Officials with the Nevada Water Innovation Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno and water agencies in Poland signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a virtual entity, the International Center of Water Excellence. The agreement is designed to explore collaborative activities between the partners for water innovation, excellence and economic development.

The partners – the Water Institute, Rybnik Water and Sewage Company and Central Mining Institute – will promote technological collaborations and innovations, extend global reach of the partners to other countries and drive innovation and commercialization in the water sector and other related sectors.

The Nevada Water Innovation Institute is a collaboration with six major Northern Nevada regional agencies and cities focused on addressing engineered water infrastructure needs, challenges and opportunities in the region. The shared vision and effort encourages the practice of sustainable water management for economic growth and enriching the natural water environment.

“We’ll exchange research personnel, share technical information and materials, and conduct trainings or workshops,” Krishna Pagilla, director of the Water Institute, said. “A training center will be organized where the Center’s experiences and expertise are introduced into other countries such as Africa, Asia and South America, and addressed to engineers, technologists andpractitioners from different countries.”

The partners will explore funding from international agencies and organizations for the development of new water technologies in the scope of protection of global water resources, and develop a cooperative plan for establishment of an “innovation fund” to help promote young creators and entrepreneurs for water industry.

Stage 1 activities are slated to be completed by June 2021. Stage 2 will be dedicated to establishing a formal Center with an agreement and a business plan to operate the Center and to implement items developed in Stage 1.

Participating in the signing ceremony May 9 were Nevada Water Innovation Institute Director Krishna Pagilla; Rybnik Water and Sewage Company in Rybnik, Poland, President of the Board Janusz Karwot; Central Mining Institute in Katowice, Poland Deputy Director Jan Bondaruk, University of Nevada, Reno Vice President for Innovation and Research Mridul Gautam; College of Engineering Dean Manos Maragakis; and Kristopher Sanchez, interim executive director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development.