iFLUX Named Winner of World Economic Forum's Prestigious Water Resilience Challenge

Belgian groundwater specialist recognized among top 10 innovators from 340 global submissions during WEF Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos.

iFLUX, a Belgian innovator in groundwater monitoring technology, has been selected as one of ten winners of the Water Resilience Challenge, launched by UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation initiative, and HCL Group, an Indian tech conglomerate. The prestigious recognition was announced publicly during the Forum's Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. iFLUX is also the only Belgian company selected among the winners of the challenge.
iFLUX emerged victorious from a competitive field of 340 submissions worldwide, following a rigorous selection process that evaluated not only the innovative nature of proposed solutions but also their future potential and impact on global water challenges.
A member of the selection committee, said: "Each year, the Innovation Challenges receive hundreds of submissions from around the globe, and we select innovators with the most promising solutions driving real change on the world's most urgent issues. We are deeply inspired by iFLUX's solution and excited to help scale their impact.” As an UpLink Venture, iFLUX will benefit from a three-year curated Engagement Programme will provide the start-up with the resources, connections and visibility it needs to expand its impact. By leveraging these opportunities, iFLUX can significantly enhance its ability to scale its business and create a lasting impact.

Growing groundwater dependency

The groundwater dependency is massive. Across EU member states, groundwater accounts for 62% of total public water supply and 33% of agricultural water demands. We rely on it far more than most people realize.
While total water abstractions decreased between 2000 and 2022, groundwater extractions increased by 6%, driven by public water supply (18%) and farming (17%). (Source: The Guardian )
"We're drawing more from a shrinking resource. As groundwater becomes increasingly scarce while demand rises, we cannot afford to manage this critical resource blindly. Groundwater monitoring is the foundation of proactive policy. You cannot manage what you don't measure," says Christian Montag, CEO of iFLUX.

Remarkable year

2025 was a remarkable year of recognition for iFLUX. The company received international acknowledgment from water utilities during the WEX Global conference and was honored as the most innovative company at Antwerp Innovation Night in its home city. The company's track record of innovation was previously recognized in 2022 when it received a grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC), further validating its groundbreaking approach to groundwater monitoring.
Montag: "Thanks to the WEF UpLink award, it becomes more and more clear that the world recognizes the impact our technology can make. iFLUX has charted an ambitious growth story for the coming years, aiming to optimize groundwater management worldwide. This recognition proves we're navigating in the right direction. We look forward to an exciting journey ahead."

Strong Investor Backing

iFLUX is backed by several private investors and investment funds, including PureTerra Ventures, PMV, V2HFIN, and Qbic, demonstrating strong confidence in the company's innovative approach to groundwater management.
Gijs de Bruin (PureTerra Ventures): “The importance of pure drinking water will only increase in the future. That is why it is so important to gain insight into groundwater dynamics. Thanks to Uplink, the scaling up of sustainable innovations, such as that of iFLUX, is made possible. We are therefore very proud that one of our portfolio companies can be part of the team of top innovators."

About iFLUX

As climate change and pollution increasingly threaten our limited freshwater resources, protecting groundwater has become more urgent than ever. With approximately half of our drinking water coming from groundwater, iFLUX enables better protection and sustainable management of this vital resource.
Effective groundwater management starts with reliable data. iFLUX provides essential insights into groundwater dynamics for contaminated site owners, water utilities, remediation consultants, and municipalities.
The iFLUX Samplers monitor contamination spread over time and support more targeted, cost-efficient remediation. iFLUX Sensing Solutions uses proprietary and third-party sensors to create real-time groundwater monitoring networks, delivering live insights that help mitigate risks and support informed decisions.

About UpLink

UpLink is the World Economic Forum’s early-stage innovation engine that co-creates ecosystems to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs scale solutions for the markets and economies critical to a resilient, nature-positive and equitable future.
For more information, visit https://uplink.weforum.org