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Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
HCL Group and UpLink Launch Fourth Global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge to Boost Water Resilience
DELHI, India & TIANJIN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 26, 2025-- Global conglomerate HCL Group and UpLink, early-stage innovation initiative of the World Economic Forum, have announced the fourth challenge of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, the Water Resilience Challenge. The announcement was made at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China. Applications are open until August 4, 2025, with winners to be announced in January 2026. The top 10 winners will receive a total financial award of CHF1.75 million divided amongst the innovators. For detailed information and eligibility criteria, visit: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: John Dutton, Head of UpLink, announcing the launch of Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative Challenge 4 The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative is a 5-year, 15 million CHF collaboration between UpLink, HCL Group and the World Economic Forum's Food and Water team, to create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem for freshwater. The Innovation Challenge aims to empower global change-makers pioneering groundbreaking technologies, strategies and approaches to conserve, manage and protect water resources. The Water Resilience Challenge seeks scalable, pioneering solutions that enhance the resilience of water systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and increasing demand. Submissions are invited across three critical sectors: Sundar Mahalingam, President of Strategy at HCL Group, said, 'Through HCL's collaboration with the World Economic Forum and UpLink, we are helping build a global ecosystem for water innovation — one changemaker at a time. We focus on strategic support — enabling promising innovators to access global platforms, visibility, investors, policymakers, and peer networks. In just three years, 30 innovators supported through this initiative have raised over $90 million and saved over 12 billion litres of water. Our goal is to empower at least 50 such changemakers — and many more in the years ahead.' John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum, added, ' UpLink and HCL Group's Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative recognizes that solving the water crisis demands a dynamic ecosystem to scale effective solutions. Together with the World Economic Forum's Food and Water Initiative, we are proud to launch the Water Resilience Challenge, calling on bold early-stage start-ups addressing the most urgent water needs of our time, from rising demands in the tech and agritech sectors to climate-driven infrastructure vulnerabilities. By supporting breakthrough innovators and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we're working together to build the water resilience every industry needs to thrive in a water-stressed world.' 'Being part of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative has been transformative. For a company at our stage, the credibility from HCL, UpLink, and the World Economic Forum has opened doors to high-level partners and investors we couldn't have reached otherwise, including HCL itself. The financial award and global recognition have positioned us for our next stage of growth, and we've joined a powerful community of innovators tackling the world's biggest water challenges,' said Mansi Jain, Co-founder and CEO of DigitalPaani, a grantee from the previous cohort. An official announcement regarding the launch of the Water Resilience Challenge will also be made on June 26 at the Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) Meeting at the ongoing London Climate Action Week organized by the World Economic Forum. In response to the growing climate variability, groundwater depletion and water-intensive industrial demands, the Water Resilience Challenge seeks to catalyze a new generation of sustainable, scalable and equitable solutions. Selected participants will gain access to funding, mentorship, global visibility, and a powerful network of experts, investors and partners. About HCL Founded in 1976 as one of India's original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.8 billion with 220,000 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, About UpLink UpLink is a World Economic Forum initiative, founded in collaboration with Deloitte and Salesforce, designed to unlock the power of entrepreneurship to tackle the world's most urgent challenges. UpLink builds ecosystems that enable purpose-driven, early-stage entrepreneurs to scale their businesses for the markets and economies that are essential to a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. For further information,click here. View source version on CONTACT: On behalf of HCL: Alisha [email protected]/ 8447821231 Shruti [email protected]/ 9654356487 KEYWORD: INDIA UNITED KINGDOM SINGAPORE AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA AUSTRALIA CHINA SOUTHEAST ASIA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NETWORKS OTHER ENERGY UTILITIES DATA MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ENVIRONMENT CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY URBAN PLANNING BUILDING SYSTEMS SOURCE: HCL Group Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/26/2025 04:30 AM/DISC: 06/26/2025 04:29 AM
