Water Research Community (WRC) Meeting 2026

The Water Research Community (WRC) annual meeting is an initiative established by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) to strengthen partnerships between SWA and leading national and international universities. 2026 event aims to enhance SWA–UK collaboration, drive innovation, and increase research productivity by combining the UK’s expertise in advanced materials with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong capabilities in water technologies, building upon the Kingdom's strong prior investment in the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-saudi-investment-creates-100-new-british-jobs).

Manchester, home to the Henry Royce Institute, the birthplace of graphene, the National Graphene Institute, and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), is a global hub for advanced materials research. Recognising this, SWA hopes to expand and deepen its collaboration through this meeting.

SWA will be represented by its senior leadership team, alongside leaders from several Saudi universities, national R&D centres, researchers, and policymakers. The University of Manchester and the Royce 2D Materials research theme will invite UK-based academics, spinouts, and startups working in water technologies and advanced materials to showcase their capabilities and explore opportunities for further collaboration in this sector.

Objectives
This initiative aims to:

1. Establish impactful collaborations between SWA and national and international universities that generate tangible economic and societal benefits.
2. Build a vibrant research community that enables effective knowledge exchange between SWA and academic partners.
3. Align and coordinate research efforts across the water sector to address shared challenges and strategic priorities.

Themes

The WRC 2026 will focus on the following themes:

• Sustainability and Advanced Materials
• Circular Economy
• Clean and Renewable Energy
• Process Innovation
• Water Innovation

Info: • Session 1: Sustainability and Advanced Materials
• Session 2: Circular Economy
• Session 3: Clean and Renewables Energy
• Session 4: Process Innovation

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

University Place, University of Manchester, 176 Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom

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