Accelerator Program
Water Infrastructure

Applications Open

If your company is developing new solutions for water infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you!

CRH is the leading provider of building

materials critical to infrastructure.

With global scale, our business connects over 80,000 colleagues across aggregates, cementitious, roads and water infrastructure.

CRH has been a leading provider of water infrastructure dating back to 1978. From stormwater and wastewater to industrial networks, we play a significant role in developing the systems for water quality and transmission.

Here are some of CRH's leading water companies:

Focus areas

This accelerator offers innovators and technology companies an opportunity to partner, pilot and commercialize their solutions with CRH.

See our program focus areas below

Asset Management

Solutions that digitize and optimize water infrastructure to reduce nonrevenue water losses, improve reliability, and extend asset life.

Non-Revenue Water Loss
Inflow & Infiltration
Pressure & Flow Management
Hydrology Modelling / Digital Twin
Sewer Overflow
Advanced Telemetry

Contaminant Management

Advancing treatment solutions to improve contaminant removal and address emerging regulatory challenges such as PFAS.

Sludge Management / Biosolids Valorization
Thermal Treatment
Biological Treatment
PFAS Detection & Destruction
Contaminant Sensing
Digital Water Quality Monitoring

Decentralized Systems

Enabling modular, distributed for flexible and localized water treatment in both urban and remote environments.

Modular Treatment Systems
Nature-based Solutions
Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)
Advanced Oxidation & Disinfection
Packaged & Containerized Plants
Remote Operation Software

Engineered Solutions

Investigate cross enabling technologies including AI, circular water systems, and energy optimization to unlock new capabilities.

GenAI in Engineering
Industrial Water Reuse & Circular Systems
IoT & Smart Sewer Systems
Zero-Liquid Discharge Systems
Treatment-as-a-Service Applications

The benefits of joining

Pilots

Pilot your technology with a leading provider of building materials solutions. Gain insights from our vertically integrated platform and 50+ years of operational excellence.

CRH Network

Collaborate with experts from across CRH’s 200+ Operating Companies and leverage our strong network of industry partners to scale your company.

Market Validation

Demonstrate success at an industrial scale to accelerate product development and customer adoption.

Financial Support

Pilot expenses will be covered by the program as applicants will have access to CRH’s full suite of innovation resources.

Key stages

Apply

21 September –
30 November

Startup companies submit application forms ahead of the deadline.

Assessment

December–
January

All submissions evaluated by the CRH team and judging panel. Shortlisted applicants to be interviewed.

Pitch

February / March

Live pitch event with CRH executives, judging panel and program sponsors. Successful startups selected.

Pilot

April onwards

Pilot programs activated for scaling across CRH Operating Companies.

Apply now

Any questions?

Is the program cohort-based?

Three to four companies are selected to enter the accelerator program, but we remain flexible with the timeline of each pilot project. The most important element is that the pilots can demonstrate success in a way that proves scalability and drives innovative product development.

How is the program funded?

All pilot and travel expenses are covered by the accelerator program.

Is the program in-person or remote?

While some meetings are held remotely, teams are required to travel on-site (in North America and or Europe), where applicable, to execute the pilot.

How are the start-ups selected?

All application submissions are carefully reviewed and the most relevant applicants are invited to present to CRH teams. Following this assessment, companies are selected to enter the program.

What is the workload and required effort for startups when joining the program?

The workload depends on the nature of each pilot project but should be commensurate with any early adopter use.

What type of mentoring, coaching and funding opportunities are offered?

Companies have wide engagement with CRH meeting regularly with management in CRH’s operating companies as well as the Innovation and Ventures team to discuss the pilot’s development, the company’s product roadmap, go-to market strategy, financing and supporting operational infrastructure.

Does CRH Ventures consider investing in program participants?

For participants whose technologies demonstrate a strong strategic and commercial fit, the program may create opportunities for deeper collaboration with CRH through commercial partnerships and other strategic initiatives, including potential future investment from CRH Ventures where appropriate.

Let's work together