right support at the right time.
“With this resource, we hope to make it easier for new and existing innovators – including those from other sectors with relatable innovation – to engage meaningfully within the industry and with other stakeholders. Thank you to all those who have engaged with this project and helped build a valuable tool to support collective progress on innovation.”
The Ecosystem Guide aligns with recommendations from the Independent Water Commission’s 2025 review, which included improving collaboration and access to funding. Sir Jon Cunliffe’s final report said the adoption of innovative technologies could have wider benefits, such as reductions in carbon emissions, environmental improvement and long-term cost-savings.
The Water Innovation Strategy Ecosystem Guide and database are open access and available now at 2050 Water Innovation Strategy – Spring Innovation