Event Description
Introducing the inaugural NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 - a dynamic industry platform for the water sector by PROTEMP, proudly chaired by SPAN, dedicated to spotlighting innovations and technological solutions that address critical water challenges.
Timeline
Registration Opens: 13th July 2026 (Monday)
Submission Deadline: 5th October 2026 (Monday)
Online Evaluation & Judging: 7th – 8th October 2026 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Physical Evaluation at WLA 2026: 14th October 2026 (Wednesday)
Awards Ceremony: 20th October 2026 (Tuesday)
Judging Criteria
Innovation & Originality: Creativity and novelty of the solution; Technical ingenuity and uniqueness
Sustainability & Market Readiness: Commercial potential; Environmental sustainability and resource efficiency
Impact & Relevance: Addressing a clearly defined water challenge; Potential for positive environmental, social, or industry-wide change.
Technical & Scientific Merit: Sound scientific or engineering foundation; Methodology and measurable outcomes
Feasibility & Relevance: Development maturity and scalability; Practical application and ease of adoption
Presentation & Communication: Clarity of visuals, pitch, & supporting materials; Ability to communicate across diverse audiences.
How to Participate
Contact the Organisers to let us know the number of entries that you would like to submit. Confirm you participation with payment. Your one-off participation fee already comes with awards submission, virtual booth and/or virtual storefronts.
Contact : PROTEMP Exhibitions & Conference Sdn. Bhd.
Office Tel : +603 6140 6666 | Whatsapp No: +60 12 826 0998
Email : water@protempgroup.com | suffia@protempgroup.com
After payment, submit your entries via our online submission system. You can find the links to each Awards below.
Submit your entries on or before 5th October 2026
Confirmed participants will receive a video on what jurors are looking for to guide them towards making a comprehensive submission.
Online evaluation by jurors will be from 7th – 8th October 2026. Jurors will contact participants for interviews only if they require more information. Participants should make a comprehensive submission of their innovations with a clear explanation and demonstration of their innovations.
Physical evaluation by jurors will be evaluated on 14th October 2026 at WTC, Kuala Lumpur; NextWave Innovation Awards 2026.
Awards Ceremony of NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 will be held on 14th October 2026.
Entry Regulations and Guidelines
All entries must comply with the following:
1. Entries must be submitted to the online awards submission system by 5th October 2026 – 23:59 (GMT+8). There will be no extensions granted under any circumstances.
2. An innovation may be submitted for evaluation in more than one Category. However, it is important that you select the correct category. If you require any clarification, you can contact the Organizers by email (water@protempgroup.com). If the incorrect category is selected, the Awards Committee reserves the right to disqualify the entry.
3. If you wish to enter your innovation in more than one category, you will need to repeat the online submission process for every category that you choose. For example, if you are submitting one innovation for 3 different categories, you will be required to make 3 online submissions and 3 entries payment.
4. An entry is qualified for evaluation when:
a. All required fields of the online submission forms are completed.
b. All requirements of above item 2 are fulfilled.
c. Supported by full payment. Full payment must be made by 10th October 2026.
d. Entries which are incomplete or submitted without full payment shall be disqualified and will not be evaluated.
e. The participant is solely responsible for ensuring that their submission is complete.
5. By confirming your participation, you have agreed that you will be fully responsible for any violation of intellectual property rights should it happens. PROTEMP Exhibitions and Conferences Sdn. Bhd. and all stakeholders for this event assumes no liability for such infringement.
6. Award entries, including all submission materials mentioned in item (2) above shall be submitted in English.
7. The Organizers reserves the right to the use of photos, videos, synopsis, and write-ups which you have provided in the online awards submission system for the purpose of the promotion of NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 and publicity of your innovation and participation.
8. NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 restricts content that involves nudity or is sexually suggestive in nature. This restriction is due to the diversity in age and cultural backgrounds of our global community. All content must be appropriate for a general audience. Content which are sexually explicit or suggestive, or contains pornography, nudity, sexual violence and exploitation, cruelty of animals, and all kinds of violence are strictly prohibited.
9. The jury will evaluate entries submitted in the online submission system. Jurors may request for more information at any time to support validation which might include online interviews, emails, or telephone calls. 10. Interviews and communications between participants and jurors will be conducted in English.
10. Results will be announced at the expo and on the digital platform, the exact date and time will be advised closer to the event.
11. NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 will take place physically over 2 days. During this period, participants can chat and network with visitors from all across the globe and grow their contacts and network.
12. Participation fees must be made in full upon submission of entries, and the latest deadline for payment is 10th October 2026. Payment is non-refundable.
13. All medals and certificates will be shipped to the participants.
14. A security service will operate during the whole period of the Exhibition. However, the Secretariat accept no responsibility for loss, theft, damage due to fire or other cause to invention/ innovation during the Exhibition or in transit.
15. By this formal application to participate in the award, each inventor/innovator undertakes to ensure the delivery of his invention/innovation before 11.59pm on 5th October 2026 (Monday) and to allow it to remain on display during the whole Exhibition. Any inventor/ innovator withdrawing his/her invention/innovation before closure shall render himself/herself liable to pay damages and shall forfeit any award given to him.
16. The inventor/innovator or his representative is required to be at the exhibit booth at all times, throughout the Exhibition. Failure to comply may cause the forfeiting of any award given to him/her.
