XPRIZE Water Scarcity

XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a global prize run by the XPRIZE Foundation and fully sponsored by the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The competition carries a $119 million purse and runs from March 2024 through 2028. It is split into two tracks: Track A pushes integrated desalination systems that can produce at least one million liters of potable water per day from seawater at the lowest possible cost, while Track B backs novel desalination materials or methods designed to last more than 10 years. The program also includes an Ideas Competition called The Value of Water. Milestone and grand awards are substantial. Track A semifinalists receive $250,000 each, and Track B finalists receive $220,000 each. The grand prizes are $40 million, $20 million, and $10 million for Track A, and $8 million, $1 million, and $500,000 for Track B. As of September 2025, 143 teams had qualified. Eligibility is open to for-profit companies, nonprofits, universities, research organizations, and individuals, with the important caveat that teams must own or appropriately license the submitted technology and intellectual property. This prize fits teams that can demonstrate real hardware, materials, or system performance under competitive testing conditions. It rewards groups that can pair engineering depth with IP control and a credible route to scale, because the bar is not just innovation but reliable, low-cost water output over time. Teams working in water, desalination, or advanced materials will find it far more relevant than a general climate prize, and the staged structure means progress can be recognized before the final awards in 2027 and 2028.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.