Technology Partners
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Water, Sanitation & Hygiene program fosters innovative approaches and technologies that can lead to radical and sustainable improvements in sanitation in the developing world. Within the Innovation Center, partners may learn more about the innovators and organizations funded by the Gates Foundation and the transformative technologies being developed.
If you are working on a Reinvented Toilet and would like to be profiled here, please contact us!
Transformative Sanitation Technology Directory
STeP updated the Transformative Sanitation Technology Directory in October 2018. This new, web-based database of technologies in the WSH TTC portfolios is organized by systems and components, displaying the key product and performance data, such as the data shared at the Reinvented Toilet Expo in Beijing in November 2018. Use this tool to explore and understand the portfolio of WSH technology investments to find technologies of interest.
ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the U.S. member body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The U.S. holds leadership of PC 305, the project committee leading the development of ISO 30500, with ANSI serving as secretariat alongside its twinning partner ASN, Senegal’s member body of ISO.
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is a prominent regional postgraduate institution offering Master and Doctoral degree programs in Thailand. AIT, under the leadership of Dr. Thammarat Koottatep, is the technology developer of three innovative sanitation solutions: the Zyclone, the sanitizer truck, and the solar septic tank. AIT is partnering with SCG Chemicals, Ltd. to bring select sanitation solutions to market and are actively seeking additional commercial partners.
Ankur Scientific
Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies, based in Vadodara, India, has been in the forefront of development activities in the area of non-conventional energy sources. They are the worldwide leader in small and medium rating biomass gasifiers, and are currently licensing and developing the Gates Foundation Omni Processor technology for application of fecal sludge treatment in India and globally.
BFG Environmental
For over 40 years, BFG International has been a global leader and pioneer in composite design, engineering, and manufacturing across multiple sectors, with over 2,000 people and 15 production facilities worldwide. BFG Environmental Technologies is a fully owned subsidiary of BFG International, seeking to leverage off BFG International’s know-how and expertise by commercializing its R&D technologies in the wastewater treatment sector. The business aims to innovate wastewater treatment technologies for use on trains, and the wide range of applications where there is restricted access to a sewer and a limited supply of fresh water.
Biomass Controls
Biomass Controls is a US-based technology company focused on developing solutions in response to water and sanitation challenges around the world. Their decentralized technologies deliver improvements in health, the environment, and the quality of life while promoting gender equality. The Biomass Controls Biogenic Refinery is a transportable, modular treatment system that processes human and other high moisture biosolids into valuable end products and is a component in the Tide Technocrats Omni Processor. They have also developed a thermal treatment technology for safe disposal of menstrual hygiene waste.
CalTech
The research group led by Professor Michael Hoffmann at Caltech University is at the forefront of research on ultrasonic irradiation, semiconductor phototcatalysis, semiconductor electrochemistry, and combinations of approaches utilizing ozone as a supplemental oxidant in order to eliminate chemical contaminants from water. Caltech was the winner of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge in 2012, and its core electro-catalytic oxidation technology has been adapted by Eco-San and Eram Scientific.
Clear (Suzhou) Environmental Technology Co., Ltd
Clear Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. is a supplier of numerous types of water treatment products to industry and government and hold patents for biological water treatment in Australia and New Zealand. As an RTTC China grantee, the Clear Recycling Toilet uses a double membrane treatment process that produces a high quality effluent for reuse. More than 100 units have been installed across China.
Crane Engineering
Crane Engineering is a leading distributor of fluid processing technology in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Its portfolio ranges from industrial pumps and valves, to specialized equipment like chemical feed systems and wastewater treatment equipment. Crane’s expertise has been applied to meet the aggressive design specification of the Omni-Ingestor portfolio’s mobile septage treatment system, resulting in the first prototype of the “Oystra” system expected to be tested in 2019.
Cranfield University
Cranfield University, a leading post-graduate-only university in the UK, began developing their Nano Membrane Toilet in the first Reinvent the Toilet Challenge. The Nanomembrane Toilet will be able to treat human waste on-site without external energy or water. It is designed for single-household use (equivalent to 10 people) and will accept urine and faeces as a mixture. The flush uses a unique rotating mechanism without using any water whilst simultaneously blocking odour and the user’s view of the waste. The team is led by Prof Sean Tyrrel. (Dr. Alison Parker is responsible for all enquiries)
CRRC
China Railway Rolling Stock Corp (CRRC), the world‘s largest rolling stock manufacturer, is based in Beijing. Today, CRRC is made up of 46 subsidiaries, one of which is Shandong Huateng Environmental Protection Automation Co., Ltd. (CRRC Huateng), a sanitation and environmental protection company. CRRC Huateng offers a comprehensive array of products and services, including design and manufacturing of vacuum toilets, vacuum floor drains, vacuum collection systems, and decentralized wastewater treatment technologies. CRRC is a pending commercial licensee of the Gates Foundation’s JOP Technology to adapt the technology for the unique needs of the Chinese bioslids and fecal sludge treatment market, with a first pilot expected in 2019.
