NWC and SWIC launch Wabel Incubator to support innovation in water sector

The National Water Company (NWC) and the Saudi Water Innovation Center (SWIC) announced the launch of the Wabel Incubator. It aims to support and develop innovations in the water sector. This came during the graduation ceremony of the 2024 incubated projects held in Riyadh on Thursday, February 13, 2025, in the presence of a number of officials, experts, and entrepreneurs in the field of water technology. 

Wabel incubator aims to accelerate and develop innovative solutions in the fields of pure water supply and wastewater treatment, with a focus on enhancing local content and localizing advanced technologies. The incubator will provide a supportive environment that includes mentorship and specialized training, in addition to enabling startups to reach investors and build strategic partnerships that enhance the sustainability of the sector.

The National Water Company (NWC) explained that this initiative comes as part of its commitment to support research and innovation, and promote entrepreneurship in the water sector, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to develop sustainable solutions to address water challenges.

For its part, the Saudi Water Innovation Center (SWIC) confirmed that the technologies of the Wabel Incubator will contribute to activating the innovation system through specialized programs that include verifying the feasibility of ideas, developing products, expanding startups, and enabling them to attract investments to ensure the sustainability of innovative solutions in the sector.

The incubator's programs include more than 55 hours of mentorship, 12-14 training sessions covering innovation, design, and business strategies, as well as investment events to connect entrepreneurs with investor networks. The incubator also offers two levels of incubate to incubate early-stage projects (TRL 1-3) and accelerate the more mature projects (TRL 4-7) 

Wabel is expected to create new opportunities to develop innovative technologies that enhance the efficiency of water resources management and contribute to the environmental and economic sustainability of the Kingdom's water sector.