Water Breakthrough Challenge 6: Ofwat

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 £150,000 – £2 million. 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

This stream is now closed for new applicants.

Read more and apply on the Water Innovation Challenge website.

You can find other open funding calls in our Funding Finder.