Duke University (SCWO OP)
Duke University’s Global Health Institute, established in 2006, is a university-wide institute aimed at reducing health disparities in our local community and worldwide. Several research projects have been launched by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to achieve this goal, including the community scale Super Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO) system and the Anaerobic Digester and Pasteurization Latrine (ADPL). Duke is also exploring ways to mitigate malodor in diverse locations.
Duke University Center for WaSH-AID (RT and Cluster)
Duke University’s Center for WaSH-AID is a multidisciplinary team with a mission to leverage technology innovations to address complex global challenges impacting water, sanitation, hygiene and infectious disease in resource-limited environments. They partner with many research, industry and non-profit organizations to develop prototype systems for safe, sanitary and affordable waste treatment. With a team of experts in engineering, water and sanitation, energy, and economics, the Centre for WaSH-AID currently houses Duke’s RT project, as well as a cluster investment in R&D against technical challenges.
Eawag
Interdisciplinary project teams from Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) have collaborated with organizations such as the renowned Austrian design studio EOOS and Makerere University of Kampala, Uganda to develop new tools in urine diversion and waste treatment in the Reinvented Toilet portfolio. The Blue Diversion is a next-generation urine diversion dry toilet that provides water for flushing, hand washing, and personal hygiene. Urine, feces, and used water are separated at the source. A next generation system, the “Autarky” system is in early development that will further process the solid waste stream.
Eco-San (Yixing Eco-sanitary Manufacture Co., Ltd.)
Yixing Eco-Sanitary Manufacture Co., Ltd (Eco-San) based in Yixing, China, has developed a multi-unit reinvented toilet system in collaboration with Caltech University as well as the core compoments for liquids and solids processing. The Eco-San Ecological toilet uses electro-catalytic oxidation technology to process fecal waste in closed loop, while using solar power to meet the system’s energy demands. Eco-San’s sister company, Yixing Entrustec, is partnering with Caltech to commercialize a uniquely coated electrode, which is a critical component of the Eco-san Toilet as well as other reinvented toilets based on the CalTech ECR technology.
EnviroSystems
Holding more than 50 technology patents, EnviroSystems is a Chinese environmental services and technology supply company focused on water conservation, low carbon solutions and resource optimization. One such innovative product developed by EnviroSystems is a the EnviVac toilet which is a low energy, low water footprint user interface. The energy requirements are so low that the unit can be driven by a small solar panel.
EOOS Design GmbH
EOOS is a globally recognized, Vienna-based, design firm that specializes in furniture and objects for renowned clients ranging from Herman Miller to Walter Knoll. EOOS joined the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge to design an aesthetically beautiful and technologically revolutionary urine diverting toilet, along with a range of different user interfaces. The technology can enable parallel, independent processing of liquid and solid waste streams.
Eram Scientific
Eram Scientific, a member of the Eram Group, is an innovative social enterprise specializing in smart toilet design. Eram’s e-Toilets are self-cleaning, remote monitoring enabled via mobile app, and come in a range of gender appropriate designs. Eram has collaborated with Caltech University to integrate onsite waste treatment into their public e-Toilets, with the integrated product expected to be available in early 2020. Similarly, their ongoing partnership with USF will result in a first e-Toilet + USF processing technology in 2019.
Evac
Evac is a global family of companies, headquartered in Finland. The company specializes in the provision of vacuum-operated toilet systems and related water treatment, flow control, and processing technologies to marine- and land-based clients in thirty-five countries. The company has been manufacturing vacuum toilets for 45 years and has major offices in the United States, France, China, and Brazil.
Firmenich
Firmenich is the worlds largest privately-owned fragrance and flavor company, creating fragrances and flavors for the world’s most desirable brands. Founded in 1895, the company has a global presence in more than 100 markets, holds more than 2,900 patents and has received 35 prizes and awards, including a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Firmenich is committed to tackling the sanitation crisis with urgency and has developed breakthrough malodor control technologies that make using and cleaning sanitation facilities more enjoyable.
Helbling
The Helbling Group is an interdisciplinary engineering and consulting firm specializing in technology innovation based in Switzerland. The Group supports medium-sized companies and large corporations with product innovation and development, focusing particularly on the household appliance, medical technology, pharmaceutical, apparatus and laboratory equipment, transport and traffic, automotive, mechanical and plant engineering and energy systems industries. Helbling is engaged by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance a prototype of a reinvented toilet that incorporates sophisticated design elements, such as a touch screen display, with technological advancements in high pressure and high temperature waste treatment.
Kohler
With more than 50 manufacturing locations on 6 continents, Kohler Co. is a globally recognized leader in kitchen and bath plumbing fixtures, furniture & tile, engines & generators. Kohler, an original partner in the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, is seeking new partnerships to bring innovative water and sanitation solutions to market.
Laufen
Laufen is a 125 year old Swiss company that offers total bathrooms concepts all over the world. A leading innovator in bathroom concepts and sanitary ware, Laufen is partnering with eoos to offer urine separation technology in toilet formats.