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
HCL Group and UpLink Launch Fourth Global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge to Boost Water Resilience
DELHI, India & TIANJIN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global conglomerate HCL Group and UpLink, early-stage innovation initiative of the World Economic Forum, have announced the fourth challenge of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, the Water Resilience Challenge. The announcement was made at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China. Applications are open until August 4, 2025, with winners to be announced in January 2026. The top 10 winners will receive a total financial award of CHF1.75 million divided amongst the innovators. For detailed information and eligibility criteria, visit: The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative is a 5-year, 15 million CHF collaboration between UpLink, HCL Group and the World Economic Forum's Food and Water team, to create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem for freshwater. The Innovation Challenge aims to empower global change-makers pioneering groundbreaking technologies, strategies and approaches to conserve, manage and protect water resources. The Water Resilience Challenge seeks scalable, pioneering solutions that enhance the resilience of water systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and increasing demand. Submissions are invited across three critical sectors: Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience – Solutions to strengthen urban and rural water systems including drainage, enhancing their ability to withstand extreme weather (including extreme heat, droughts, floods and stormwater), addressing infrastructure gaps and vulnerabilities, and meeting growing demand. Rethinking Agri-food Water Use – Solutions to transform agricultural surface water and groundwater use through regenerative and nature-based approaches, improved irrigation practices, and innovations to conserve, reuse, and replenish water resources across food systems. Optimising Water in the Tech Sector and Energy Systems – Technologies to improve water efficiency and reduce water-related risks in industries such as AI data centres, semiconductor manufacturing, along with solutions that improve water-efficiency in energy generation and recover energy from wastewater. Sundar Mahalingam, President of Strategy at HCL Group, said, 'Through HCL's collaboration with the World Economic Forum and UpLink, we are helping build a global ecosystem for water innovation — one changemaker at a time. We focus on strategic support — enabling promising innovators to access global platforms, visibility, investors, policymakers, and peer networks. In just three years, 30 innovators supported through this initiative have raised over $90 million and saved over 12 billion litres of water. Our goal is to empower at least 50 such changemakers — and many more in the years ahead.' John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum, added, ' UpLink and HCL Group's Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative recognizes that solving the water crisis demands a dynamic ecosystem to scale effective solutions. Together with the World Economic Forum's Food and Water Initiative, we are proud to launch the Water Resilience Challenge, calling on bold early-stage start-ups addressing the most urgent water needs of our time, from rising demands in the tech and agritech sectors to climate-driven infrastructure vulnerabilities. By supporting breakthrough innovators and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we're working together to build the water resilience every industry needs to thrive in a water-stressed world.' 'Being part of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative has been transformative. For a company at our stage, the credibility from HCL, UpLink, and the World Economic Forum has opened doors to high-level partners and investors we couldn't have reached otherwise, including HCL itself. The financial award and global recognition have positioned us for our next stage of growth, and we've joined a powerful community of innovators tackling the world's biggest water challenges,' said Mansi Jain, Co-founder and CEO of DigitalPaani, a grantee from the previous cohort. An official announcement regarding the launch of the Water Resilience Challenge will also be made on June 26 at the Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) Meeting at the ongoing London Climate Action Week organized by the World Economic Forum. In response to the growing climate variability, groundwater depletion and water-intensive industrial demands, the Water Resilience Challenge seeks to catalyze a new generation of sustainable, scalable and equitable solutions. Selected participants will gain access to funding, mentorship, global visibility, and a powerful network of experts, investors and partners. About HCL Founded in 1976 as one of India's original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.8 billion with 220,000 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit About UpLink UpLink is a World Economic Forum initiative, founded in collaboration with Deloitte and Salesforce, designed to unlock the power of entrepreneurship to tackle the world's most urgent challenges. UpLink builds ecosystems that enable purpose-driven, early-stage entrepreneurs to scale their businesses for the markets and economies that are essential to a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. For further information, click here.
