Dr. Nida Maqbool SCEE (IESE) Secures First Prize at Venture Spark 2026

Dr. Nida Maqbool and her research team from SCEE (IESE) won the First Prize at the Venture Spark business plan competition, 2026 hosted at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Multan for her project titled “Innovative DEWATS for Wastewater Treatment and Reuse in Urban Sanitation.” With 600+ business plans submitted and only 100 shortlisted, this project presents a low-energy, modular decentralized wastewater treatment solution designed for non-sewered urban areas, enabling safe wastewater reuse and sustainable sanitation. The innovation was recognized for its strong commercialization potential, societal impact, and technical rigor. The achievement highlights NUST’s commitment to impactful research and innovation addressing real-world challenges.