Industrial enzyme maker Novozymes on Thursday launched an open innovation initiative called HelloScience, which will encourage collaborative efforts to find solutions for global challenges identified in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The theme the Danish firm has picked for the first round of the challenge is water, Novozymes said in a press release issued in Copenhagen.

Start-ups, researchers, water experts, non-governmental groups and students can partake in the challenge. Among the tasks cut out for them is, development of a device for on-the-spot detection of Escherichia coli, the bacteria that cause diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases in drinking water. The current tests for the E. coli, which kills around 18,000 children a day, take up to 24 hours. Similarly, they can work on biological solutions that can remove polluting chemicals from water, improve cleaning and recover phosphate, a precious plant nutrient, from waste water.

“Water and sanitation are at the heart of sustainable development. One out of every seven people does not have adequate access to safe water, and nearly one in four does not have adequate sanitation,” said Novozymes Senior Vice-President Claus Crone Fuglsang, who heads its research and technology division.

The company will not only extend technical support to the chosen entries, but will also work with them to co-develop final products, for which intellectual property rights will remain with those who come with up with the original idea, the release said.

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