Isle partners with UNSW to align water research with industry needs, accelerating innovation, commercialization and real-world water solutions.
At Isle, we operate at the intersection of research, innovation, and real-world implementation in the water sector. Our recent collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney is an example of how we work with clients to accelerate the water‑environmental transition. We do this by de‑risking emerging technologies and developing strategies to address complex urban water challenges.
Today’s global water sector is facing unprecedented pressure. Beyond the immediate threats like adapting to droughts, floods, and water quality challenges, there is a vast web of underlying drivers. These ‘Below the Surface’ challenges include severe climate impacts, resource scarcity, and the rapid emergence of smart and digital solutions. Climate change intensifies water management and equity challenges, placing stress on our ageing infrastructure and often stretched workforces.
The tertiary sector is uniquely positioned to deliver the innovations that will solve these challenges. UNSW has been a global leader in water research for over 75 years, housing the multidisciplinary Global Water Institute, Water Research Centre, and Water Research Laboratories, leading the field in areas like water treatment, wastewater reuse, and nature-based solutions.
Isle’s Strategic Review: Bridging Research and Market
Isle conducted a strategic review of UNSW’s water-related R&D portfolio and provided a validated review of the trends influencing the future of water research grounded in an analysis of global water data, specialised literature, and inputs from Isle’s network of utility and industry partners from around the world.
Our findings revealed significant alignment between UNSW’s strengths and the acute needs of water utilities and water-dependent industries. We grouped these high-potential capabilities into six main areas:
- Novel Materials
- Eco Engineering
- Optimisation of Water Treatment
- Net Zero and Resource Optimisation
- Asset Performance and Condition
- Software Applications in the Water Sector
Strengths in areas such as modelling water movement through porous media, self-healing concrete, advanced corrosion technologies, and predictive digital twins for proactive asset management offer significant cross-sector potential for practical solutions that will improve service delivery and support economic growth.
Pathways to Impact
Universities have several clear commercialisation pathways, such as licensing, creation of start-ups, or partnerships with industry. By strengthening collaboration with water and water-adjacent industries, we ensure that research undertaken by universities delivers impact.
Isle’s work with UNSW is a blueprint for how strategic industry engagement can unlock the full commercial and societal potential of academic research, driving long-term sustainability and resilience for our communities.