Collaboration between municipalities, companies, research institutes and the political world is essential to respond effectively to the problems of water management in Valais. With this in mind, a multidisciplinary jury made of personalities from Valais evaluates the projects on the basis of predefined criteria and selects the winners of the prize.
Samantha Anderson
CEO and Co-Founder of DePoly SA, winner of the 2019 Venture award
Samantha Anderson
“Water is one of the most important resources on earth. We need it to survive, yet it’s also a contested resource, and it’s becoming scarce in some parts of the world. The canton of Valais offers a perfect combination of natural beauty and innovation, making it an incredible place to live, work, and explore.”
Christoph Bürgin
Chair of the Association des communes concédantes du Valais (ACC)
Christoph Bürgin
“Water is the most important raw material for our canton. The possibilities for using water sustainably are far from exhausted. The #prixalpiq will motivate many people to explore new avenues.”
Laurent Horvath
Delegate for water affairs in the canton of Valais
Laurent Horvath
“Water – a seemingly endless resource, whose end is in sight. It is too precious to let our children take care of it for us.”
David Melly
Deputy Chair of the Association des communes concédantes du Valais (ACC)
David Melly
“Water has countless qualities. In this respect, it’s like the geographic, economic, and social diversity you find in the canton of Valais. Together, these two elements provide us with a reservoir of life, pleasure, and economic potential.”
Amédée Murisier
Head of Switzerland, Alpiq
Amédée Murisier
“Water is our blue gold. A gold we need to take special care of if we want future generations to continue to benefit from it. This gold is a source of life, energy, richness, and danger. Its sustainable management will only be possible with a holistic, coordinated approach to the challenges and opportunities it presents.”
Cécile Münch-Alligné
Head of the Hydro Alps Lab and the Renewable Energy Department, HES-SO Valais-Wallis
Cécile Münch-Alligné
“I have always been fascinated by the movement of water and the energy that is hidden in it. The Valais is a magnificent region and an incredible venue for studying water. Innovation in the field of water is essential to protect this resource and explore its full potential.”
Eric Nanchen
Director of the Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions (FDDM)
Eric Nanchen
“Water – all we have, is what we have now. Let’s think like water.” “The earth’s resources are finite. How we use them today affects both our life now and in the future. It’s essential that each and every one of us is aware of this and acts accordingly. Whether you’re an individual, a business, a government, or a politician, we’re all jointly responsible for our day-to-day acts and their consequences. The Valais is fortunate to have water, a priceless resource, at its disposal. However, jeopardised by climate change, various types of pollution, and competing activities, this resource needs special attention.”
Line Pillet
Head of Institute of Entrepreneurship & Management HES-SO Valais-Wallis
Line Pillet
“Water is life. It’s one of those natural resources we long thought of as endless. The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a turning point in terms of awareness, making us realise that this resource is finite. Therefore, it’s absolutely crucial we act to safeguard universal and fair access to drinking water, at an affordable price, and ensure the sustainable development of water resources, as a key driver of social, economic, and environmental development. This is a major challenge, especially for the Valais, considered Switzerland’s water reservoir and also one of the first cantons to establish a water management strategy.”
Yann Rodriguez
Deputy Director of BlueArk SA
Yann Rodriguez
“Water is essential for life; it is one of our most valuable resources and not inexhaustible. As one the main water reservoir of Switzerland and Europe, Valais has a fundamental role to play in sustainable water governance and management. The challenges of climate change and the energy transition bring opportunities, but above all responsibility.”
Mauro Salvadori
Head of Public Affairs, Alpiq
Mauro Salvadori
“Water is not essential for life. It is life.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. “Though normalised in our country (just turn on a tap to use as much as you like), this precious resource needs to be managed sustainably so that we can hand it down to future generations.”
Urs Zenhäusern
Tourism expert
Urs Zenhäusern
“Water is not everything, but without water there is nothing! I feel lucky to live in the water tower that is the Valais. Our wonderful holiday region is characterised by water: crystal-clear mountain lakes, glaciers, rivers, bisses, etc. Our challenge is to preserve this life-sustaining resource for future generations.”