Programme de résidence
BlueArk Challenge
Residency programme
After four editions organised as a call for projects, the BlueArk Challenge is getting a makeover! It is now a residency programme for SMEs, start-ups and/or water specialists. In 2024 and 2025, the BlueArk Challenge will focus on the multi-use of water.
As a company or specialist, you can now apply for this programme, which will enable you to set up for three months in the Val de Bagnes commune (Valais/Switzerland), and benefit from the region’s water-related facilities and data. This will enable you to test your innovations in the field, under real conditions. You will be awarded a grant of up to CHF 50,000 to support your installation and development work.
take part in the BlueArk Challenge
why ?
As a company or water specialist, the BlueArk Challenge residency programme will provide you with the following services for a maximum of three months, up to a total of CHF 50,000 :
- Privileged access to water-related infrastructure and data in the Val de Bagnes area, so that you can test your solution under real conditions in an alpine environment.
- A minimum cash amount of CHF 10,000 to finance the initial technical elements or costs associated with your installation
- Direct feedback from an initial customer (the municipality of Val de Bagnes and its ALTIS water management service)
- Logistical infrastructure (offices and accommodation) so that you or your team can set up and work as close as possible to the Val de Bagnes water networks
- Tailor-made support to roll out your solution and seek additional financing
- A network of specialists in the water sector to complement the technical and economic aspects of your innovative solution.
take part in the BlueArk Challenge
how ?
Conditions
The following conditions must be met in order to apply for the BlueArk Challenge programme:
First and foremost, you need to propose a solution that meets the challenge of multi-use of water, from the point of view of infrastructure, governance and raising users’ awareness of their consumption (see details below).
Your solution, project or idea must have reached a certain stage of maturity, with a technology that has gone beyond the research stage (Technology Readiness Level – TRL de 4 à 7).
You must have the ambition to develop your solution in real-life conditions.
You will need to stay on site in the Entremont region for the time needed to carry out the tests.
Vous remplissez ces conditions ? Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant au moyen du formulaire de candidature
application process
1
Complete the application form
2
Your application will be examined within one month of submission.
3
If your application is accepted, you will receive an invitation to present your project/solution to a selection committee (digitally or in person).
4
The selection committee decides on your application and on the amounts awarded.
5
You can set up on site and start pilot testing
discover the challenge
Encouraging innovation in multi-use of water
At a time of climate change and its impact on water resources, the question of the multiple uses of blue gold is becoming increasingly important. Between preserving water quality, irrigation needs for agriculture, protection of the environment and ecosystems, and the needs of tourism, particularly through mechanical snowmaking, it is becoming imperative to find the right balance to maintain the viability of the system, while taking account of the different users.
Although the challenges of this multi-use are manifold, we would like to focus on three areas:
Infrastructures
- How can existing infrastructures be optimised? Detecting leaks, improving catchment areas…
- How can new infrastructure be created to optimise water management? Recovering ‘lost’ water for other uses (e.g. recovering rainwater to clean solar panels, reusing grey water for household use, etc.), tapping new untapped sources, etc.
- How can existing networks be networked and made to converge?Producing heat and cooling using drinking water, wastewater or surface water, producing electricity or hydrogen using drinking water and wastewater networks…
Governance
- How can we prioritise uses and users? Who can withdraw how much? What is the minimum quantity to be guaranteed for whom?
- How can we make the best use of data to manage water networks? Collecting all the data, using it but also storing it, transparency and data protection…
- How can we transform water pricing models? Overtaxing abuses, finding new models for valuing water…
raising awareness
- How can users’ water balance be improved? How much water do we consume on average? Comparing users’ consumption with that of their neighbours, measuring the human impact of water use…
- How can gamification be used to raise awareness of water consumption? Raising awareness of personal behaviour, communicating quick actions to reduce impact…
What awaits you in
Val de Bagnes?
Covering an area of 302 km2, Val de Bagnes is the 4th largest municipality in Switzerland. It is home to over 10,000 people of 65 different nationalities. At the time of the last survey carried out by the Swiss Confederation, residential and infrastructure areas accounted for 2.6% of its surface area, agricultural areas for 14.5%, wooded areas for 16.2% and unproductive areas for 66.7%. In terms of employment, the commune has 6,657 jobs: 4.3% in the primary sector, 17% in the secondary sector and 79% in the tertiary sector. Tourism is one of the key economic sectors, particularly via the Verbier resort.
The water networks in Val de Bagnes have the following characteristics:
drinking water
- 23.1 km of aqueducts and galleries between Louvie and La Pierre Avoi
- 1 dam at Louvie
- 1 hill dam at Moneyeux
- 56 SCAV distribution networks
- 31 of which are private
- 142 springs
- 98 collection and grouping chambers
- 5 treatment plants
- 6 pumping stations
- 51 reservoirs
- 526 hydrants
waste water
- 1.5 million m³ of treated water
- 125 km of public sewers
- 7,500 chambers
- 447 outfalls
Irrigation
- Approximately 2.6 to 2.8 million m³ used (estimate based on the June 2023 Master Plan)
available data
- Flow, pressure, quality
Previous edition
Questions ?
If you have any questions about the application process, the context, or any other subject related to the BlueArk Challenge, please contact us immediately at the following address: contact@blueark-challenge.ch
Votre personne de contact
Anyssia Bovier
058 332 21 20
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