XPRIZE, the leader in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions to address humanity’s greatest challenges, has announced the semi-finalist teams advancing to the next stage of the $119m XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, supported by The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. A total of 20 teams in Track A: System-Level Innovation will share $5m in awards, while 17 teams in Track B: Novel Materials and Methods will receive up to $300,000 in total.

The first-of-its-kind five-year global competition aims to expand access to clean water by scaling seawater desalination technologies that are more reliable, affordable and sustainable, helping to tackle the growing global water scarcity crisis.

Water stress is affecting populations worldwide, with 80% of the global population experiencing severe water scarcity. By 2030, global water supplies are projected to fall 40% short of demand. Although desalination is an established and growing industry, the sector has seen limited major innovation since the early 2000s. XPRIZE Water Scarcity seeks to accelerate breakthroughs that can significantly improve access to reliable, sustainable and cost-effective desalination solutions.

“With XPRIZE Water Scarcity, we are redefining what is possible for millions of people who still lack access to safe and reliable water by unlocking bold, transformative solutions to help ensure clean water is available worldwide,” said Anousheh Ansari, chief executive officer of XPRIZE. “The progress demonstrated by the semi-finalist teams marks the next stage in the development of scalable, energy-efficient and cost-effective desalination technologies designed to address critical gaps in access to this essential human need.”

Semi-finalist teams progressed through a rigorous judging process during Qualified Teams Testing and were assessed on technical merit, feasibility and operational performance.

• Track A: System-Level Innovation – Teams are rethinking how desalination systems are designed and deployed, simplifying system architectures to reduce energy consumption, costs and environmental impact. Many are enabling new deployment models, including modular and distributed systems, offshore solutions and renewable-powered configurations, while integrating smarter controls to improve reliability and efficiency at scale. These systems successfully demonstrated the production of approximately 1,000 litres of clean water per day over a two-week testing period, alongside additional performance and reporting requirements.

• Track B: Novel Materials and Methods – Teams are developing next-generation desalination technologies through advanced materials and innovative separation methods aimed at reducing costs while improving reliability and sustainability. Many are focused on improving selectivity, permeability, recovery and durability, while lowering energy consumption. These approaches have delivered promising laboratory-scale results that could significantly reshape the future of desalination.

“XPRIZE Water Scarcity is redefining what can be achieved in a sector long challenged by high costs, energy intensity and environmental impacts,” said Lauren Greenlee, executive vice-president of food, water, and waste, XPRIZE. “This semi-finalist announcement represents a major milestone in the competition’s first phase of physical testing. As the competition progresses, this cohort reflects growing momentum towards scalable, adaptive and resource-efficient seawater desalination systems.”

“Global water scarcity is one of the defining challenges of our time, and The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative is committed to accelerating the development and deployment of transformative solutions to address this emerging crisis,” said Ayesha Al Ateeqi, executive director of The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. “Our partnership with XPRIZE reflects our belief that advancing next-generation desalination technologies that are more affordable, scalable and sustainable is not a distant ambition, but an achievable goal. We are proud to support the innovators advancing to the semi-final stage, whose work is creating real opportunities to translate scientific innovation into practical impact for communities around the world.”

Semi-finals testing will take place in 2026, with finalists to be announced in 2027. Final testing will run from 2027 to 2028, with winners announced in 2028.

Following a year of rigorous testing, winners will receive one of the world’s largest incentive prizes for successfully demonstrating the following achievements:• For Track A, $40m will be awarded to the winning team with additional prizes being awarded to runners-up and select teams recognised through Moonshot Awards for exceptional performance in key environmental and system-level metrics.• For Track B, $8m will be awarded to the winning team that pioneers a novel, durable desalination material or method capable of operating for at least 10 years.

The competition reflects the vision of title sponsor The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative to support innovation and creativity in addressing global water scarcity. Through its international programmes and activities, the initiative works to accelerate innovation, raise awareness, and support the development, testing and large-scale deployment of solutions that can help create a future where water is accessible, affordable and sustainable for all.