National Post
3 days ago
- Business
- National Post
HCL Group and UpLink Launch Fourth Global Aquapreneur Innovation Challenge to Boost Water Resilience
Article content DELHI, India & TIANJIN, China — Global conglomerate HCL Group and UpLink, early-stage innovation initiative of the World Economic Forum, have announced the fourth challenge of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative, the Water Resilience Challenge. The announcement was made at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China. Applications are open until August 4, 2025, with winners to be announced in January 2026. The top 10 winners will receive a total financial award of CHF1.75 million divided amongst the innovators. For detailed information and eligibility criteria, visit: Important Dates to Note 25 June to 4 August 2025 Open for submissions August 2025 Review and selection process January 2026 Announcement of the winners The Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative is a 5-year, 15 million CHF collaboration between UpLink, HCL Group and the World Economic Forum's Food and Water team, to create a first-of-its-kind innovation ecosystem for freshwater. The Innovation Challenge aims to empower global change-makers pioneering groundbreaking technologies, strategies and approaches to conserve, manage and protect water resources. Article content The Water Resilience Challenge seeks scalable, pioneering solutions that enhance the resilience of water systems facing mounting pressures from climate change, pollution and increasing demand. Submissions are invited across three critical sectors: Article content Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience – Solutions to strengthen urban and rural water systems including drainage, enhancing their ability to withstand extreme weather (including extreme heat, droughts, floods and stormwater), addressing infrastructure gaps and vulnerabilities, and meeting growing demand. Rethinking Agri-food Water Use – Solutions to transform agricultural surface water and groundwater use through regenerative and nature-based approaches, improved irrigation practices, and innovations to conserve, reuse, and replenish water resources across food systems. Optimising Water in the Tech Sector and Energy Systems – Technologies to improve water efficiency and reduce water-related risks in industries such as AI data centres, semiconductor manufacturing, along with solutions that improve water-efficiency in energy generation and recover energy from wastewater. Article content , Article content Article content said, 'Through HCL's collaboration with the World Economic Forum and UpLink, we are helping build a global ecosystem for water innovation — one changemaker at a time. We focus on strategic support — enabling promising innovators to access global platforms, visibility, investors, policymakers, and peer networks. In just three years, 30 innovators supported through this initiative have raised over $90 million and saved over 12 billion litres of water. Our goal is to empower at least 50 such changemakers — and many more in the years ahead.' Article content John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum Article content , added, ' Article content UpLink and HCL Group's Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative recognizes that solving the water crisis demands a dynamic ecosystem to scale effective solutions. Together with the World Economic Forum's Food and Water Initiative, we are proud to launch the Water Resilience Challenge, calling on bold early-stage start-ups addressing the most urgent water needs of our time, from rising demands in the tech and agritech sectors to climate-driven infrastructure vulnerabilities. By supporting breakthrough innovators and fostering cross-sector collaboration, we're working together to build the water resilience every industry needs to thrive in a water-stressed world.' Article content 'Being part of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative has been transformative. For a company at our stage, the credibility from HCL, UpLink, and the World Economic Forum has opened doors to high-level partners and investors we couldn't have reached otherwise, including HCL itself. The financial award and global recognition have positioned us for our next stage of growth, and we've joined a powerful community of innovators tackling the world's biggest water challenges,' Article content said Mansi Jain, Co-founder and CEO of DigitalPaani, a grantee from the previous cohort. Article content An official announcement regarding the launch of the Water Resilience Challenge will also be made on June 26 at the Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) Meeting at the ongoing London Climate Action Week organized by the World Economic Forum. Article content In response to the growing climate variability, groundwater depletion and water-intensive industrial demands, the Water Resilience Challenge seeks to catalyze a new generation of sustainable, scalable and equitable solutions. Selected participants will gain access to funding, mentorship, global visibility, and a powerful network of experts, investors and partners. Article content About HCL Article content Founded in 1976 as one of India's original IT garage start-ups, HCL Group is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL Group has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCLTech and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$13.8 billion with 220,000 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content On behalf of HCL: Article content Article content Alisha Bisherwal- Article content Article content Article content
