Water scarcity stands among the most defining and urgent challenges of the 21st century. Although water covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface, accessible freshwater remains scarce and unevenly distributed. Today, over four billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, and pressures are expected to intensify as populations grow, economies expand, and climate impacts increase.

Since launching in February 2024, XPRIZE Water Scarcity has mobilized innovators and organizations worldwide, with 674 pre-registrations from 86 countries. Teams span multiple sectors, including academic research labs, startups, corporates, non-profits, and independent innovators, bridging traditional boundaries between academia, industry, and civil society.

From this global field, 143 teams from 29 countries progressed to Qualified Team status, advancing from written proposals into operational testing. Through this qualifying phase, teams generated and submitted validated performance data aligned with the competition’s core technical criteria. Based on these results, and subsequent review by the competition’s independent Judging Panel, 37 teams were selected to advance to the Semifinal stage, including 20 in Track A and 17 in Track B.

This transition from concept to operational demonstration marked a critical inflection point in the competition. Beyond confirming technical performance, this phase provided key insight into how these systems operate under real-world conditions, including their reliability, scalability, and readiness for deployment pathways.

This publication features all 143 Qualified Teams, with selected Semifinalist teams clearly marked throughout.