Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) has recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BKT, a Korean water treatment company, and U.S.-based climate tech startup Capture6. The MOU establishes a collaborative test bed for these private entities to advance technologies within the water industry. The signing ceremony occurred in Los Angeles on Sunday.

K-water is set to provide the pilot plant of its forthcoming seawater desalination facility, situated in South Chungcheong Province, as a test bed for the development and validation of cutting-edge technologies by private firms. This facility, currently under construction, aims to supply industrial water to regional factories.

The agreement will specifically focus on the utilization of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to reprocess high-saline wastewater generated during desalination. These technologies intend to extract additional clean water, along with valuable minerals like potassium and magnesium from the wastewater. Since 2021, K-water has actively opened its infrastructure to startups, small, and medium-sized enterprises, allowing them to test and validate innovative concepts.

The organization has played a crucial role in fostering the water industry by assisting companies with promising products in accessing the market. K-water's commitment aligns with national objectives of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, leveraging its expertise in water treatment technologies. CEO Yun Seog-dae expressed the organization's dedication to collaborating with private entities, advancing technology, nurturing the domestic water industry, and contributing to global carbon neutrality goals.