Dayton, July 29, 2021: Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) of Dayton, Ohio, and Confluence Water Technology Innovation Cluster Inc. (Confluence) of Cincinnati have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) designed to foster relationships and collaboration among national, regional and local entities focused on promoting research, development and solutions to challenges in the water life cycle.
This groundbreaking MOU galvanizes the parties’ ability to highlight, address and educate vested entities about the growing worldwide concerns and emerging challenges in the water life cycle. It also allows WBI to leverage Confluence’s network of sponsors and collaborators to align with water contaminant concerns more closely.
“There are many facets to ‘water innovation,’” said Scott Springer, WBI’s Director of Collaboration & Development. “Treating and mitigating water contaminants and their associated risks is, of course, of paramount importance in this region of the country. However, Ohio and its neighboring states hold tremendous promise for addressing challenges associated with water management and benefiting from the economic opportunities afforded to those who can bring innovative solutions to market.”
Global warming and worsening droughts in the United States will continue to increase the demand for water management and distribution solutions. Ohio is well positioned to make a notable contribution to the effort given its proximity to the Great Lakes; Dayton sits atop one of the largest fresh-water aquifers in the country. At the same time, contaminants and other concerns about water quality have rightfully captured the public’s attention – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine launched H2Ohio, a comprehensive water-quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure and prevent lead contamination.
“The critical water challenges that we face regionally, nationally, and globally are coming at lightning speed, and the answer is accelerating the development of new, break-through technologies,” said Melinda Kruyer, Confluence’s Executive Director. “This partnership is dedicated to finding those solutions.
“This Memorandum of Understanding formalizes the commitment of our two organizations to bring together the power of our networks to continue building a unique, thriving innovation ecosystem that brings answers and solutions to today's critical water challenges,” she said.
WBI and Confluence will achieve this by educating, facilitating, and informing audiences with mutual interests; voluntarily sharing information; and jointly planning, developing and promoting events, workshops and seminars aimed at promoting economic growth and technological innovation in the “water space.”
“WBI is excited about this opportunity to join forces with Confluence to help develop and promote this region of the country as a global leader in water technology innovation,” said WBI’s Executive Director, Wendell Banks. “This MOU paves the way for both organizations to begin to leverage our combined resources to foster the development of new ideas and solutions to address water treatment and management challenges.”
Both parties will be developing and promoting future near-term opportunities to learn more and join in the effort.
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About Wright Brothers Institute
Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) is a cutting-edge innovation and technology commercialization center for the Air Force Research Laboratory, with facilities located just outside of WPAFB in Dayton, OH. We drive fast, agile innovation that enables successful technology development to solve the Air Force’s most complex challenges by leveraging resident experts, unique facilities, disruptive innovation processes, and extensive networks. We leverage subject matter experts and intellectual property from AFRL and SBIR companies to unlock the right problem, connect to new partners and synchronize transition pathways through our commercialization partners.
To receive updates about future events at all Wright Brothers Institute locations, visit www.wbi-innovates.com. Follow Wright Brothers Institute on Twitter @wbiinnovates, on facebook @WBIInnovates and on LinkedIn at Wright Brothers Institute.
About Confluence Water Technology Innovation Cluster Inc.
The Confluence Water Technology Innovation Cluster of the Ohio River Valley Region is a concentration of interconnected organizations that work together to promote economic growth and harness the wealth of water technology innovation found in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Its mission is to establish the region as a global leader in sustainable, water technology innovation.