The continuation of funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation catalyzes a 10-year effort to drive water innovation and economic growth
CHICAGO, IL — Current, the independent, regional nonprofit water innovation hub, has been awarded up to $45 million in federal funding over three years to scale Great Lakes RENEW, the U.S. National Science Foundation-backed Regional Innovation Engine for circular water solutions.
This continuation of funding from the NSF builds on Current’s original designation as one of the NSF’s inaugural Regional Innovation Engines and reinforces Great Lakes RENEW’s bold vision: to transform the waste in our water systems into wealth.
As water-intensive industries—from AI data centers to energy production and manufacturing—are placing growing demands on the region’s freshwater, Great Lakes RENEW and its coalition of more than 75 partners are advancing solutions that support the long-term sustainability of Great Lakes water resources. These efforts also drive economic growth and enhance the security, prosperity, and health of American communities.
“Great Lakes RENEW is the culmination of a decade spent galvanizing leaders to recognize the economic value of water, and the collective power of our utilities, universities, national labs, and industries to solve global water challenges,” said Alaina Harkness, CEO of Current and CEO & PI of Great Lakes RENEW. “Reaching this milestone during Current’s 10th anniversary proves that collaboration can drive regional impact. This new investment allows our coalition to collectively execute an ambitious strategy that positions the Great Lakes as a global leader in water innovation and security.”
The initial NSF award pledged up to $160 million over 10 years in 2024. This latest commitment builds on the initial $14.7 million investment in 2024, and brings the NSF’s total support for Great Lakes RENEW to nearly $60 million.
In its first two years, Great Lakes RENEW’s impact includes:
- R&D Investment: Launched 12 cutting-edge research and development projects focused on technologies enabling a circular water economy and conducted a competitive funding call to expand the RENEW research portfolio.
- Notable R&D Project Advancements:
- PEARL Media: Researchers at Northwestern University patented the PEARL (Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight) sponge, an efficient and economical adsorbent, and are working in collaboration with Purdue University. Startup Coral Innovations is actively commercializing the technology, and in 2026 the team will pilot test the PEARL sponge in partnership with a manufacturing company.
- Portable PFAS Detection: Scientists at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, have developed a handheld device capable of detecting trace amounts of synthetic PFAS compounds in water.
- Intelligent Sensor Integration: Startup Rapid Radicals Technology, in collaboration with Marquette University, secured a new customer and is field-testing their rapidly deployable, containerized wastewater treatment system, the Torrent3. Their technology provides advanced municipal and industrial wastewater treatment while using less energy.
- Technology Pilots: Through RENEW’s Connected Testbed Network, in partnership with Cleveland Water Alliance, the coalition has tracked over 400 emerging technologies and conducted more than 40 pilots, helping innovators test solutions in real-world conditions and accelerate their path to market.
- Commercialization Support: Launched three accelerator programs in partnership with the NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region, mHUB, and Nomadic Venture Partners, providing tailored support for 22 water tech startups across stages of development.
- Workforce Development: Trained 560 workers for careers in the blue economy and engaged more than 1,200 youth in STEM pathways connected to water innovation through programs with HIRE360, OAI, Project SYNCERE, TIES, and other partners.
- Ecosystem Building: Expanded a cross-sector network across six states, nearly doubling the coalition to more than 75 partners across the region. By bringing people together around shared water challenges and opportunities, through events like Chicago Water Week and the 2026 Water Policy Forum, RENEW has fostered new connections, conversations, and collaborations. This coalition has also helped raise or leverage over $20 million, catalyzing the NSF’s initial investment of $14.7 million.
“Water security directly affects national security, and investing in our nation’s innovation infrastructure to generate transformational solutions to our collective water challenges is central to the mission of the NSF Engines program,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF Assistant Director for TIP. “By investing in Great Lakes RENEW, we are helping to expand the frontiers of water research and technology, strengthen regional partnerships, and grow a workforce that’s prepared to address the water issues of today and tomorrow. This initiative exemplifies how science and collaboration can protect vital freshwater resources while fostering economic opportunity in American communities.”
In its first two years, RENEW focused on connecting key water and industry partners in Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. In the next phase, the initiative will deepen and expand activity across the full region of service, building on the strength of established partners in Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota, and ultimately aiming to serve all Great Lakes states.
“We have all the research and commercialization strengths here in the Great Lakes region to become a water innovation superhighway,” said Junhong Chen, Co-Principal Investigator of Great Lakes RENEW, Professor at The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, and Lead Water Strategist at Argonne National Laboratory. “With this renewed support, we can deepen collaboration between research institutions, industry, and investors to translate breakthrough science into economic growth.”
This next wave of NSF funding will enable Great Lakes RENEW to:
- Execute a multi-year strategic plan focused on advancing cutting-edge R&D, the commercialization of water technologies, and career pathways into the water economy
- Engage regional leaders to advance policies, systems, and markets toward a circular water future
- Expand the nation’s first connected testbed network to pilot new water technologies across utilities, industrial sites, and open-water environments;
- Direct millions in funding to leading organizations, entrepreneurs, and researchers across RENEW’s six-state region of service
- Support hundreds of new solutions aimed at recovering critical minerals and removing harmful contaminants from wastewater
“Regional economic development is a fundamentally unnatural act,” said Harkness. “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.”
To learn more about Great Lakes RENEW and explore partnership opportunities, contact us!
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 one of nine Regional Innovation Engines by the U.S. National Science Foundation to lead Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, critical Elements, and Water).
To date, Current has helped raise over $76.4M for regional water innovation and economic development, supported 19 R&D projects, 15 pilots, and 110+ startups, and engaged more than 55,000 people through events and convenings.
About the 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.
