Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, Critical Elements, and Water)

Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, Critical Elements, and Water) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This initiative, led by Current, aims to transform wastewater into a valuable resource through cutting-edge water-driven technology and innovation.

Built in the Great Lakes, Made for the World Welcome to Great Lakes RENEW, a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Regional Innovation Engine.

Our mission: The mission of the NSF Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, critical Elements, and Water) Engine is to catalyze the circular blue economy in the Great Lakes region by recovering critical resources and eliminating harmful contaminants from water— securing domestic supply chains, sustaining water-intensive industry, and safeguarding vital national security assets.

Great Lakes RENEW is anchored by Current, a Chicago-based water innovation hub.

Chief Executive Officer & Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator & Use-Inspired R&D Lead Transitions & Partnerships Integration Lead Strategy & Evaluation Lead Technical Program Integration Lead Workforce Development Integration Admin & Operations Manager Associate Director of Operations Commercialization & Partnerships Workforce Development Manager Technical Program Manager Board Chairman – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company Board Secretary – Partner, Mayer Brown LLP President & CEO, Sentry Equipment Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution Ex Officio – Commissioner, Chicago Department of Water Management President & Chief Growth Officer, ClayCo Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Illinois Chicago Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory Partner, Burnt Island Ventures Senior Vice President, Director of Technical Services & Innovation Center Americas, TYLin Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Dean, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Ex Officio – Executive Director, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Ex Officio – Executive Director, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Vice President for Research, Northwestern University Board Treasurer -​ CEO, cohesionIB Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, University of Illinois Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Exelon Testbed Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW Principal Materials Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory Testbed Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, Ohio State University Testbed Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, University of Cincinnati Testbed Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW President & Executive Director, Cleveland Water Alliance R&D – Selective Separation Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago; Co-Founder, Zyvant Research & Innovations R&D – Selective Separation Challenge Lead, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, Purdue University R&D – Process Technology Challenge, Great Lakes RENEW Associate Professor, Northwestern University R&D – Process Technology Challenge, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, Marquette University R&D – Sensing & Networks Challenge, Great Lakes RENEW Professor, University of Minnesota R&D – Sensing & Networks Challenge, Great Lakes RENEW Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology Founder & CEO, Freshwater Advisors CEO, National Fund for Workforce Solutions Institutional Partnerships Director, Argonne National Laboratory Professor, Northwestern University Partners Sourced from Six Great Lakes States Catalyzing the Region’s Circular Blue Economy Great Lakes RENEW has four core functions: Cultivate a collaborative, cross-sector regional network that enhances the Engine’s learning and progress while strengthening the broader field.

Develop and deploy materials, sensors, technologies, and processes that accelerate the recovery of valuable resources from water while removing contaminants. Commercialize water tech faster by supporting startups, creating new industry pilot opportunities, and building a regional connected testbed network.

Engage, educate, and train people for water jobs while creating career pathways and opportunities for all, particularly in fields tied to emerging technologies. We envision the Great Lakes region as a premier, global nexus for water innovation and industry growth, driving economic prosperity while protecting public and environmental health.

By transforming the region into the nation’s living laboratory for critical resource recovery, water quality improvements, and smarter industrial water use, RENEW will exemplify what’s possible when industry, utilities, research institutions, communities, and policymakers work together to turn water abundance into a cornerstone of long-term economic and environmental vitality. Opinion: The next industrial transformation is here.

Are the Great Lakes resource-ready? The rise of AI and advanced manufacturing will dramatically increase demands on energy and water, straining existing systems. The Great Lakes region has the resources to become a global hub for water-intensive industry, but only if economic development is paired with smart resource management.

Two truths are on a collision course. The US is trying to fast-track permits for about 20 new domestic mines to secure a reliable supply of critical minerals, but the mining industry perennially underinvests in innovation – the five largest mining companies spent just 0. 4% of revenue on research and development on average in 2018.

Both of these cannot continue to be true if the U.S. is serious about achieving critical mineral independence.

Great Lakes Water Innovation is awarded up to $160 million U.S. National Science Foundation grant Current , the Chicago-based water innovation hub, is leading Great Lakes ReNEW, the multi-state partnership to boost Great Lakes leadership on resource recovery and the circular economy Chicago’s $1 Billion Water Deal Shows Great Lakes Wealth As American states such as California grapple with harsher and more frequent droughts, the U.S. Midwest is touting its ample water supplies to spur economic growth.