AquaInSilico co-founder Jorge Santos talks about the launch of Upwater, the company’s first commercial platform. Upwater is an AI-powered predictive modelling solution aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of wastewater treatment plants.
According to Santos, the platform was trained using over 30 years of scientific research and is designed to help operators anticipate and manage complex wastewater systems more effectively.
“Upwater integrates deep science and knowledge from biological, physical, and chemical processes… and allows the simulation of different operational scenarios,” said Santos. The platform provides actionable, plant-specific recommendations, helping clients meet environmental regulations, cut operational costs, and improve sustainability.
In addition to boosting operational performance, Santos said Upwater helps plants recover valuable resources like nutrients, biogas, and biopolymers, which can be used in biofertilizers, bioenergy and bioplastics. Santos also explained the founding of AquaInSilico, a spinout from academic research, including his own PhD and work at NOVA University Lisbon.
He noted that the company had recently been named an Ocean Innovator by the UN Development Programme for its role in protecting marine ecosystems near Cape Verde. Looking ahead, the company plans to scale across Europe by partnering with large industrial players and further enhancing Upwater’s real-time and predictive capabilities for broader industry use.