17. The decisions of the judges are final. Any complaints will not be entertained.
Introducing the inaugural NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 - a dynamic industry platform for the water sector by PROTEMP, proudly chaired by SPAN, dedicated to spotlighting innovations and technological solutions that address critical water challenges.
Timeline
Registration Opens: 13th July 2026 (Monday)
Submission Deadline: 5th October 2026 (Monday)
Online Evaluation & Judging: 7th – 8th October 2026 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Physical Evaluation at WLA 2026: 14th October 2026 (Wednesday)
Awards Ceremony: 20th October 2026 (Tuesday)
Judging Criteria
Innovation & Originality: Creativity and novelty of the solution; Technical ingenuity and uniqueness
Sustainability & Market Readiness: Commercial potential; Environmental sustainability and resource efficiency
Impact & Relevance: Addressing a clearly defined water challenge; Potential for positive environmental, social, or industry-wide change.
Technical & Scientific Merit: Sound scientific or engineering foundation; Methodology and measurable outcomes
Feasibility & Relevance: Development maturity and scalability; Practical application and ease of adoption
Presentation & Communication: Clarity of visuals, pitch, & supporting materials; Ability to communicate across diverse audiences.
How to Participate
Contact the Organisers to let us know the number of entries that you would like to submit. Confirm you participation with payment. Your one-off participation fee already comes with awards submission, virtual booth and/or virtual storefronts.
Contact : PROTEMP Exhibitions & Conference Sdn. Bhd.
Office Tel : +603 6140 6666 | Whatsapp No: +60 12 826 0998
Email : water@protempgroup.com | suffia@protempgroup.com
After payment, submit your entries via our online submission system. You can find the links to each Awards below.
Submit your entries on or before 5th October 2026
Confirmed participants will receive a video on what jurors are looking for to guide them towards making a comprehensive submission.
Online evaluation by jurors will be from 7th – 8th October 2026. Jurors will contact participants for interviews only if they require more information. Participants should make a comprehensive submission of their innovations with a clear explanation and demonstration of their innovations.
Physical evaluation by jurors will be evaluated on 14th October 2026 at WTC, Kuala Lumpur; NextWave Innovation Awards 2026.
Awards Ceremony of NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 will be held on 14th October 2026.
Entry Regulations and Guidelines
All entries must comply with the following:
1. Entries must be submitted to the online awards submission system by 5th October 2026 – 23:59 (GMT+8). There will be no extensions granted under any circumstances.
2. An innovation may be submitted for evaluation in more than one Category. However, it is important that you select the correct category. If you require any clarification, you can contact the Organizers by email (water@protempgroup.com). If the incorrect category is selected, the Awards Committee reserves the right to disqualify the entry.
3. If you wish to enter your innovation in more than one category, you will need to repeat the online submission process for every category that you choose. For example, if you are submitting one innovation for 3 different categories, you will be required to make 3 online submissions and 3 entries payment.
4. An entry is qualified for evaluation when:
a. All required fields of the online submission forms are completed.
b. All requirements of above item 2 are fulfilled.
c. Supported by full payment. Full payment must be made by 10th October 2026.
d. Entries which are incomplete or submitted without full payment shall be disqualified and will not be evaluated.
e. The participant is solely responsible for ensuring that their submission is complete.
5. By confirming your participation, you have agreed that you will be fully responsible for any violation of intellectual property rights should it happens. PROTEMP Exhibitions and Conferences Sdn. Bhd. and all stakeholders for this event assumes no liability for such infringement.
6. Award entries, including all submission materials mentioned in item (2) above shall be submitted in English.
7. The Organizers reserves the right to the use of photos, videos, synopsis, and write-ups which you have provided in the online awards submission system for the purpose of the promotion of NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 and publicity of your innovation and participation.
8. NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 restricts content that involves nudity or is sexually suggestive in nature. This restriction is due to the diversity in age and cultural backgrounds of our global community. All content must be appropriate for a general audience. Content which are sexually explicit or suggestive, or contains pornography, nudity, sexual violence and exploitation, cruelty of animals, and all kinds of violence are strictly prohibited.
9. The jury will evaluate entries submitted in the online submission system. Jurors may request for more information at any time to support validation which might include online interviews, emails, or telephone calls. 10. Interviews and communications between participants and jurors will be conducted in English.
10. Results will be announced at the expo and on the digital platform, the exact date and time will be advised closer to the event.
11. NextWave Innovation Awards 2026 will take place physically over 2 days. During this period, participants can chat and network with visitors from all across the globe and grow their contacts and network.
12. Participation fees must be made in full upon submission of entries, and the latest deadline for payment is 10th October 2026. Payment is non-refundable.
13. All medals and certificates will be shipped to the participants.
14. A security service will operate during the whole period of the Exhibition. However, the Secretariat accept no responsibility for loss, theft, damage due to fire or other cause to invention/ innovation during the Exhibition or in transit.
15. By this formal application to participate in the award, each inventor/innovator undertakes to ensure the delivery of his invention/innovation before 11.59pm on 5th October 2026 (Monday) and to allow it to remain on display during the whole Exhibition. Any inventor/ innovator withdrawing his/her invention/innovation before closure shall render himself/herself liable to pay damages and shall forfeit any award given to him.
16. The inventor/innovator or his representative is required to be at the exhibit booth at all times, throughout the Exhibition. Failure to comply may cause the forfeiting of any award given to him/her.
17. The decisions of the judges are final. Any complaints will not be entertained.
