물 과학의 진보에 기여한 세계적인 물 연구 기관 워터 리서치 재단(Water Research Foundation)과 정화 기술 분야에서 전문적인 컨설팅 및 독립 기술 연구를 진행하고 있는 Isle 사 간의 새로운 파트너십이 체결되었다. 본 파트너십은 Isle 사의 기술승인부서(Technology Approval Group)이 물 산업에서 잠재적으로 이롭다고 판단되어 선정한 특정 기술들의 심사 및 연구를 촉진하기 위해 구성된 것으로 알려졌다.

Isle 사의 미션 강령은 전상업적(pre-commercial)' 단계에서 개발되고 있는 물 관련 설비를 소개하고 추가적인 연구와 시범사업을 통해 기술의 유연성을 선보임으로써 기존의 인식을 뛰어넘는 기술 시장을 개척하는 데 있다. 위와 같은 Isle 사의 미션은 워터 리서치 재단이 추구하는 가치와 부합하는 부분이 꽤 있어 많은 재단 후원자들이 Isle 사에 관심을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려졌다. 이렇게 두 기관 간의 협력이 긴밀해져 왔고 특히 기술승인부서에 있어서 그 현상이 뚜렷하게 나타났다. 이 추가적인 연구 및 시범 단계는 새로운 기술의 보다 넓은 범위로의 적용을 위해 필수적이다.

DENVER, CO, July 30, 2013 -- A new partnership has been formed between the Water Research Foundation (WaterRF), an internationally recognized leader in water research that is dedicated to advancing the science of water, and Isle Inc., an independent technology and innovation consultancy specializing in clean technologies, to develop research projects and trials for selected technologies identified by Isle's Technology Approval Group (TAG) for potential benefit to the water community.

Isle's mission is to accelerate the market uptake of "step-change" technologies by introducing them to potentially interested water utilities during the pre-commercial stages of development and by facilitating additional research and trials to demonstrate the feasibility of the technologies. This mission is compatible with WaterRF's mission and values, and a number of WaterRF subscribers have joined Isle and become members of the TAG process. This additional research/testing step is necessary before new technologies can be adopted on a broad scale.

"Given the significant budget restrictions and rigid regulatory environment that water utilities must operate within, new technologies must be thoroughly tested before they are adopted," said Robert Renner, Executive Director of WaterRF. "Many technologies identified by Isle's TAG show great promise for water utilities. However, they often require additional research and trials to further prove their applicability and operational capability in a water utility environment. WaterRF will work with Isle to aid in conducting this research. This partnership holds great promise to provide significant benefits to the entire water community."

WaterRF and Isle will work with WaterRF subscribers, Isle members, and other stakeholders to develop funding for research projects and trials of mutual interest. WaterRF will follow its reliable research management processes, including technical expert review. The results of trials and research are expected to be made available to Isle members and WaterRF subscribers. Objective results are further ensured through WaterRF's unbiased peer review and project management process.

"Investment in new technology is desperately needed if the water industry is to tackle the challenges ahead. This collaboration is a key step forward to enabling the uptake of emerging technologies which will help to shape the future of the U.S. water industry," explains Bill Kelly, Business Development Director of Isle Inc. "The industry needs this type of forum to ensure that innovation currently being lost to our marketplace is allowed to see the light of day and deliver the sustainable solutions that we need to be implementing now for the future."

[출처: Waterworld / 2013년 7월 30일]