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Participants must be students between 13 and 25 years of age. See Who Should Join.

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Water is essential to healthy communities, thriving economies, and a sustainable future. Yet growing demand, pollution, aging infrastructure, climate change, and unequal access continue to put pressure on water resources around the world.

Join us in developing innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing water challenges.

• Over 8 weeks, develop a solution to one of three Challenge Statements in a team of up to 5 students

• Collaborate and share ideas with students from around the world

• Learn from Xylem experts and mentors throughout the challenge

• Build new skills while developing an innovative, real-world solutions

• Explore water topics and solutions through educational resources and challenge programming

This year, teams will choose one of three problem statements focused on Water Quantity, Water Quality, or Water Access. Once your team has selected a problem statement, you will develop and submit one solution addressing that challenge.

Water resources are under growing pressure as population growth, climate change, urbanization, and industrial development increase demand for limited freshwater supplies. At the same time, rapidly expanding technologies and industries — including data centers, AI, manufacturing, and energy — are creating new demands for sustainable water management.

Your Challenge: Develop solutions that help communities and industries secure sustainable water resources through improved efficiency, water reuse, replenishment, smart technologies, or responsible water management.

View Full Problem Statement

Safe, clean water is essential to human health, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Yet pollution from industry, agriculture, plastics, and emerging contaminants such as PFAS, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals continues to threaten freshwater resources around the world.

Your Challenge: Develop innovative solutions that prevent, detect, monitor, remove, or reduce contaminants and other pollutants that threaten water quality and human health.

View Full Problem Statement

Billions of people around the world still lack reliable access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Climate change, aging infrastructure, population growth, affordability, and geographic barriers continue to make reliable water access a challenge for communities around the world.

Your Challenge: Develop innovative solutions that improve reliable, equitable, and resilient access to water by addressing physical, economic, environmental, or infrastructure barriers.

View Full Problem Statement

For students enrolled in:

• High school
• Secondary school
• Pre-university or equivalent

For students enrolled in:

• College or university bachelors programs
• Community college
• Vocational schools
• Polytechnics
• Coding bootcamps
• Other tertiary or post-secondary schools or equivalent

Participants must be at least 13 years of age and no older than 25 years of age at the time of the challenge start, September 21, 2026 to participate.

*If a participant is under 18 years of age, a Parent/Guardian Consent & Release form, which can be obtained during registration, must be submitted. Failure to do so will end in disqualification of participation at the Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge 2026.

Prize Pool

All prizes will be divided equally amongst the winning team members.

University Students

High School Students

• Grand Prize: $3,500
• Second Place: $2,000
• Third Place: $1,500
• Most Innovative: $2,000
• Community Choice: $500 (x2)

• Grand Prize: $3,500
• Second Place: $2,000
• Third Place: $1,500
• Most Innovative: $2,000
• Community Choice: $500 (x2)

View the 2022 Innovation Challenge winning projects for inspiration here!

Your projects will be judged on the following criteria:

Will this solution have a far reach and market potential?

How does it affect your community or what social impact does it have?

How relevant is the proposed solution to the stated challenge?

How well does it solve the problem in a real-world setting?

Is the project new and disruptive?

Does the project deliver a fresh and compelling user experience?

On Demand

Water Master Class

Xylem's Water Master Class videos for students to learn about global water challenges and solutions. Guest speakers include Al Cho, SVP, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer for Xylem and George Hawkins, former CEO of DC Water.

Sept. 21 | TBA

Innovation Challenge Kick Off

Opening Ceremony and Innovation Challenge Overview. Learn about the innovation challenge, how to win an innovation challenge, and presentation/demo tips.

Problem Statement #1 Webinar

To be announced! 

TBA

Problem Statement #2 Webinar

To be announced!

TBA

Problem Statement #3 Webinar

To be announced!

TBA

Monday | September 21

Innovation Challenge Begins!

Background resources and data are released for the four challenge statements. Have fun innovating!

Friday | November 20

Project Deadline

All final presentation videos and projects must be submitted by 1:00pm PT / 4:00pm ET / 8:00pm UTC in order to qualify for the innovation challenge. Late submissions will not be accepted.

November 23 - December 9, 2026

Judging

Judging dates may be adjusted within reason, depending on the number of submissions we receive.

December 18th, 2026 | Tentatively

Winners Announcement

Celebrate the Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge 2026 winners and recognize the standout student solutions advancing a more water-secure future.

Check out the winners' pitches for the 2024 edition!

The Grand Winner for the High School Track

The Grand Winner for the University Track

Curious For More?

Discover more about Xylem and the Global Student Innovation Challenge!

Watch the full 2024 Final Webinar

Wave of Action by Xylem

Get inspired and take a leaf out of the winners' book!

Learn about how you can help millions access to clean drinking water and to safely managed sanitation services!

Xylem is a leading global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. We connect global innovation and local expertise to deliver tailored solutions across the entire water cycle. From moving, treating and measuring water to optimizing and maintaining water systems, we help customers solve their most critical challenges. Together, through trusted partnerships with utilities, industrial manufacturers, building operators, and communities, we are building a more water-secure world.

Xylem Ignite is our global youth program to build a strong network of passionate student leaders and empower them to drive real changes in the water industry.

We recognize the mounting environmental challenges impacting humankind and the need to prepare the next generation of young talents to solve water issues. Under our 3 key program pillars – Innovation, Education & Community Involvement, many activities ranging from hackathons to the Incubator program, are held to enroll, ignite and nurture our NextGen Water Leaders.

It is a critical moment in time for water, but also one with incredible new opportunities. If you’re passionate about solving water, we welcome you to join our activities!

If you have any questions regarding the challenge and eligibility, please reach out to us immediately!

makenna@bemyapp.com

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