French innovations win global recognition for water sustainability and research excellence

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 12, 2025--

Two pioneering French organisations, Kumulus SAS and STEM SAS, have been recognised during the fourth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award for their remarkable contributions to sustainable water solutions. Supervised by the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, the award carries a total prize pool of USD 1 million and celebrates innovative projects that address global water scarcity through renewable energy and advanced technologies.

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Kumulus SAS won the Innovative Projects Award (Small Projects category) for its patented atmospheric water generator, which extracts drinking water from air using a hybrid condensation and desiccant process. Designed to operate using solar energy, each machine produces around 30 litres of water per day. The machines were deployed in rural schools in Tunisia, ensuring clean water access for over 1,000 students and more than 100 staff members. The project helps reduce water-related illnesses and absenteeism.

“Being among the winners shows we can deliver the right technology to those who need it and help address water scarcity. I thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, not only for the award but for his leadership in prioritising sustainability and global water access across the Arab world,” said Iheb Triki, co-founder and CEO of Kumulus.

STEM SAS won the Innovative Research and Development Award (International Institutions category) for its AQUAHIVE solution, a next-generation membrane distillation system that purifies water using waste heat and minimal electricity. AQUAHIVE purifies seawater, brackish water and industrial wastewater through a patented low-temperature evaporation-condensation process. With a current technology readiness level of eight, the solution was showcased in the industrial environment of Dunkirk, France, earlier this year.

“When it comes to the global water crisis, the 3R rule – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – is essential. Receiving this award made our entire team proud and renewed our motivation to reach new milestones. I sincerely thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for championing innovation and sustainability. Leadership like his is vital to creating a better future,” said Frederic Walland, CEO of STEM SAS.

Source:AETOSWire

French innovations win global recognition for water sustainability and research excellence (Photo: AETOSWire)

French innovations win global recognition for water sustainability and research excellence (Photo: AETOSWire)

French innovations win global recognition for water sustainability and research excellence (Photo: AETOSWire)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Denmark provided U.S. forces in the east Atlantic with support last week as they intercepted an oil tanker for violations of U.S. sanctions, a Danish government official confirmed on Tuesday, despite tensions between the allies over the Trump administration’s desire for control of Greenland.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to provide details about what the support entailed.

But acknowledgement of Danish support for the U.S. operation comes after tensions spiraled between the NATO allies as President Donald Trump renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland. The vast Arctic island is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark.

The U.S. interception in the Atlantic capped a weekslong pursuit of the tanker that began in the Caribbean Sea as the U.S. imposed a blockade in the waters of Venezuela aimed at capturing sanctioned vessels coming in and out of the South American country.

The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Danish support for the U.S. operation was first reported by Newsmax.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday at the White House to discuss Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting has not yet been formally announced.

Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said earlier Tuesday that Vance would host a meeting with him and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, in Washington this week.

Løkke Rasmussen told reporters after a meeting of the Danish parliament’s foreign policy committee that Vance had expressed a wish to take part and that he will host the meeting at the White House, with Rubio in attendance. Neither the White House nor Vance’s office responded immediately to emails and text messages seeking comment.

Løkke Rasmussen, a former Danish prime minister, has been foreign minister since 2022 in the government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

At a joint news conference with Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that Greenland isn’t for sale, Danish media reported. He said that the island is part of the kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland doesn’t want to be owned or ruled by the U.S.

Frederiksen also said Greenland isn’t for sale and underlined Denmark’s willingness to invest in Arctic security. She said it hasn’t been easy to stand up to unacceptable pressure from a close ally and there are many indications that the most difficult part lies ahead.

Tensions have grown this month as Trump and his administration push the issue and the White House considers a range of options, including military force, to acquire Greenland. Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. needs to “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would, in comments aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

He said he’d rather “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen for meetings on Friday and Saturday in an attempt to show unity between the United States and Denmark.

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Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.

Vice President JD Vance speaks during a briefing at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)