HBKU’s QEERI team who qualified for the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition.
Doha, Qatar: The PlasmaPure team from Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) has officially been selected for the prestigious XPRIZE Water Scarcity, a $119 million global competition to revolutionize water desalination.
The multi-year XPRIZE Water Scarcity challenges global innovators to create reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination solutions to ensure widespread access to clean water. The QEERI initiative, led by Research Program Director at the Water Center, Dr. Khaled Mahmoud brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers, working in collaboration with colleagues from HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering (CSE), the University of Montreal, and Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS Canada).
In a significant validation of its world-class research capabilities, QEERI has qualified to compete in both of the prize’s technical tracks: Track A for System-Level Innovation; and Track B for Novel Membrane Materials.
For Track A, the PlasmaPure team proposed a full-system innovation that integrates advanced nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO), and plasma-activated multi-effect distillation (MED). Deployed at QEERI’s pilot facilities in collaboration with Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC), the system is designed to significantly reduce energy consumption, improve water recovery, and valorize brine into valuable resources, supporting a circular economy by recovering critical minerals and generating industrial chemicals. The concept is protected by several patents, positioning Qatar at the forefront of sustainable desalination.
In the case of Track B, the team is developing novel bio-inspired reverse osmosis membranes designed to overcome the persistent challenge of membrane fouling. Drawing inspiration from sharkskin microstructures, the membranes feature engineered patterns that disrupt boundary-layer flow to reduce bacterial attachment and mineral scaling. Combined with QEERI’s patented acacia gum-enhanced layer, the membranes promise up to 20–25% higher water flux and greater salt rejection than conventional membranes using scalable, industry-compatible fabrication methods.
“This is a true honor for QEERI and a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our scientists and engineers,” said Acting Executive Director, QEERI, Dr. Tareq Al Ansari. “To be recognized in both tracks by an organization as esteemed as XPRIZE validates our holistic approach to tackling water security. Our research is not just about incremental improvements; it’s about creating transformative solutions that are directly aligned with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and can benefit arid regions worldwide.”
HBKU Vice President for Research, Dr. Eyad Massad said, “This outstanding achievement by the QEERI team is a powerful demonstration of HBKU’s commitment to fostering research excellence and addressing global grand challenges. Qualifying for both tracks of a competition as demanding as the XPRIZE showcases the caliber of our talent and the significance of our work in water security. We are incredibly proud of their success and look forward to the innovative solutions they will bring forward.”
