Piloting innovative water-saving solutions
CISL has been selected by the Water Efficiency Cambridgeshire Fund (weCB Fund) to test practical solutions to one of the region's most pressing challenges: water scarcity.
We are seeking bold startups, SMEs and innovative solutions from companies around the world working on deployment-ready innovations at TRL 7 or higher that offer a solution related to quantifiable water-saving, including:
- Water efficiency retrofit measures
- Leakage reduction activities
- Process optimisation initiatives
- Behaviour change programmes
- Rainwater harvesting and reuse systems
- Greywater recycling projects
- Smart control technologies
- Any other intervention claiming quantified water savings
Register your interest in piloting water-saving innovations
We will let you know when applications are open.
We are working with a range of Cambridgeshire-based organisations who will host these solutions for six months to measure water savings and evaluate their success.
These host organisations may have their own requirements related to water quality, product liability, insurance, safeguarding, etc which may require the successful applicants to confirm prior to final selection and commencement. Hosts include schools, offices, universities, hospitals, leisure centres, and large gardens and sports fields.
Key Dates
| Application window: | 24 September to 2 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Interview phase: | 5 - 9 October 2026 |
| Final selection announcement: | Mid-october 2026 (incl. introductory event) |
| Execution of pilots: | October 2026 to March 2027 (6 months) |
| Evaluation: | March 2027 (verification, end of project and case studies) |
Benefits of participation
Successful applicants will have the following benefits:
- Piloting of their solution with some large organisations, which could lead to direct, longer-term commercial opportunities in other similar organisations.
- Published case study and verified quantitative evaluation of the pilot, which will help inform the product’s feasibility for scale.
- Peer learning and engagement between applicants, sites and wider CISL network opportunities.
- This project may cover some out-of-pocket expenses
*Participation in the pilot does not guarantee future collaboration or any commercial uptake of products or services by host organisations.
Cambridgeshire is one of the most water-stressed regions in the UK. Through its Living Lab, CISL will bring together businesses, innovators, researchers and local stakeholders to test and validate new approaches to water efficiency in real-world settings. The initiative will create opportunities to demonstrate what works in practice, supporting the development of scalable solutions that can help reduce water demand while supporting economic resilience.
Register your interest in piloting water-saving innovations
We will let you know when applications are open.