The sixth round of the Water Breakthrough Challenge (‘Breakthrough 6’) will make up to £50 million available to highly collaborative water-sector innovations, aiming to deliver benefits for customers, society and the environment.
In Breakthrough 6, Ofwat is eager to hear even bigger and bolder ideas, with a greater focus on generating and sharing knowledge, and rolling out successful innovations.
As in previous rounds of the Water Breakthrough Challenge, the lead entrant to Breakthrough 6 must be an appointed ‘Water Company’ (a water and/or sewerage undertaker or infrastructure provider (i.e. Tideway) in England and Wales.
In Breakthrough 6, water companies in England and Wales can bid for funding through two streams:
Water Breakthrough Challenge 6: Catalyst Stream
Individual entries can bid for . For the Catalyst Stream, partners other than the lead entrant can submit the entry form on Submittable.
Close: 6 January 2026 at 12 noon (GMT). You will need to register for a recording slot no later than 18 December 2025 at 5 pm (GMT).
Solutions can be of any level of development, provided they are innovative. Due to its smaller funding amounts, the Catalyst stream can provide a pathway to test early-stage innovations, developing their value proposition before seeking further funding elsewhere.
Full information and application form can be found on the website.
Water Breakthrough Challenge 6: Transform Stream
Individual entries can bid for £2 million – £10 million. Subject to certain conditions, Ofwat are open to accepting entries requesting greater than £10 million. For the Transform Stream, only the lead entrant can submit the entry form on Submittable.
Close: Stage 1 closes on 29 September 2025 at noon (BST).
Entries to the Transform Stream should be at a stage of development where the concept is supported by evidence and progressing toward real-world application. Very early-stage concepts with high levels of uncertainty or limited testing may be better suited to the Catalyst Stream.
Read more and apply on the Water Innovation Challenge website.
You can find other open funding calls in our Funding Finder.
