CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) is proud to announce its role as a key technology facilitator in a Great Lakes-wide partnership aiming to catalyze the region’s economy through innovation, collaboration, and solving major water use and reclamation challenges.

This project is a coalition of 75 partners across the Great Lakes, and led by Current, a nonprofit water innovation hub based in Chicago. This multi-state initiative has been awarded up to $45 million in federal funding over three years from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to scale Great Lakes RENEW, a Regional Innovation Engine dedicated to circular water solutions. CWA has been allocated $3.1 million over the next three years to lead the project’s technology testing and validation efforts.   

Innovation for a Circular Water Economy

Great Lakes RENEW is a 10-year endeavor aiming to turn wastewater into a valuable resource by reclaiming critically-needed minerals like lithium and phosphorus while removing harmful contaminants such as PFAS and microplastics. This latest commitment builds on an initial $14.7 million investment in 2024, positioning the NSF to provide up to $60 million in total support.

Economic Opportunities for Reuse and Reclamation

Water is fundamental for the operations of industries that drive our regional economy. However, these essential processes often create contaminated wastewater that cannot safely re-enter our waterways without intensive, costly treatment.

As industrial water demand rises, Great Lakes RENEW is accelerating efforts to transform this wastewater from a non-recoverable byproduct into a valuable resource. This wastewater also contains a significant supply of critical minerals such as lithium and phosphorus. These resources are becoming increasingly difficult to access due to global supply constraints, complex international logistics, and the high environmental costs of traditional mining. 

Lithium is a fundamental component in the production of high-capacity batteries and fueling alternative energy sources, while phosphorus remains a finite resource essential for global food security and agricultural productivity. By capturing these minerals directly from wastewater, this Great Lakes RENEW initiative will create a sustainable and profitable source for these critical minerals. 

Connected Testbed Network Led by CWA

As the technology pilot partner, CWA is leading the development of RENEW’s Connected Testbed Network. This network allows innovators to test emerging technologies in real-world conditions, accelerating their path to market and large-scale implementation.

Cleveland Water Alliance has deep expertise in building the infrastructure necessary to support the commercialization of new technologies: not only in the physical hardware of smart and connected systems like the Smart Lake Erie Watershed, the largest digitally connected body of freshwater in the world, but also in the meaningful industry partnerships bridging between technology user and creator. These unique assets allow CWA to fill critical market gaps by providing the real-world validation necessary to deliver market-ready solutions. 

Through this partnership, CWA has been awarded $3.1 million over the next three years to expand this successful model and lead technology scouting, testing, and validation efforts across the Great Lakes region. This initiative will build a multi-state innovation ecosystem and boost economic opportunities while securing resources.

In the first two years of Great Lakes RENEW, CWA has leveraged this network to track over 400 emerging technologies and conduct more than 40 pilots, helping innovators test solutions in real-world conditions and significantly accelerate their path to market.

“CWA is excited to utilize our deep commercialization expertise and expand our testbed infrastructure throughout the Great Lakes," said Bryan Stubbs, President and CEO of Cleveland Water Alliance. “This project fulfills an urgent need to ensure our region’s water security while inviting tremendous economic opportunities. We are far more powerful together, and this partnership allows us to better accelerate new technology, drive economic growth, and solve critical resource issues.”

Securing an Abundant Future for the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes region is emerging as a premier destination for global industries relocating from water scarce areas. Ensuring a prosperous future requires immediate action to manage this growth responsibly. Great Lakes RENEW aims to secure not only our water resources, but generate revenue from the critical minerals already existing in the waste byproduct of businesses.  

“RENEW’s early success is a demonstration of the power of our shared Great Lakes resource - 20% of the world’s fresh surface water - to motivate action and alignment, fueled by the recognition that global water risks and increased demand are turning up the pressure. With early impact and momentum, we are now moving with urgency from proof-of-concept to large-scale implementation,” said Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current and PI of Great Lakes RENEW.

Beyond the RENEW initiative, CWA continues to drive innovation in the industrial water space as a key partner in an additional National Science Foundation-funded project led by Case Western Reserve University. This group was recently granted an NSF Engines Development Award focused on advancing sustainable manufacturing technologies and workforce development across Northeast Ohio. Currently awaiting further funding status, this project aims to revitalize the region’s manufacturing legacy by aligning industry, research, and community partners to support a sustainable and equitable industrial ecosystem. With these combined initiatives, CWA distinguishes itself as one of the only NSF Innovation Engine Awardees to be involved in two projects. 

Cleveland Water Alliance is actively identifying cutting-edge technologies from around the world to bring these essential solutions to our region. By validating and scaling these technologies, we ensure that our freshwater resources are used in a responsible manner that supports both industrial innovation and long-term water security. 

To see the full Great Lakes RENEW press release, visit here. 

To learn more about Great Lakes RENEW and how you can get involved, visit greatlakesrenew.org.

About Cleveland Water Alliance

Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) accelerates technology to solve global water challenges while strengthening our regional economy. Facilitating opportunities to test and advance solutions in real-world conditions, CWA allows tech creators to learn how their technology performs in new environments and empowers water managers with access to these cutting-edge tools. As a part of this testbed system, CWA has created the largest digitally connected freshwater body in the world, covering nearly 8,000 square miles throughout Ohio. This network of digital sensors and telecommunications coverage acts as a 'sandbox' to test sensing and monitoring technology and provide data to regional utilities.

CWA is establishing Ohio as a leading water innovation destination, attracting innovators from around the world to refine, launch, commercialize, and distribute their products and solutions here. 

About Current

Current is an independent nonprofit water innovation hub, founded in Chicago in 2016, with a mission to grow a circular blue economy, accelerate water innovation, and solve pressing water challenges. Current collaborates with industry, innovators, communities, nonprofits and governments to advance innovative water technologies and policies that boost our economy while protecting our water resources. In 2024, Current was designated by the U.S. National Science Foundation to lead one of nine Regional Innovation Engines, Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, critical Elements, and Water). To date, Current and our partners have delivered on RENEW's waste-to-wealth mission by collectively raising over $78.2M for regional water innovation and economic development, supporting 19 R&D projects, 40+ pilots, and 400+ startups, training 560 people for blue economy jobs, and engaging 1,650 youth in water STEM programming. Learn more.

About NSF Engines

Launched by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships in May 2022, the NSF Engines program uniquely harnesses the nation's science and technology research, development enterprise and regional-level resources. For more information, visit the NSF Engines program website.

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