Rice WaTER Institute

At the Rice WaTER Institute, water, technologies, entrepreneurship, and research converge to shape the future of sustainable water treatment. Launched in January 2024, the Institute transcends traditional approaches to water challenges. Unlike other regional centers that focus on specific problems or industries, the Institute adopts a comprehensive perspective, addressing cross-cutting fundamental challenges with technological innovation at the core.

Our commitment to advancing water treatment is evident in our focus on technological innovation, utilizing advanced materials and novel processes. We aim to revolutionize water treatment by transitioning from large, chemical and energy-intensive methods to compact catalytic and selective separation modules. This shift not only ensures clean water on demand but also enhances fit-for-purpose treatment, boosting treatment capacity and cost-efficiency.

At the heart of the Rice WaTER Institute is our dedication to fostering entrepreneurship in the water technology sector. We provide a platform for individuals and companies to commercialize innovative water technologies, bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and practical applications. This unique combination of research, technology, and entrepreneurship positions us at the forefront of the water treatment landscape.

The WaTER Institute builds on the legacy of the 10-year, $37 million NSF-funded NEWT Engineering Research Center headquartered at Rice, which trained 185 graduate students and postdocs (including 42 new faculty), published over 900 papers, launched 8 start-ups, and had a 7-fold economic multiplier.

Sources:  https://water.rice.edu/about-rwi;  FY 2025 Rice WaTER Institute Annual Report.

Last updated:  March 2026.