Lixil
Headquartered in in Tokyo, Japan, Lixil Corporation is a global leader in housing and building materials, products and services. LIXIL Water Technology, one of the company’s four divisions, is the world’s largest global leader in sanitary ware, operating across 150 countries and managing research and development centers of excellence in Germany and Japan. Lixil is active in developing innovative sanitation solutions globally through their work with the Toilet Board Coalition and with the SatoPan product lines.
Oxentia
Oxentia, Oxford University’s Global Innovation Consultancy delivers innovation services to a worldwide customer base of public and private sector clients in over 80 countries. Oxentia provides commercialization support to select Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation technology partners in the UK.
RTI International (STeP)
RTI is an independent, nonprofit institute that provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide with a mission to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. RTI is the implementing partner of the Sanitation Technology Platform (STeP), a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded program to derisk and commercialize transformative sanitation technologies.
SCG Chemicals Co., Ltd.
SCG Chemicals is one of the largest integrated petrochemical companies in Thailand and a key industry leader in Asia. Leveraging their experience in resin production, SCG specializes in light weight, low cost innovative sanitation technologies that are easily integrated into the existing environment. The featured core product is the Zyclone treatment system developed in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology.
Sedron Technologies
Sedron Technologies, formerly Janicki Bioenergy, is consumed by creating practical ways to process waste. The company is comprised of multi-displinary engineers motivated to improve the world. In 2011, Sedron Technologies was challenged to develop a new, cutting edge fecal sludge management solution on behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gate Foundation’s JOP technology is a city scale combustion technology that produces energy, high quality water, pathogen free ash and heat from various types of biomass. Sedron Technologies is a pending commercial licensee of the JOP and in development of a reinvented toilet solution.
Tide Technocrats Private Limited
Tide Technocrats Private Limited is a premier environmental and sustainability consulting firm, based in Bengaluru, India. Established in 1995, Tide Technocrats has three core business areas: solid waste management, renewable energy and sanitation. The Tide Omni Processor is a community scale treatment solution that converts fecal sludge to useful byproducts building on the Biomass Controls pyrolysis technology.
Tuv-Sud
Headquartered in Munich, Germany and founded in 1866, TÜV SÜD is a leading technical service provider of testing and product certification, inspection, auditing, and system certification as well as training solutions. TÜV SÜD developed the private technical standard used as the basis for ISO 30500 and in partnership with ANSI, ASN, and other NSBs, established the Project Committee (PC) 305 for the development of the ISO 30500. Within the PC, TÜV SÜD provided project leadership to ensure successful development of the standard and integrate input from the 31 participating member countries and 16 observing member countries on the committee.
University of Science and Technology Beijing (RTTC China)
The University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) is one of the most influential key national universities in China and is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Education. While its main focus is engineering, the school also offers a range of other disciplines as well. USTB was one of the first universities to become a state-approved graduate school and was chosen to be part of China’s “211 Project”, a program designed to develop 100 first-rate universities in the 21st century. USTB is the administrator of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge – China extending support to numerous Gates Foundation Grantees.
University of South Florida (USF)
The University of South Florida College of Engineering team, led by Professor Daniel Yeh, developed the NEWgenerator toilet with natural processes and the environment in mind. The NEWgenerator mimics a miniature wastewater treatment plant without the usual energy-intensive processes. It generates water that can be used for irrigation, generates electricity from biogas and nutrients that can serve as a soil amendment.
University of Toronto (UT)
The University of Toronto Centre for Global Engineering aims to prepare engineering graduates for a global workplace and encourages high-impact research projects that address major development challenges across the world. Led by Professor Yu-ling Cheng, the team at University of Toronto has developed a novel smoldering solids treatment technology to be incorporated into reinvented toilet systems.
University of the West of England, Bristol
Led by Professor Ioannis Ieropoulos, the BioEnergy Team from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), a collaboration between the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol in the UK, has developed a microbial fuel cell that treats urine and can generate enough electricity to power a cell phone. BRL is the most comprehensive academic center for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK and is home to a vibrant community of over 200 academics, researchers and industry practitioners.
Vuna
Vuna means “harvest” in isiZulu, the language of the Zulu people. VUNA originated as a research project which endeavoured to find a suitable use for the urine collected in dry toilets in the city of Durban, South Africa. VUNA further developed between Eawag, eThekwini Municipality (greater Durban) and additional partner organisations. The technology to recover nutrients – or rather “harvest” them – has been well established. In 2016, the company Vuna Ltd was founded based on the outcomes of this research project and sells the Aurin fertliser from urine.
Xylem
Xylem is a global water technology company based in Rye Brook, New York. Xylem is known for its innovation and diversity with 32 brands whose products span heating and cooling, pumping and water/wastewater treatment applications. Xylem Watermark is the firm’s citizenship program that brings clean water, sanitation and hygiene education to schools and communities in emerging markets, and responds with water solutions when disaster strikes around the globe. In addition, Xylem is actively building out a portfolio of products for the bottom of the pyramid, referred to as “Essence of Life.”
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