Prizes and Awards

The Stockholm Water Foundation was established in 1990 to encourage research and development of the world's water environment by awarding the international Stockholm Water Prize. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize, created as a complement to the Stockholm Water Prize, was awarded for the first time in 1995 as a Swedish national prize, and in 1997 as an international prize. In 2000, the Stockholm Water Foundation established the Stockholm Industry Water Award.

The Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award was established in 1999 by the Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, as an appreciation for what individuals, corporations, non-governmental organisations and municipalities have done to help improve the Baltic Sea’s water environment.

Each of the prizes perform complementary roles to target the range of key actors united in their quest to bring solutions to the world water crisis. Visionary individual and institutional leadership, innovative corporate development, dedicated water stewardship, and, of course, passionate involvement of youth in water issues are all brought together during the prize ceremonies at the World Water Week in Stockholm. All prize activities work to honour achievement and inspire action for a sustainable and just future development in water.  

Dr Rita Colwell of Univ. Maryland has been announced as the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize laureate. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is the patron of the Prize, will formally present Dr Colwell with the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize at a Royal Award Ceremony in Stockholm City Hall on September 9 during the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm. Read more about the 2010 laureate.

SIWI administers the prizes and awards and serves as secretariat.


Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak received the 2009 Stockholm Water Prize on August 20 from the hands of H.R.H Prince Carl Philip of Sweden.