WSP lifts top prize at 2024 IChemE Global Awards

CANADIAN engineering firm WSP scooped the top prize at the IChemE Global Awards for its work in tackling water supply issues in Canada.

This year’s awards were held in Manchester and sponsored by a host of industry heavyweights, including ExxonMobil, Johnson Matthey, and ChemUK.

With a stacked entry lineup of more than 75 finalists, firms from across the globe were celebrated, including entries from the US, Saudi Arabia, and China.

The event included 16 categories, awarding prizes for achievements in biopharma, oil and gas, and startup innovation.

Nigel Hirst, former president of the IChemE, said: “The IChemE Awards are a celebration of the wonderful, innovative and diverse range of work the chemical engineering community is leading on.”

New technologies

WSP won both the Outstanding Achievement in Chemical Engineering, and Water award for its new treatment system for drinking water. The system was developed to help the Attawapiskat First Nation community in Ontario with access to clean drinking water.

Corina Moore, the executive VP of transportation and infrastructure at WSP, said: “Providing access to clean water is vital for the prosperity of all communities.

“I am proud of the work of our team members, who were able to use their expertise to develop a customised solution that will allow the people of the Attawapiskat First Nation to turn on the tap and know that clean, treated water will come out.”

WSP also sponsored the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award, which was won by BP International.

Biotechnology firm Activatec and its partner the Biorenewable Development Centre, took home the Research Project Award for its work in developing a process for manufacturing lactobionic acid (LBA) that uses fewer inputs.

LBA is a polyhydroxy acid which is used in the cosmetic and medical industries. The BionicE project was launched in October last year and has involved extensive lab testing on processes that ween out chemical additives.

A spokesperson for Activatec said: “The future of our research project is very promising. We aim to continually scale up our bioprocess for producing Lactobionic Acid (LBA).

“This will involve exploring different materials and enhancing the bacteria we use to meet the high demand in the cosmetic industry. Our goal is to be efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable.”

Academic achievements

University research and technologies also took home some of the night’s biggest prizes, including the University of Sheffield and its partners CCU International and AESSAL, who received the Biopharma Award, and the Business Start-Up Award.

Andy Hogben, head of commercialisation at the University of Sheffield, said, “We're thrilled that University of Sheffield researchers have been honoured by the IChemE Global Awards. These innovators are part of a growing community of new business leaders harnessing their world-class research to tackle pressing global issues such as carbon capture and vaccine production."

Newcastle University also took the Innovative Process and Industry awards for Project Artemis, its research into intensified carbon capture systems, in collaboration with Carbon Clean, and Richard Alan Engineering.

Jonathan Lee, professor of carbon capture at the university, said: "Rotating packed beds reduce the size of the equipment required for carbon capture by a factor of 20, reducing the capital and operating costs of carbon capture. Project Artemis aimed to demonstrate this technology at industrial scale.”

Entry for the 2025 awards will open in February.