Desalination Hackathon
Invitation to the 2nd Edition of the Global Desalination Hackathon for Sustainable Water Solutions IDRA World Congress 2026
Pre-Congress Workshop Sunday, 1 November 2026, Riyadh-KSA
ACWA in collaboration with IDRA, is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2nd Edition of the Global Desalination Hackathon for Sustainable Water Solutions, hosted as part of the IDRA World Congress 2026 in Riyadh.
Building on the success of the previous edition, this hackathon is designed to bring together high-potential talent and multidisciplinary teams to develop practical, scalable, and technically sound solutions that can move beyond concept stage into real-world application.
Hackathon Theme:
Intelligent Desalination: Innovate for Impact
Challenge Statement:
Develop an AI-driven optimization approach to reduce specific energy consumption and chemical usage in seawater RO desalination plants while preserving membrane performance and asset lifetime.
Background of the Challenge Statement:
Seawater desalination is energy- and chemical-intensive, with typical specific energy consumption of 3 kWh/m³ and significant use of antiscalants, coagulants, and cleaning chemicals. Conservative operating margins and fixed dosing strategies often result in overdosing and excess energy use, increasing operating costs and environmental footprint.
Objectives:
- Attract high-caliber participants (final-year students, graduates, early-career professionals).
- Encourage practical innovation by combining academic knowledge with industry relevance
Identify high-potential solutions suitable for further development. - Integrate intellectual property considerations from early stages.
- Accelerate the journey from idea to deployable solution.
Hackathon Highlights:
- Participants: Must form teams of up to 5 members.
- Support: Each team will be guided by a mentor, providing expertise, and helping to refine ideas. Also, each team will have intellectual property guidance to further develop their idea.
Participants are expected to design solutions that meet defined technical requirements and reduction targets, with a strong emphasis on feasibility and real-world application.
Hackathon Journey
Date
Ongoing – 2nd October 2026
Phase
Application Phase
details
Teams submit:
- Initial solution concept
- Technical approach
- Expected impact and reduction outcomes
Date
5th– 9th October 2026
Phase
Selection Phase
details
A limited number of teams, up to 10 teams will be shortlisted.
Selection based on:
- Feasibility and technical depth
- Innovation and originality
- Alignment with challenge requirements
- Potential for development and patentability
Please note only shortlisted teams will be contacted for the next stage
Date
12th – 30th October 2026
Phase
Pre-Hackathon Development
details
Shortlisted teams will gain access to:
- Expert-led workshops to refine and strengthen their solutions
- Dedicated IP sessions with a specialized agency to:
-Assess patentability
-Structure ideas for protecion
-Enhance innovation positioning
This phase ensures that teams arrive at the hackathon with a solid foundation, ready to build further.
Date
1st November 2026
Phase
Hackathon Day
details
First Half:
- Mentorship and final development
- Technical refinement and pitch preparation
Second Half:
- Final presentations before an expert panel
- Evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, and impact
ACWA’s Talent Acquisition team may also be present during the hackathon to engage with participants and identify promising talent.
Date
5th November 2026
Phase
Awards Day
details
Winners will be officially announced during the Closing Lunch of the IDRA World Congress 2026, providing a high-visibility platform in front of global industry leaders.
Outcomes for the Winning Team:
- Recognition and Awards: Gain acknowledgment for your innovative solutions.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with leaders in the field.
- Patent Exploration: Potential to secure patents for developed ideas.
- Resource Access: Leverage resources to further develop your concepts.
Additional Opportunities
- Solutions demonstrating strong novelty and patentability may be advanced for patent exploration and filing, even if not selected as winners for further development.
Registration Details:
We are currently inviting:
- Teams interested in participating in the hackathon
Please register using the following link: 2nd Edition of the Global Hackathon for Sustainable Water Desal and Reuse
- Subject Matter Experts who would like to contribute through mentorship and technical guidance
Please send an email to [email protected] with your details and bio.
For More Information: Please contact [email protected]
Join us at the IDRA World Congress 2026 and contribute to shaping the next generation of innovative, real-world solutions in water desalination and beyond.
The Hackathon will be held as a pre-Congress workshop. Please note that participation in the Hackathon does not include registration to attend the IDRA World Congress 2026, and a separate Congress registration is required for full access to the event.