Business Journals
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Comcast says ‘yes' to San Francisco with community partnership
From its dynamic design to its mission-oriented outlook, Yes SF Headquarters screams 'San Francisco.' Located at the intersection of Montgomery and Bush streets in the heart of Downtown San Francisco, the bustling coworking and event space is designed to foster collaboration within the sustainability, small business and innovation communities. The flexible space is the result of an UpLink Challenge launched in 2023 through collaboration between the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the World Economic Forum, and corporate sponsors. UpLink is the World Economic Forum's digital platform for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, corporate partners, experts and other organizations that can help them scale. It aims to build ecosystems that enable purpose-driven entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. The UpLink platform served as host for the Yes SF challenge. The challenge called for entrepreneurs to submit sustainable solutions that contribute to the city's needs for an opportunity to receive funding and support. Yes SF Headquarters — a lively community dedicated to revitalizing Downtown San Francisco and modeling the future of sustainable urban living worldwide — was the winning proposal. 'If you want to change the world you need a community, you need a network that are all investing in the future of San Francisco,' said Jeff Merritt, head of urban transformation at the World Economic Forum, at Yes SF's grand opening celebration in November. 'What we've been able to do with this space is actually create an open door for the community.' Yes SF HQ is among the first brick-and-mortar storefronts created in response to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11, which says cities and human settlements should be inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. From the beginning, the Yes SF team recognized that robust connectivity would be essential if the initiative was to succeed. Comcast stepped up as the connectivity partner, equipping the space with blazing-fast, low-latency business fiber at no cost, as well as its secure networking and cybersecurity solutions. 'Comcast has really helped us in this particular space to help create that digital opportunity for people,' said Rodney Fong, president and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. 'It's tough out there and we want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity from an access perspective.' 'Nowadays, you can't really do anything unless you're connected — unless you're online,' said Alan Goldsmith, California regional vice president at Comcast Business. 'So this is really part of the community initiative to serve those businesses.' The spirit of optimism was on full display at Yes SF HQ on a recent weekday morning as dozens of local innovators gathered for 'Scaling for Success,' a panel and networking event hosted by Comcast Business and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. 'As you think about Small Business Week and the number of events that many of us have attended this week, this is San Francisco every single week,' said Alex Youn, director of public policy and government affairs at Comcast, in his introductory remarks. 'It's always busy. There are always things going on.' The Yes SF partnership is a highly visible demonstration of Comcast's widespread and ongoing commitment to San Francisco. That commitment includes its sustainability. The company recently unveiled new packaging for its Xfinity products that's designed with sustainability and recyclability in mind. Made with 100% recyclable materials and an eco-friendly, water-based ink, the new 'handshake box' (as it's been dubbed) is made in the United States, which cuts down on emissions associated with shipping overseas. 'We are and have to say 'yes' to so many things,' Fong said. ''Yes' to innovation, 'yes' to sustainability, 'yes' in recognizing that climate change is in our backyard, and again, say 'yes' to San Francisco.' Comcast Business offers leading global businesses the technology solutions and forward-thinking partnership they need. With a full suite of solutions including fast, reliable connectivity, secure networking solutions and advanced cybersecurity and a range of managed service options, Comcast Business is ready to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Comcast Business has been recognized by leading analyst firms for its continued growth, innovation, and leadership, and is committed to partnering with customers to help them drive their businesses forward. To learn more about Comcast in California visit Aaron Welch is a freelance writer.
