BRISBANE - 2020
"Innovate 4 Water" - a marketplace for sustainable development
5-7 August 2020 | Brisbane
Australia’s contribution to strengthen water nexus sectors in the Asia-Pacific region

CO-ORGANISING PARTNERS



PARTNERS
SPONSORS
SUPPORTERS


WHAT
What was the marketplace about?
“Innovate 4 Water” is two days of matchmaking, bringing together solutions and needs, curated into investment focussed themes.
The design and delivery of “Innovate 4 Water” is unique and effective because the marketplace:
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is outcome oriented
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has 100% active participation
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is highly curated
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has a business-networking focus.
“Innovate 4 Water” organisers, in conjunction with Office of the Queensland Chief Entrepreneur, wcoached participants on the day before the marketplace.
WHY
Why “Innovate 4 Water”?
“Innovate 4 Water” marketplace fosters interactions between global and local players from the private sector, the public sector and the civil society to shift financing towards innovative impactful local solutions.
What are the expected outcomes?
Strong reinforcement of the local ecosystems around water resource management, WASH and the water nexus. The marketplace accelerates commercially sustainable change by:
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creating visibility to established technological solutions and business models, local solution providers and local investors
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attracting higher levels of blended investments outside of donor and aid funding
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transferring water sector and water-dependent knowledge and innovation
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forming meaningful partnerships and cross-sectoral collaborations
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driving economic growth and improving access to water and sanitation in the targeted region.
WHO
Audience:
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SMEs and multinational companies with interest in the water nexus sector
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utilities and civil engineering
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primary and manufacturing industries
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investors (banking, asset management, private banking, corporates, venture capital, private equity)
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water nexus institutions (foundations, coalitions, associations)
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non-government and governmental organisations, national and local
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universities / incubators / research institutions
PROGRAMME
DETAILED PROGRAMME
THEME 1 - Adaptation and mitigation to climate change
THEME 2 - Nature-based solutions
THEME 3 - Innovative Finance
Click on the profiles to watch their pitches
THEME 4 - From resilience to prosperity
THEME 5 - Solutions for out-of-the-box context
Click on the profiles to watch their pitches
THEME 6 - Exporting Australian innovation and expertise
THEME 7 - Embracing the circular economy
THEME 8 - Innovative finance
Click on the profiles to watch their pitches
THEME 9 - Efficiency in water infrastructure
THEME 10 - Ageing infrastructure management
THEME 10 - Ageing infrastructure management (panel)
THEME 11 - Sustainable Planning
THEME 12 - Early-stage technologies
THEME 13 - Off-grid and distributed solutions
THEME 14 - Innovative finance
Click on the profiles to watch their pitches
THEME 15 - Innovation and collaboration
PLAYLIST OF ALL PRESENTATIONS
SEQUENCE AND ORGANISATION
PRIOR TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The marketplace was fast paced, delivered in two days with 120 participants. The marketplace design was fundamentally different from typical conferences. The “Innovate 4 Water” effective design and the detail in their execution always aimed to facilitate connections and collaborations to bring maximum value to each participant. Its key characteristics were:
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participation by invitation or recommendation only, to achieve the best matchmaking outcome and maximum impact during and after the marketplace
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choice of solutions providers focused on financial viability and scalability
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coaching of marketplace participants prior to each marketplace to deliver effective pitches
POST COVID-19 PANDEMIC
COVID-19 restrictions require logistical adjustment to the delivery mode of the “Innovate 4 Water” Forum. For the Brisbane event in August 2020, International WaterCentre and Waterpreneurs are embedding the following changes:
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limiting the number of face-to face attendees
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introducing COVID-19 Safe measures for physical attendance, including 4m2 per person space provision, and physical distancing, and hygiene protocol monitoring
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implementing an “Innovate 4 Water” risk management plan with a focus on COVID-19 Safe compliance
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increasing activities in the lead up and post event
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delivering the forum via an industry leading virtual networking platform, combining live streaming and virtual events software for immersive, close to real time experience, remote participation. The platform is specifically designed for networking and will enable a mix of physical and virtual audience participation.
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ensuring sufficient technical support on site during the forum for smooth flow of sessions and participant interaction other features of the platform include: real-time video networking, trackable interactions, playback of presentations, post-event access and follow-up networking, virtual reality interactivity, easy connection and networking features (including LinkedIn connectivity)
REGISTRATION
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Access to over 3 days of interactive activities
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Special lead up sessions in 3D interactive environment
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Post event scale up activities
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Access to dedicated networking sessions
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Opportunity to pitch (5min) during the event (if presentation is received before the 2 weeks prior the marketplace)
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Opportunity to have a virtual “table” at the event
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Possibility to participate in the coaching session prior the marketplace
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Possibility to participate in the start-up pitching session led by the Office of Queensland Chief Entrepreneur on the day after
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Potential exposure to international investor and market networks, through the opportunity to apply for the Solar Impulse Foundation -Efficient Solutions Label.
WHERE
The Precinct - Level 2/315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.

With a vision to create water leaders for the future, the Australian-based International WaterCentre (IWC) fosters innovative thinking in the water sector to build the capacity of water professionals, globally and in Australia, to lead the changes needed in the water sector.
Based in Switzerland, Waterpreneurs is a global for-impact organisation supporting the scaling-up of impact investments financing the growth of “water nexus” businesses.
Waterpreneurs mobilises versatile expertise and a global network of key stakeholders, locally, around the 5 continents.
Business Models INC. is a global business design agency specializing in strategy and innovation.