Gradiant, a global solutions provider and developer for cleantech water, has announced that it has acquired Canada-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) water technology company Synauta, to accelerate the use of digital twin technology in water sector. 

 

The use of digital twins in industrial water treatment and desalination and water reuse has been pioneered by Gradiant. 

 

The acquisition strengthens Gradiant’s position as a technology leader in end-to-end water solutions and accelerates deployment of digital twin technologies to build a digitised water future, said its top official.

 

"Digital water is the fastest-growing area in the global water industry and this acquisition brings together the very latest technologies," remarked Gradiant Chief Operating Officer Prakash Govindan. 

 

"The application of digital twins in water will grow even more rapidly as we further leverage 5G communications, industrial automation, and predictive analytics. Combined with Synauta’s AI data models, industrial water treatment just got smarter, cleaner, and significantly more efficient," he added.

 

Spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gradiant is an end-to-end water solutions provider offering design, operations, and asset optimization integrated on to a single digital platform for clients that include Micron, Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer, Rio Tinto, and Coca-Cola. 

 

Today, with over 400 employees, Gradiant operates from its global headquarters in Boston, regional headquarters and global R&D innovation labs in Singapore, and offices across ten countries.

 

According to Gradiant, an estimated $1.5 trillion per year is required to address global water infrastructure and in that digital solutions play a major role. 

 

Recent market research forecasts annual capital expenditures for digital water to reach $10 billion by 2030, with investments in artificial intelligence technologies to account for $6.3 billion. 

 

Industrial and municipal customers are increasingly adopting AI platforms for their water and wastewater operations to address challenges from sustainability and cost pressures, business continuity, regulatory compliance, and climate events, it added.

 

On the deal, Synauta CEO Mike Dixon said: "Joining Gradiant gives Synauta the ability to scale the use of data and AI in industrial deployments with global clients. This acquisition creates a digital powerhouse for the water industry that will bring the goal of industrial water sustainability closer to realization."

 

"Synauta’s proprietary machine learning AI algorithms are deployed in municipal and industrial desalination facilities around the world," stated Dixon. 

 

"Synauta’s technologies reduce operating costs by determining optimal operating conditions and maintenance programs based on real-time process data and are trusted by leading clients such as Singapore’s PUB, Veolia, Aqualia, Engie, and GHD," he added.

 

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.-TradeArabia News Service