Singapore's Liquinex Group said it had won first place in the Innovative Research & Development Award - International Institutions category at the second cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award.

The awards worth $1 million are aimed at encouraging research centres, individuals, and innovators around the world to find sustainable and innovative solutions for scarcity and pollution of water that use solar power.

The awards were presented by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Media Council, at a special event held in Dubai.

Liquinex Group won first place in the Innovative Research and Development Award – International Institutions category worth $100,000 for its project: the Compact Water Purification System, which is a suitcase-like unit that can be powered by a car battery or solar power packs to provide safe and clean potable water that meet the World Health Organization's (WHO's) standards.

The project provides an electric system that includes a UV steriliser that removes bacteria and viruses, it stated.

"The award supports the global efforts to provide clean drinking water to the thirsty around the world that help millions of people," said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Suqia.

"It also affirms the UAE's wise leadership to make the country a key player to address the challenges facing humanity, namely water scarcity," he added.

On the award, Low Pit Chen, consul-general of Singapore in Dubai, said: "We hope that this winning would open doors to further bilateral cooperation between Singapore and the UAE in the water sector that benefits all humanity."

"The award inspires and encourages individuals and companies to share their expertise and innovation to serve community, and we are proud to support it," he added.-TradeArabia News Service