Globe and Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
ElectraLith Selected As A Top Innovator By The World Economic Forum
Summary: ElectraLith has been recognized as one of eight top innovators globally by the World Economic Forum, which described its DLE-R technology as "deeply inspiring" and a leading solution advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2025) - The World Economic Forum today announced that ElectraLith Pty Ltd ("ElectraLith") is a winner of the highly prestigious Sustainable Mining: Mining the Unmined Challenge. In its selection, the World Economic Forum identified ElectraLith's next-generation DLE-R technology as one of the most promising solutions driving progress toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Image: ElectraLith's DLE-R To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: As part of the challenge, ElectraLith was selected by UpLink as one of eight Top Innovators advancing groundbreaking technologies that maximize the recovery of metals and minerals from ores and non-primary sources, reducing the need for fresh extraction to meet future raw material demands. Uplink is the World Economic Forum's innovation platform with a mission to enable an innovation ecosystem driving positive systemic change for people and the planet. The World Economic Forum commented: "We are deeply inspired by ElectraLith's solution and excited to help ElectraLith scale its impact." As a Top Innovator, ElectraLith will benefit from a three-year curated Engagement Programme that includes high-profile events, global visibility and access to networks of potential partners, collaborators and investors. The Engagement Programme is intended to significantly enhance ElectraLith's ability to rapidly scale DLE-R to create a lasting and positive impact on global sustainability challenges. Charlie McGill, ElectraLith's CEO, commented: "It is a genuine honor to receive this special recognition from the World Economic Forum. Our team is dedicated to delivering the cleanest method of extracting and refining lithium from any source, unlocking lithium's full potential to deliver a sustainable future. This recognition validates that DLE-R is on track to make an important and measurable impact that directly addresses the global sustainability challenges identified by the United Nations." McGill continued: "DLE-Rs' ability to extract and refine lithium from any source without water is its true differentiator. It means we can unlock lithium in regions where water is extremely scarce, such as in the Andes where the vast majority of the world's lithium reserves can be found. It's estimated that more than 60% of all water in this region is used for lithium extraction, having a devastating impact on the environment and its indigenous communities." Jun Qu, ElectraLith Director and Main Sequence Investment Manager, commented: "Ensuring sustainable access to critical resources is one of Main Sequence's key priorities. Lithium is central to the energy transition, but there is a significant innovation gap that needs to be bridged before we can sustainably supply the battery-grade materials needed at scale. ElectraLith is closing that gap. Its single-step, cost-effective process is capable of producing battery-grade lithium directly from any source." Based on technology invented at Monash University by Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor Huanting Wang, ElectraLith's DLE-R system uses proprietary electrochemical technology to extract and refine lithium in an end-to-end, modular and scalable system. It is the only Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") process that requires no water or chemicals, and the only DLE process able to directly produce refined lithium for the battery market, eliminating dependence on third party refining. By removing these externalities, DLE-R is rapidly emerging as the cleanest, most versatile and most-cost-efficient method to extract and refine lithium from any source. The World Economic Forum's recognition follows the December 2024 close of a materially oversubscribed Series A funding round of A$27.5m led by Main Sequence and supported by a world-class investor syndicate comprising Rio Tinto, Chevron Technology Ventures, Marathon Petroleum, Vista Energy, In-Q-Tel, IP Group, Fathom Fund, Hostplus, Breakthrough Victoria and Monash University. Information: media@ About ElectraLith ElectraLith is unlocking a green future with the cleanest, most versatile and most cost-efficient method of extracting and refining lithium, the fundamental element of a sustainable future. ElectraLith's cutting-edge DLE-R technology revolutionises the DLE and refining industry by extracting and producing battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate in a single, scalable and modular step. As opposed to other DLE processes, DLE-R fully eliminates the need for water and chemicals and can run entirely on renewable energy. ElectraLith is based in Melbourne, Australia, and Washington, DC. About Main Sequence Main Sequence is tackling the world's biggest challenges by turning today's scientific discoveries into tomorrow's industries. Main Sequence was founded by CSIRO in Australia in 2017. It now has $1Bn funds under management to help build and invest in companies that are solving our greatest planetary challenges. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
