On 15 June 2026, the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) announced the winners of its 12th Award during the water session of the 69th United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) at the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV).

Recognized as one of the leading global scientific awards in water research, PSIPW honors groundbreaking innovations that address water scarcity and improve access to safe drinking water worldwide. The 2026 awards were selected following the evaluation of more than 275 nominations from 69 countries by international committees of leading water scientists. The official awards ceremony will take place later this year.

Among the recipients of the Creativity Prize is the team led by Mohamed S. Ghidaoui (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China) and Silvia Meniconi (University of Perugia, Italy). Their interdisciplinary research has transformed the time reversibility of hydraulic waves into an advanced diagnostic framework for monitoring the health of water infrastructure systems.

The team also includes Bruno Brunone (University of Perugia, Italy), along with researchers and industry experts from China, Hong Kong, and Tunisia. Their work represents a significant advancement in the monitoring and management of water distribution networks, helping to improve infrastructure reliability and reduce water losses.

The winners of the 12th Award come from institutions in Canada, China, Cyprus, Italy, and the United States, reflecting the international scope of innovative solutions being developed to tackle global water challenges.