The UNESCO Water Challenge for Young Innovators 2025 is an initiative organized by UNESCO in Viet Nam in partnership with the Institute for Innovation and Development (IID). The program aims to identify and support scientific, technological, and social solutions that address real-world water issues in Viet Nam.
Launched in July 2025, the challenge received nearly 100 idea submissions from youth groups, university students, and young researchers nationwide. Three outstanding initiatives were selected to receive funding for three months of pilot implementation. The selected teams received technical mentorship, financial support, and participated in a training series on project management, communications, and social impact measurement.
The MD membrane synthesis process in the laboratory of the MD4ISLAND team - Dalat University. Photo: Thu Uyen.Several ideas have already produced positive results, including raising community awareness about water conservation, developing low-cost water filtration models for rural areas, and creating interactive communication platforms promoting the right to access clean water.
The top three initiatives of the UNESCO Water Challenge 2025 include: GREEN WARRIORS - Hanoi University of Science and Technology, with the solution: Applying advanced membrane filtration technology to control and reduce Ammonium, Nitrate, and Nitrite levels in domestic water sources; MD4ISLAND - Dalat University, with an improved MD seawater filtration device using superhydrophobic membranes, providing a sustainable source of clean water for An Binh Island, Quang Ngai Province; STARS WATER - Tra Vinh University, with the Eco-Park Wetlands project applying native plants and recycled materials for treating domestic wastewater.