A pioneering graphene-based technology developed at The University of Manchester has won a major international award for tackling global water challenges. Hollowgraf Ltd, a startup from the National Graphene Institute, has been named a winner of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) 2025, launched by the Saudi Water Authority to celebrate breakthroughs in sustainable water solutions. 

The GPIW is an international initiative that recognises pioneering contributions to water desalination and celebrates innovators driving progress towards sustainable global water solutions. Winning this award places Hollowgraf Ltd among the most influential emerging innovators in the global water sector. 

Hollowgraf originates from the graphene membrane research group led by Professor Rahul Raveendran Nair, internationally recognised for its work on graphene-based membranes for separation and filtration. Building on this foundation, the team has filed a patent for an innovative desalination and value-recovery process powered by atmospheric CO₂ or flue gas. To accelerate real-world deployment, the team established Hollowgraf Ltd to commercialise the technology. 

With water scarcity affecting billions worldwide, Hollowgraf’s technology offers a radical new approach: turning seawater into drinking water using carbon dioxide and advanced graphene membranes. This innovation could transform desalination into a near-zero-waste process.  

Hollowgraf stood out among 2,570 entries from 119 countries, securing $50,000 in prize money and $250,000 in prototype and piloting support, fuelling the next stage of development and scale-up. 

“This recognition is a huge step toward turning cutting-edge graphene research into real-world solutions for water scarcity. With this support, we can move from the lab to large-scale pilot projects in partnership with the Saudi Water Authority,” said Dr. Premlal Pillai, Research Fellow at the National Graphene Institute and CEO of Hollowgraf Ltd. 

Prof. Rahul Raveendran Nair, Professor and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair at The University of Manchester and CTO of Hollowgraf Ltd, said: 

“This award highlights our commitment to turning world-class research into solutions for global challenges. Hollowgraf’s breakthrough could redefine sustainable desalination, and we’re proud to see Manchester innovation recognised worldwide.” 

The patent-pending process, developed at The University of Manchester, uses graphene membranes and carbon dioxide to produce clean water and valuable by-products, all at ambient pressure thus making it more sustainable and cost-effective than traditional methods. 

This achievement reinforces The University of Manchester’s position as a global leader in graphene innovation and sustainability, making a tangible impact on one of the world’s most pressing challenges. 

 

 

The National Graphene Institute (NGI) is a world-leading graphene and 2D material centre, focussed on fundamental research. Based at The University of Manchester, where graphene was first isolated in 2004 by Professors Sir Andre Geim and Sir Kostya Novoselov, it is home to leaders in their field – a community of research specialists delivering transformative discovery. This expertise is matched by £13m leading-edge facilities, such as the largest class 5 and 6 cleanrooms in global academia, which gives the NGI the capabilities to advance underpinning industrial applications in key areas including: composites, functional membranes, energy, membranes for green hydrogen, ultra-high vacuum 2D materials, nanomedicine, 2D based printed electronics, and characterisation.

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