Clever minds for clean water - the "Clean Water for Better Life" research competition

As one of the countries with the lowest per capita water resources in the world, China faces major challenges in terms of water scarcity. Droughts like in the southern Mekong region after the construction of the first mega dam, water scarcity in the region around China's capital Beijing or the pollution of rivers and groundwater in general - the challenges are manifold. Maintaining water stability is therefore a key issue - also for LANXESS as a company with a strong presence in China. Together with the China Sustainability Tribune and cooperating universities, LANXESS has therefore been supporting student research projects on the topic of water pollution since 2015. In 2015, the State Council issued its Action Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Water Pollution. LANXESS then launched a water competition based on its own water treatment business in partnership with the China Sustainability Tribune.

Between 2015 and 2021, a total of 1130 students from 66 universities in 23 provinces, cities and autonomous regions participated, and the water competition has received great attention and appreciation from lecturers and students.

"LANXESS is committed to providing people with clean water through environmentally sound wastewater treatment solutions. We have been promoting the development of a sustainable clean water ecosystem for a long time. As a platform, the water competition can not only contribute to the innovation and development of enterprises, but also pass the baton for sustainable development of water resource to the younger generation." - Ming Cheng Chien, President of LANXESS Asia Pacific

In 2022, urban and industrial water recycling and water security were the focus topics of the water competition, which saw a total of 43 projects submitted by teams from 28 different universities. The teams dealt with environmental and water protection issues interdisciplinary and across regions. Within three months, they completed their respective projects and presented innovative solutions. The winner of the competition “Clean Water for Better Life” 2022 was a team from the Yuhang Li from Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

In 2021, the winning team dealt with Lake Taihu - one of the largest freshwater lakes in China and the main source for many cities. The team from XJTLU (Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University) researched how to maintain and improve the water quality of the lake.

"Clean Water for Better Life" has raised awareness of water issues among many ambitious young people. They focus on water management and water treatment issues and will work together in the future to protect water in China. For LANXESS, this is a sustainable contribution to the protection of the environment and the safety of drinking water.